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The School for Wives

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The School for Wives Plays and Pinot: The School for Wives Play Synopsis The School for Wives, comedy in five acts by Molière, performed in 1662 and published in 1663 as L’École des femmes. The School for Wives presents a pedant, Arnolphe, so frightened of women that he decides to marry his ward, Agnès, a girl entirely unacquainted with the ways of the world. The delicate portrayal in Agnès of an awakening temperament, all the stronger for its absence of convention, is a marvel of comedy, as are Arnolphe’s clumsy attempts at lover’s talk. Meanwhile, a young man, Horace, falls in love with Agnès at first sight. Much of the play’s comedy results from Horace’s confiding in his new acquaintance, Monsieur de la Souche, who is actually his rival Arnolphe. About the Playwright Molière (originally Jean-Baptiste Poquelin) was born in 1622 and died Feb. 17, 1673. He was a French playwright, actor, and director. The son of a prosperous upholsterer, he left home to become an actor in 1643, joining forces with the Béjart family. He cofounded the troupe known as the Illustre Théâtre and toured the French provinces (1645–58), writing plays and acting in them. After his troupe was established in a permanent theatre in Paris under the patronage of Louis XIV, he won acclaim in the court and among bourgeois audiences for his comedy The Affected Young Ladies (1659). His other major plays include The School for Wives (1662), Tartuffe (1664; initially banned by religious authorities), The Misanthrope (1666), The Miser (1669), The Bourgeois Gentleman (1670), and The Imaginary Invalid (1673). His plays compose a portrait of all levels of 17th-century French society and are marked by their good-humoured and intelligent mockery of human vices, vanities, and follies. Despite his success, he never ceased to act and direct. Taken ill during a performance, he died of a hemorrhage within a day and was denied holy burial. He is considered the greatest French dramatist and the father of modern French comedy. Characters Arnolphe Also known as Moinseur de la Souche, Arnolphe is the protagonist of this play. He is a wealthy, forty- two-year-old man who wants a wife. The problem is that he is convinced that all wives cheat. He is certain that if he marries, his wife will commit adultery and he will be disgraced in the eyes of the public. Arnolphe decides that the only way to avert this fate is to find a naive, uneducated girl who can be brainwashed and controlled. With this in mind, he decides to "train" his young ward Agnes to be his wife. Agnes Agnes is eighteen years old when the action of the play begins. She has been Arnolphe's ward for fourteen years and is completely unaware of his ridiculous plan. Before Arnolphe can tell her of his intentions, she falls in love with a young man named Horace. Arnolphe is furious and feels as though Agnes has somehow betrayed him. He decides to force her to marry him. However, Agnes only wants Horace and steadfastly refuses to marry anyone else. Horace Horace is a young man who falls in love with Agnes the second he sees her. He desperately wants to marry Agnes and enlists the help of his father's friend Arnolphe. Horace does not realize that Arnolphe is Agnes's guardian, and he is also unaware that Arnolphe plans to marry Agnes. As far as Horace knows, Agnes's guardian is a man named Moinseur de la Souche. Arnolphe does everything he can to thwart Agnes' young suitor and even has the servants beat Horace with clubs, but Horace is not deterred. Enrique Enrique is Agnes's father. Arnolphe believes that Agnes is an orphan, but he is wrong. Enrique was forced to flee the country when his wife died. He gave Agnes to a poor country woman, who then gave the girl to Arnolphe. When Enrique finally finds out where Agnes is, he speaks with Horace's father and attempts to arrange a marriage between Horace and Agnes. Oronte Oronte is Horace's father. He is also a friend of Enrique and Arnolphe. Oronte wants Horace to marry Enrique's daughter. Chrysalde Chrysalde is an old friend of Arnolphe. He is also Enrique's brother-in-law. Chrysalde cautions Arnolphe against his plan to brainwash, control, and marry Agnes, but Arnolphe does not listen. Alain Alain is a poor peasant man from the country. He is Arnolphe's manservant. Georgette Georgette is a poor peasant woman from the country. She is Arnolphe’s maidservant. The Notary An unnamed notary is summoned by Arnolphe when Arnolphe decides to marry Agnes against her will. References: Britannica.com .
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