Erudite Women

the erudite Women is a Play in five acts and worms of Molière, comedy of manners in particular on the education of the girls, created with the Théâtre of the Palais Royal the March 11th 1672.

Summary

Henriette and Clitandre are lovers, but to marry, they will have to obtain the bread-winner of the young girl. The father (Chrysale) and the uncle (Ariste) are favorable to the marriage; but the mother (Philaminte), supported by aunt (Bélise) and the sister of Henriette (Armande), wants to make him marry a bogus scientist with the long teeth, (Trissotin), who carries out by the end of the nose these “erudite women”. But as it is a comedy, the good carries it and Henriette Marie not with Trissotin but with Clitandre, that which she wanted to marry.

Main characters

“Erudite women”

Philaminte , the mother. It is it which directs the small “academy” and which discovered Trissotin. Because this one flatters its pride, she regards it as a large scientist so much so that she really thinks that it can make a good party for his daughter. She also militates for the “release” of the women and attempts to direct the household, even if it is in spite of the good sense.
Bélise , the aunt. Sister of Chrysale, it is an old maid who never married, and it is guessed that it is partly by spite that it joined the “erudite women”. She believes herself however irresistible and invents herself sighing; she thinks in particular that Clitandre is in love with her and that Henriette is only one pretext.
Armande , the oldest daughter. Formerly courted by Clitandre, it rejected it and this one then fell in love with his/her Henriette sister. She claims that leaves it indifferent, but in fact, she is jealous of her sister and has only one goal: to prevent the two in love ones from marrying.
Trissotin . Although he praises himself to be a large expert in letters and sciences, he is only one pedant very right to good make ridiculous worms that alone Philaminte, Bélise and Armande appreciate. In lack of money, it stuck to the “erudite women” only with an aim of benefitting from generosities of Philaminte, and possibly of empocher the dowry of Henriette. This character is inspired by the abbot Cotin.
Vadius . A pedant like Trissotin, in turn his comrade and his rival. Its quarrel with Trissotin on their respective poems highlights the smallness of spirit of this last. This character is inspired by Gilles Ménage. Such an argument really arrived besides between Cotin and Ménage at the time of the writing of the part.

Other characters

Chrysale , the father. He claims himself the host and affirms that the women must deal of the household and anything else; however, it has evil to contradict his wife when this one makes her decisions, in particular on the reference of Martine.
Henriette , the girl junior. It is the only woman of the family which does not form part of the “erudite women”: with their pure gibberish pedant, she prefers the feelings which bind it to Clitandre.
Clitandre , been engaged. It failed to be that of Armande, but he was gotten rid of by this one before falling in love with Henriette.
Ariste , the uncle. Brother of Chrysale, it does not support to see this one letting itself carry out by the end of the nose by his wife, and gives his support for Clitandre and Henriette.
Martine , the maidservant. At the beginning of the part, it is returned by Philaminte to have spoken in spite about the grammatical rules. It returns at the end to defend the arguments of Clitandre and Henriette.

Topics and interpretation

Although the part treats education of the women partly, its interpretation was reduced a long time on this only subject. It was often quoted in example, in particular at the 19th century, to show that it is useless, even dangerous, to educate the girls too much.

This opinion is actually emitted in the part, but it does not summarize all its set of themes. Molière the place besides in the mouth of Chrysale, which, while affirming that the women must make the seam and the kitchen and keep silent themselves, is shown at the beginning unable to resist his wife when it returns Martine and announces her intention to marry Henriette with Trissotin.

As for the “erudite women”, they are not ridiculous because they want to be informed, but because they believe to be informed and do nothing but attend pedants without talent. Chrysale says it in Act III scene 7: “if you think of nourishing your spirit,/It is of quite hollow meat, so that each one known as” . On her side, Henriette, who on several occasions praises herself to be stupid or without instruction, for a long time knows the true value of Trissotin that its “erudite” colleagues idolâtrent.

In this part, Molière criticizes mainly the pedants and the poets “of court”, in particular Cotin and Ménage which inspired to him the characters of Trissotin and Vadius.

Structure of work

Act I - In the scene 1 , Henriette announces in Armande her intention to marry Clitandre. Armande, after having announced dislike that the marriage inspires to him, warns it: Clitandre was its sighing and it is possible that it still likes it. Clitandre contradicts in the scene 2 : the coldness of Armande extinguished its love and he any more but does not aspire to marry Henriette. In the scene 3 , Armande was withdrawn from spite and Henriette advises in Clitandre to gain her mother with their cause, considering it is it which directs the household. Clitandre knows that it should flatter it, but it finds their “studies” futile and cannot hide it. It meets however Bélise in the scene 4 and tries of him to speak, but she thinks that it makes him an indirect declaration of love and almost does not listen to it.
Act II - Ariste addresses to invisible Clitandre in the scene 1 and ensures it of its support. In order to lay out Chrysale well, it starts, in the scene 2 , by him to point out their insane youth. It is in the scene 3 that it comes to the proposal from Clitandre for Henriette, but Bélise intervenes to say to them that they are mistaken and that it is her whom Clitandre likes; Arist is not easily deceived and recalls that she already invented herself sighing. After its departure, they return in the scene 4 to the proposal, that Chrysale approves; when Ariste advises to him to speak about it with his wife, he retorts that it does not have anything to say on top and that he is the host.

But the true situation of the household reveals in the scene 5 when Martine announces that Philaminte hunting; this one, accompanied by Bélise, pursues it in the scene 6 and justifies the reference of the maidservant by her incorrect grammar, which is worse in its eyes than to break or steal something. In the scene 7 , Chrysale bursts and reproaches his wife for neglecting the good sense with the profit of its studies and its admiration for Trissotin. The debate “is prolonged” in the scene 8 where, while hearing of the marriage about Henriette, Philaminte that it chose Trissotin for husband to him, it announces with what Chrysale cannot what answer. When Ariste reappears in the scene 9 , he acknowledges his weakness to him but takes the resolution to more let himself dominate by his wife.

Act III - the scene 1 opens on the appearance of Trissotin and its “court” of erudite women. Henriette appears at the beginning of the scene 2 and wants to deviate, but Philaminte retains it while Trissotin starts the reading of its poems, then the erudite women make the description of their future “academy”. The scene 3 sees appearing Vadius; after being itself complimented mutually, him and Trissotin quarrel after Vadius criticized the sonnet of Trissotin. Vadius swears to be avenged.

Philaminte explains in the scene 4 why it retained Henriette: she announces her intention to him to marry it in Trissotin. Armande compliments it in the scene 5 , while recalling him that it must obey her mother. It is then in the scene 6 that Chrysale reappears and orders to him to accept Clitandre for husband, which Henriette does immediately. That delights everyone, except of course Armande.

Act IV - Armande brings back to Philaminte the preceding scene in the scene 1 . It benefits from it to criticize Clitandre, which appears in the scene 2 and asks him why it hates it so much. It reproaches him for being interested in Henriette whereas it would have liked that it continues to like it platoniquement. Philaminte concludes by recalling that in any event, Henriette is promised in Trissotin. This one made in its turn its appearance in the scene 3 and is devoted to a verbal tournament with Clitandre on the merits of science.

One then brings in the scene 4 a letter of Vadius where this one informs Philaminte that Trissotin wants any only with its richnesses. But it heading and decides to make come the notary to conclude the marriage immediately. Chrysale, informed in the scene 5 , decides to thwart its plans while going to seek the notary on its side.

Act V - Henriette meets Trissotin into private in the scene 1 and asks him to give up the marriage, but Trissotin heading, pretexting that it is insane in love with her. In the scene 2 , Chrysale arrives accompanied by Martine, and reaffirms her will to be the host while requiring to be constant. At this point in time Philaminte and the erudite women make come the notary in the scene 3 ; Chrysale and Philaminte name each one a different husband for Henriette, and Martine defends the choice of Chrysale.

the final dramatic turn of events is given by Ariste in the scene 4 : he announces in Philaminte that it lost its lawsuit and that Chrysale is ruined. Learning that, Trissotin tries to give up the marriage, and consequently acknowledges occasion which it was interested in Henriette only for her money, and fall in disgrace at Philaminte. Arist reveals whereas he lied to lead Trissotin to betray itself, and the part is concluded by the marriage from Clitandre and Henriette.

See too

Charles Cotin
Gilles Spares

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