Study Guide to The School for Wives and Other Works by Molière

By Intelligent Education

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Influence Publishers
• Release date: Jul 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781645424512

Intelligent Education

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Book preview

THE PRECIOUS DAMSELS

THE PLAY

CHARACTERS

La Grange, young gentleman Du Croisy, young gentleman Gorgibus, well-to-do bourgeois or middle-class citizen Magdelon, daughter of Gorgibus Cathos, niece of Gorgibus Marotte, maid in Gorgibus’ home Almanzor, servant in Gorgibus’ home Mascarille, servant of La Grange Jodelet, servant of Du Croisy Lucille, Célimène, neighbors

SETTING

The house of Gorgibus in Paris.

INTRODUCTION

La Grange and Du Croisy are complaining to each other about the way Magdelon and Cathos are treating them. The two country girls are putting on precious airs which are making them ridiculous and which are annoying the two young men a great deal. La Grange explains that preciosity is the latest fad in Paris: nothing is said or done directly, everything must be hinted at, and conversation becomes boring because of these snobbish and pedantic ways. La Grange wants to get revenge on the girls and starts to explain his plan to Du Croisy when Gorgibus enters. Gorgibus realizes that the two young gentlemen are very dissatisfied. When they leave, he tells Marotte to have Magdelon and Cathos come down at once.

When the two girls appear, Gorgibus scolds them for not acting politely to the gentlemen whom he wants them to mart. The girls consider Gorgibus too old-fashioned, middle-class, and practical. They want more romance and excitement as in novels. They also want flatteries and attentions paid to them by the suitors. Magdelon and Cathos criticize the young men for being too unrefined since they are not dressed according to the latest Parisian fashions. The father can stand no more when they demand to be called by more aristocratic and classical names than their family names. He tells them bluntly that it is time they were married and gave him some peace of mind. He gives them this choice: get married or enter a convent.

After Gorgibus leaves the room. Magdelon and Cathos try to make Marotte speak in a more precious manner, but the maid only makes fun of them. She tells the girls that a marquis has just arrived to see them, and the two girls hurry upstairs to prepare themselves to receive this important visitor. Mascarille, disguised as the nobleman, enters and tries without success to avoid paying the sedan-chair bearers. La Grange has arranged Mascarille’s appearance to avenge himself on the two girls. Mascarille has all the mannerisms of the precious fad and outdoes Magdelon and Cathos in his exaggerated airs and speech. Each person tries increasingly to outdo the other as the conversation develops. The girls are completely deceived and duped by