School for wives: Fearing cuckoldry above all else, Arnolphe has painstakingly trained the guileless Agnes from childhood to become his obedient and faithful wife. Although he has carefully shielded her from the outside world, romance finds her in the form of the dashing Horace, son of one of Arnolphe's best friends. Unaware of who his rival is, the trusting Horace enlists Arnolphe's aid in wooing Agnes—that leads to a series of hilarious and inventive twists and turns of plot, until the inevitable conclusion is reached: The wily Arnolphe is duped into outwitting himself, and young love, as it will, carries the day. --From publisher's description.

The School for Wives concerns an insecure man who contrives to show the world how to rig an infallible alliance by marrying the perfect bride; The Learned Ladies centers on the domestic calamities wrought by a domineering woman upon her husband, children, and household. “Wilbur...makes Molière into as great an English verse playwright as he was a French one” (John Simon, New York). Introductions by Richard Wilbur.

MOLIERE BY MOONEY brings you two sparkling adaptations from the master of the master! The School for Wives: Arnolphe has groomed his young ward Agnes to be the perfect, faithful, subservient wife. Now that she has turned 18, he will ask for her hand in marriage-which she will give gladly, of course-and he will no longer live in fear of the mockery and embarrassment that comes with a wife's "independence." All seems to go according to plan, until a handsome young man serendipitously crosses Agnes' path. With his manhood and his reputation at stake, can Arnolphe change his curriculum and lure her back, or will Agnes' love for the "wrong" man, despite all her schooling, prevail? 2F, 7M (Flexible) The Learned Ladies: Henriette's liberated, feminist mother wants her to marry the man she has picked out for her: a posturing, unctuous fop masquerading as a poet! Her father agrees she should marry her true love. The problem? Dad caves in to Mom's wishes at every turn! Will Dad assert his right as the head of the house? Must Henriette flee to a convent to avoid her suitor's insipid poetry? It's the war of the sexes, 17th-century style! 5F, 8M (Flexible)

THE STORY: Clitandre seeks the hand of Henriette, a match heartily approved of by her father, Chrysale. However, his wife, Philaminte, has other plans for her younger daughter--namely marriage to Trissotin, a foppish wit who panders to Philaminte's intelle

For the 400th anniversary of Moliere's birth, Richard Wilbur's unsurpassed translations of Molière's plays--themselves towering achievements in English verse--are brought together by Library of America in a two-volume edition One of the most accomplished American poets of his generation, Richard Wilbur (1921-2017) was also a prolific translator of French and Russian literature. His verse translations of Molière's plays are especially admired by readers and are still performed today in theaters around the world. "Wilbur," the critic John Simon once wrote, "makes Molière into as great an English verse playwright as he was a French one." Now, for the first time, all ten of Wilbur's unsurpassed translations of Molière's plays are brought together in two-volume Library of America edition, fulfilling the poet's vision for the translations. The second volume includes the elusive masterpiece, The Misanthrope, often said to occupy the same space in comedy as Shakespeare's Hamlet does in tragedy; the fantastic farce Amphitryon, about how Jupiter and Mercury commandeer the identities of two mortals ; Tartuffe, Molière's biting satire of religious hypocrisy; and The Learned Ladies, like Tarfuffe, a drama of a household turned suddenly upside down. This volume includes the original introductions by Richard Wilbur and a foreword by Adam Gopnik on the exquisite art of Wilbur's translations.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for selected works by Moliere, one of the greatest French writers. Titles in this study guide include The School for Wives, Tartuffe, The Misanthrope, The Miser, The Would-Be Gentleman, The Learned Ladies, The Physician in Spite of Himself, The Precious Damsels, and The Imaginary Invalid. As a French poet, playwright, and actor of the seventeenth-century, he transformed comedy. Moreover, he was considered the official playwright for the royal court’s entertainment. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Moliere’s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons they have stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains: - Introductions to the Author and the Work - Character Summaries - Plot Guides - Section and Chapter Overviews - Test Essay and Study Q&As The Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.