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 STORY: 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 for

'Why does he write those ghastly plays that the whole of Paris flocks to see? And why does he paint such lifelike portraits that everyone recognizes themselves?' Moliere, The Impromptu at Versailles This volume brings together four of Moliere's greatest verse comedies covering the best years of his prolific writing career. Actor, director, and playwright, Moliere (1622-73) was one of the finest and most influential French dramatists, adept at portraying human foibles and puncturing pomposity. The School for Wives was his first great success; Tartuffe, condemned and banned for five years, his most controversial play. The Misanthrope is his acknowledged masterpiece, and The Clever Women his last, and perhaps best-constructed, verse piece. In addition this collection includes a spirited attack on his enemies and a defence of his theatre, in the form of two sparkling short plays, The School for Wives Criticized and The Impromptu at Versailles. Moliere's prose plays are available in a complementary Oxford World's Classics edition, Don Juan and Other Plays. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Seven plays by the genius of French theater. Including The Ridiculous Precieuses, The School for Husbands, The School for Wives, Don Juan, The Versailles Impromptu, and The Critique of the School for Wives, this collection showcases the talent of perhaps the greatest and best-loved French playwright. Translated and with an Introduction by Donald M. Frame With a Foreword by Virginia Scott And a New Afterword by Charles Newell

School for Trophy Wives is loosely based on Molière's L'Ecole des Femmes. It is set in present day Hollywood, with all the accompanying glitz, glamour, and garishness we have come to know and spoof in Tinseltown. In this version, Arnolphe is Arnie, a Hollywood producer who has finally made it big after years of clawing his way to the top. He now wants to settle down with a wife and kids. He is MUCH older than his protégée Agnes, whom he found on a farm when she was 4, "adopted" as his ward, and raised, until he realizes, at her graduation, that she would be a perfect wife for him. Having made fun of his colleagues and all their trophy wives over the years, he must take special care that no whiff of scandal will ever hit him from the cover of People Magazine or the Hollywood Reporter, and that his wife will never adhere to the "trophy standards" his friends have had to deal with. This is where Molière comes in, but with some 21st century flair.

In translating Molière’s 5-act comedy, Maria-Cristina Necula fulfills her mission: to be as faithful to the original as possible, while transferring that fidelity to a contemporary context. Maintaining the original’s 12-syllable Alexandrine verse and rhyming couplets while using contemporary English idiomatic expressions in translating phrases that, during Molière’s time, were considered contemporary, she brings this translation into the English language of today. Paying tribute to the musicality of the French original, she beautifully transfers that musicality into English. “Most importantly, perhaps, is the question of the texture of a translation, the manner in which the threads of meaning are interwoven in a piece. In her sensitive and fine translation of “L’École des femmes”, Maria-Cristina Necula has captured the texture of Molière’s comedic universe. Needless to say, this is no small achievement.”(Philippa Wehle)

Unlock the more straightforward side of The School for Wives with this concise and insightful summary and analysis! This engaging summary presents an analysis of The School for Wives by Molière, a comedy in which an old man tries to ensure the faithfulness of the young woman he intends to marry by keeping her ignorant. This major play triggered a scandal at the time, both because of its controversial content and innovative form. Despite this controversy, it is considered by many to be Molière's greatest achievement and it has since been turned into a musical. Molière wrote many plays over his lifetime and many of them have been highly influential on French culture and society, causing him to become a household name, and his plays are still being performed centuries after his death. Find out everything you need to know about The School for Wives in a fraction of the time! This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you: • A complete plot summary • Character studies • Key themes and symbols • Questions for further reflection Why choose BrightSummaries.com? Available in print and digital format, our publications are designed to accompany you in your reading journey. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time. See the very best of literature in a whole new light with BrightSummaries.com!