Quote:
Mme. Jourdain-"Pour moi, je suis scandalisée de la vie que vous menez. Je ne sais plus ce que c'est que notre maison. On dirait qu'il est céans carème-prenant tous les jours; et dès le matin, de peur d'y manquer, on y entend des vacarmes de violons ou de chanteurs dont tout le voisinage se trouve incommodé."
Synopsis:
M. Jourdain continues to follow the insights of his entourage that only wish to take his money. He dresses and acts in a way that he believes will allow him to become like "les gentilhommes" and will help him to win the heart of la marquise. Although he is blind to what is going on, his wife can see right through the teachers and so-called friends of M. Jourdain. She knows that they are only using him and will soon take it all.
We are also introduces to Cléonte, who is from the working class and is in love with the daughter or M. Jourdain but is not given her hand in marriage because he is not of a noble birthright.
Readers Response:
I am loving this play! I find myself laughing out loud at the stupidity of M. Jourdain. Is he so intrigued with this desire to be seen as someone he is not that he cannot even see what is happening right before his eyes? I love it because this same thing is still happening in our day. We see people all of the time loosing everything they have in pursuit of living the dream or living beyond their means. I can't wait to see how everything plays out.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I agree 100%, but I'm also enjoying how many of the other characters are being mocked as well. I love the interchange between Cleonte and Lucile where Cleonte refuses to hear her explanations of why she ignored him. I've known many people today to act in that same way- once they take offense at something, they seem to be more interested in being offended than in understanding what really happened or correcting the situation.
I Love Love this play! I also laugh out loud. Especially when M. Jourdain is trying to teach his wife and Nicole what he learned from his teachers! One thing I do not understand is how he could be so blind when it comes to his friends. How could he not see that he is being taken advantage of??? I guess since I feel like that never really happens to me I can't relate. knock on wood..
Moliere's predominant interest in all his plays is to expose human behavior and social foibles through comedy. He has a few conventions throughout all his plays, which are visible in this one too: fathers who force their children to marry against their will, servants who plot against their masters (or at least are quite "cheeky"), and the use of a stagy "denouement" (which is yet to be discovered). These standard elements are always set against the overall objective of highlighting human folly or social failing through absurdity. Hence, our poor Monsieur Jourdain, whom we pity or who inspires frustration (personally I prefer the former), is ensnared and blinded by his coveting what he can never have -- "etre ne comte ou marquis".
Another important aspect in Moliere's "moral vocation" is to have the presence of someone who is reasonable. This person represents "le juste milieu"; I would submit that Madame Jourdain fits the bill quite nicely. Her long response to M. Jourdain's desire to make his daughter a marquise, shows that she understands the nuances of society and where her place would be if such a marriage took place. To be so clear-visioned as Mme Jourdain, that would be an honorable goal at any age.
This play is really interesting, and funny. It's funny to read how different M. Jourdain, and Mme Jourdain are. It seems like they don't agree on anything. You can really see how M. Jourdain desires nobility and popularity for him, and his family; but especially for himself.
Post a Comment