How to Read the Plays of Molière (French Theatre Appreciation)

[@shiven513]

This channel deserves so much praise, Molière is one of the masters. I read one of his plays with a French copy of “Money” and worked my way backwards by learning a chunk of the language as I read it.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you so much, Shiven! I really appreciate that :) And that is a seriously cool reading experience!!

[@janebowell3985]

I am just about to settle down to listen to your lecture on Molière , Benjamin but before I do so I would like to thank you for choosing a deep dive into his plays because I am not sure that many people would have chosen him. That is one of the things I appreciate about this Hardcore literature group the sheer variety of the works chosen.

[@noahdyer2991]

Any day with an upload from this channel is automatically peak

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you so much, Noah! :)

[@jakedesnake97]

Thanks Ben! I'm a native French speaker and, oddly enough, Molière was not on the curriculum where I went to high school. That said, after reading so many great authors from other linguistic backgrounds, I had been craving some francophone literature to deepen the ties with my cultural heritage, but felt overwhelmed by Molière, so I appreciate the pointers. (I also read the Count of Monte Cristo in the original French last year when it was on the schedule, it was a rewarding experience :)

[@kseniabarysheva3892]

That's a pity! I mean Moliere NOT on the curriculum. In our country (Russia) Moliere has always been immensely popular. I studied Tartuffe and Le Bourgeois gentilhomme in secondary school, watched Les Fourberies de Scapin in the local theatre, read a play by Bulgakov dedicated to his life and saw innumerable movie adaptaions. Jean-Baptiste was a tremendous talent! I think he deserves much more publicity than he's currently getting worldwide. You must be realy honoured to have a compatriot like him!👍

[@jakedesnake97]

@@kseniabarysheva3892 to be fair, we had a theatre unit, but it was focused on contemporary playwrights from Quebec (where I went to school). The plays were still amazing, and playwrights like Michel Tremblay were instrumental in creating modern French Canadian literature and culture more broadly 😊

[@pdcasablanca]

Perfect timing, my good sir! Jonas from Uppsala, Sweden here. I have read The Misanthrope before, and loved it. And yesterday I dusted off my copy of the plays, and I'll start reading them once I have finished your video. You are a true inspiration, and I absolutely adore your channel. You are my Harold Bloom, Ben!😀📖

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Aw, thank you so much, Jonas! You have completely made my day with your incredibly kind words! I appreciate you, my friend, and I'm absolutely thrilled that you loved The Misanthrope! Such a fantastic play🙏☺

[@waffle.23]

Uppsala, där bor jag!

[@pdcasablanca]

@@waffle.23 Vad kul att träffa en "granne" här!

[@thomaslichman5365]

I always look forward to uploads from this channel. You've helped me get into the classics

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you so much, Thomas! That makes me so happy to know! :)

[@Sachie465]

I always look forward to your uploads. It was very fascinating again. All in all, he seems to have been fortunate. He was loved by the people and the king, and he completed his masterpiece, Le Misanthrope, despite his illness.

[@ericdupuis3508]

Thank you, Sir, for your interest and passion for Molière, the greatest comic poet of all times. In France, Molière is a pillar of our teaching, we study his plays from middle school to university. His life is the greatest masterpiece down here and his death is the greatest masterpiece down here . His work is in total harmony and his fans are very numerous in France. Thank you for the memory of Molière. A huge french fan of Jean Baptiste Poquelin de Molière.

[@mrwickgaming5117]

Your voice never fails to brighten my day and reminds me of a passionate friend who talked as veraciously 😊

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you so much, my friend :) I really appreciate that!

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

These are actually easy and fun to read. Go for it!

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Completely agree, Nicholas! :)

[@belatrixlestrange-bo3px]

First time reading Moliere and enjoying it very much. Benjamin, thank you so much for the hard work you do with this channel and the book club aaand the podcast😊. The book club changed my life for the better. 🙂‍↕️

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Aw, thank you so much! That is so lovely of you to say! I really appreciate that ☺️🙏

[@melissarestous1204]

The work you put in that video is impressive and you did a great job to summarize the works of Molière and explain "le grand siècle". I didn't imagine that he was known outside France (maybe because I thought it was difficult to translate his plays in another language). It is also interesting to see which plays are better known, like Tartuffe or School of women. (they're not the most popular ones in French schools. We mostly study Le Bourgeois gentilhomme, L'avare or Le Malade imaginaire)

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you so much, Mélissa :) That really means a lot to me! I think you're completely right about the difficulty of translating Molière's plays when it comes to him being less known outside France. And it's so fascinating to hear that those are the plays you study in school!

[@melissarestous1204]

@@BenjaminMcEvoy they are the easiest to understand as a young audience. As we say, he is "un monument de la littérature" so you can't escape his plays, even as a 10 years old ! 😅

[@marianapgar4409]

As always, a beautiful and thought-provoking presentation!

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you so much! :)

[@shadowpheonix1751]

Noticing a theme this year of banned works. Feels very relevant. Enjoyed the video as always- learning about the history of art is like learning about how people used to think and about what people were taught to avoid thinking about.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you very much! Absolutely, we really can learn so much by studying the banned and censored books of the past!

[@angusmorrison9433]

I am not a reader but appreciate learning about the classics and I’m in the best period of history to be able to learn about them by watching and listening. One of my favorite movies is “Moliere” (2007) that is the Tartuffe story, and you mentioning Pride and Prejudice is magical since that is one book I have read but will admit it is the 1995 BBC/A&E production that caused me to read it and is like breathing air to me. I know every line and have listened to every lecture on the subject I can find. To know you will be discussing it when I’ve only come across your page this past week makes me feel like I have won the lottery. -kate

[@nadiash3187]

Molière's caracters, characteristics and dialogues are so modern. It's easy ti imagine how many people of high and "medium" societies recognised there neibours and themselves.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

That's so true! :)

[@CatarinaMarinoni]

Happy Easter, Ben Incredible video (I'm halfway through and I already know it's a very high level of work), as always. Thank you very much for this incredible work that you always give us, because it is beautiful and very necessary. I haven't read Molière yet, but he's an author I'm very interested in. I'm reading and enjoying Shakespeare's sonnets and the novel The Buddenbrooks by the wonderful Thomas Mann. I've also been listening to your podcast a lot and taking time to reflect a lot. kisses from São Paulo, Brasil.❤

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Happy Easter to you too, Leticia! Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words! I'm so thrilled to hear you're enjoying Shakespeare's sonnets and Thomas Mann. I'm slowly reading and loving The Magic Mountain at the moment. Happy reading over in beautiful Brazil! ❤🇧🇷

[@kseniabarysheva3892]

What a wonderful first 1,5 minutes! The whole video is gorgeous but the introduction is simply blazing! The contrast of comedy-tragedy, laughing-pain tranfixed me. You have an exceptional gift for words! And you video on Clarissa was another cracker - the pure unadulterated linguistic pleasure!

[@AnnetteRubery]

Great to watch this. I’ve been reading John Vanbrugh’s plays recently and realised how much he was kicking the Comédie-Française in the teeth with his comedies lacking happy endings etc. Interesting you mentioned Larry David and Commedia dell'arte - I think of them like Carry On films - same characters in different farcical situations.

[@TK-kf8zc]

You will remedy the lack of attention to Molierè in the Anglophone world, Ben ❤ Happy Easter

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Aw, thank you so much! I really appreciate that! Wishing you a very Happy Easter too ❤🙏

[@katjatezak5816]

Benjamin videoooo! 🤩👏👏👏🥳🥳🥳 My brain is already enhanced and I haven’t even pressed play yet. 😊🥳🥳👏👏

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you so much, Katja! I appreciate you ☺️🙏

[@aliasshaheer9868]

Great video. Like always. In a Book Club that I am which is run by Hamza Yusuf a great scholar, we read Tartuffe alongside Measure for Measure of Shakespeare (one of the most underrated plays of Shakespeare in my opinion) and he discussed interrelated themes and also other themes of both Plays which were great and I am a Persian Speaking person and when I was discussing these plays with some persian speaking people I compared them with a poem of the great Persian Poet Hafiz which some verses goes as: "On the pulpit, preachers, goodness display Yet in private, they have a different way. I have a question to ask of the learned in our midst Why Confession-Priests, their own repentance delay. Perhaps they don't believe in Judgement Day They deceive, and to appease God, they pray." Literature is great. How people from different backgrounds dealt with the same problems in their societies. And thanks for making great content like always we really appreciate it. There is a saying of Prophet Muhammad that: "Whatever you do, do it with excellence." You are doing your work with excellence.

[@ahoj7720]

French lover of Molière ´s comedies here. Interesting details, the poems that Molière ridicules were actually published works by contemporary authors. Also in French tartuffe has become a common noun for hypocrite. Finally, there are some exceptionally good movies from his plays. I want to mention a 1973 tv film of l’Ecole des Femmes starring Bernard Blier and young (she was17!) Isabelle Adjani as Agnès. Another legendary tv film of Dom Juan starring Michel Piccoli. Finally, available on dvd, a reconstitution of le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, with authentic pronunciation, diction and acting with Lully’s music. With English and French subtitles (they are welcome even for French people) by Poème Harmonique (Alpha records).

[@jsmi601]

I’m excited to dive in, thank you for the great introduction! 🎉

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you, Jessica! I'm excited to know what you make of his plays ☺

[@beccahodgson6189]

Thank you for your advice and suggestions regarding Moliere's plays. I didn't really get the comedy at first, other than these characters are very misinformed. However, when I watched the plays, I found them very comical. I think it's important to see the plays and to understand that people haven't changed. It takes billions of years for a species to evolve.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you, Becca! That is so profound and so true. It really is extraordinary to watch plays written hundreds of years ago and realise that we're still very much thinking and behaving the same way today :)

[@beccahodgson6189]

The book Theatre of War: What Ancient Tradgedies Can Teach us Today by Bryan Doerries addresses this topic.

[@samaafaiz6523]

As usual, magnificent review covered many side of books interms of characters and their function comedy tragedy as well as debauchery role for some figures .many thanks

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you so much, Samaa! I really appreciate that :)

[@hankryg]

Hi Benjamin, Your channel has been so helpful for me in beginning to read deeper and more meaningfully. I was wanting to know what your thoughts are on Mark Twain and if you think the adventures of huckleberry Finn is great literature?

[@juliafraa6419]

I loved Tartuffe! It was so funny! I couldn't put it down and finished reading the whole thing in one night. Excited to read some of his other plays for the book club :)

[@carokat1111]

Enjoyed this detailed lecture so much. Thank you.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you so much! I'm so happy you enjoyed it :)

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Ooooh I like this video already! So exciting 👏🏽

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Yay! Thank you so much :)

[@antoninima9007]

I love Molière, and glad you're covering his plays (except you breezed by my favorite, L'Avare 🤓🤣). In my opinion, Le Cid, Tartuffe, & Phèdre are the three greatest French plays, but when it comes to great writers like Molière, Racine, or especially Shakespeare, there are always several works vying for the title. When people ask my favorite Shakespeare I always give a list of 4 to 5 plays and then another list of other plays that come close. 🤣🤣 You said you're covering King Lear, will this be on your podcast? I just discovered the podcast yesterday. 😎

[@lukasuon3719]

It reminds me of the high comedy of "Python" and the low brow humor of "Top Gear".

[@cars2fan922]

Added to the indefinite TBR!

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

I'm so thrilled to hear that! :)

[@booshkoosh7994]

Brilliant!

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you! :)

[@TheDoctor010]

Thank you for what you do: I've heard the name Moliere but knew nothing about him. Do you have a video on what translations of the Aeneid are good? I know this is off topic; but I don't know where it would be better placed (if you point me to the right place, I'll move my comment there). I've watched a lot of your videos but haven't found one on the Aeneid. I've read Homer by Fagles. I started reading Dante last year, but after the Inferno I thought I better first read the epics so that perhaps I'd get some of Dante's references in his story. It has been a wild year or so, as I have never read classics before. I'm going to start the Aeneid this summer. Thank you for your consideration.

[@robertorezende6758]

i'am brazilian... i loved your channel ❤

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Aw, thank you so much! I appreciate you watching over in beautiful Brazil! 🇧🇷❤️

[@robertorezende6758]

@@BenjaminMcEvoy thank you ver very much

[@masterlybench1716]

nice video, and can you perhaps make a video on how to read finnegans wake?

[@PokhrajRoy.]

1:22 Me before my first Stand Up Performance

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

I feel that!!

[@johnmccullagh_]

Wonderful video as always Ben! Just reading Molloy by Samuel Beckett, I've found it absolutely fascinating. Was wondering if you was a fan of Beckett?

[@janebaily3758]

Hi Ben I know my question is "off topic" but i just remembered your video on the Bradbury trio and watched it...along with starting Bradbury's own lecture...which I just started.I decided with the start of a new month I thought why not? My question is practically can the challenge be done other than right before bed? I feel like for me it's more realistic to do it first thing in the AM after Scripture reading and devotionals. Thoughts? Thanks!

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

I'm so thrilled to hear you've started the Bradbury Trio, Jane! It's such a wonderful practice :) Absolutely, it can be done whenever works best for you. Before bed didn't always work for me, so I actually got up early to do mine half of the time. Like you, I would place it after reading scripture and I'd meditate and do some stretching, making it part of the 'miracle morning' routine!

[@janebaily3758]

I actually just got in today's mail a copy of Oscar Wilde's complete works so I will have Poems, Short stories and essays all in one volume. I have wanted to read his complete works for ages so that's icing on the cake as well. Like you I am going to try the 1,000 days even if it takes 2 years and 9 months as someone said. I feel much better. I was pretty sure it was the practice that mattered not the timing...

[@bucephalas67]

Have you read his biography by Bulgakov ? A fascinating read

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

I have :) It's absolutely excellent. Bulgakov did such a great job with it!

[@genghisgalahad8465]

I'd only read Don Juan for school, and I don't recall Tartuffe! I have read and recall clearly Voltaire's Candide! Have you read?

[@wumkin3873]

Hi Benjamin, was wondering if you've ever read Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun? It is a book that absolutely necessitates focused reading and an eye for detail, and it begs to be re-read. A lot of fans say you haven't read it until you've read it twice! If there was a single sci-fi work to do a deep read of, it would absolutely be my choice.

[@ozziedylan9903]

I Love The Theater Thespians are amazing 🎭

[@peoniesandparchment]

video request: how to read kafka

[@KarenBlasdale]

I feel like I’ve been present at a top university lecture. Heady stuff.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you so much, Karen! I really appreciate that :)

[@rhwinner]

I first approached his play Tartuffe last month while going through a Norton anthology I had lying around. I was a bit underwhelmed I must say. I felt as if the English translation sounded too much like a translation, and I felt like the language, or what the language connoted, was too modern to be faithful. Perhaps an older translation closer to Moliere's own time, would have better reflected the spirit of his genius, and hope to one day come across such a translation.

[@orontopch]

Benjamin, I am highly enjoying your video! I can't help but wonder whether you have read "Orlando Furioso" by Ariosto. I certainly think it is worth one of your enriching and profound analyses.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that :) I have actually been wanting to do a discussion/podcast on 'Orlando Furioso' for a very long time!

[@donaldcatton4028]

Good work

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you so much, Donald!

[@baran3443]

♥️♥️♥️

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

❤☺

[@CheffScott]

"Liberation through recognizing ourselves? Huh. Maybe I should start attending therapy sessions at the theater instead of arguing over restaurant bills." - Larry David, jk.

[@DougerSR]

Articulately put.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you, Doug :)