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Birth
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January 15, 1622
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Death
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February 17, 1673
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Place of Birth
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Paris, France
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Known for
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Writing, producing, and acting in universally appealing comedic plays that examine human nature
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Milestones
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1643 Left home to become an actor; founded the Illustre Théâtre (Illustrious Theater Company) with Joseph and Madeleine Béjart
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1645-1658 Toured the French provinces with a theatre troupe after the Illustre Théâtre folded; began writing plays during this time, including The Blunderers and The Amorous Quarrel |
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1658 Returned to Paris and began performing regularly in the Théâtre du Petit Bourbon, located in the Louvre
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1659 Produced his first successful comedy, The Conceited Ladies, a satire on contemporary women
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1662 Married Armande Béjart, the younger sister of Madeleine Béjart; produced School for Wives, a play about the unsuccessful marriage of an older man and a younger woman
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1664 Wrote the play Tartuffe, a satire on religion that was banned from the stage after it offended the Roman Catholic Church
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1665 Produced the play Don Juan |
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1666 Produced the five-act play The Misanthrope, the story of an incompatible couple
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1670 Produced The Would-Be Gentleman, called a comedy-ballet because it incorporated ballet into the narrative
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1673 Produced his final play, The Hypochondriac |
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Did You Know
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Molière was born Jean-Baptiste Poquelin.
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Molière studied at the Jesuit Collège de Clermont, and obtained a law degree from the University of Orléans in 1642.
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Following the Illustre Théâtre's 1645 failure, Molière was jailed briefly for debt.
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Molière had an affair with Illustre Théâtre cofounder Madeleine Béjart; rumor at the time suggested that Armande, whom he later married, was the product of that affair.
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Playing the lead in a production of The Hypochondriac, Molière became ill on stage during the fourth performance, and died soon afterward in his home.
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