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Le Médecin malgré lui

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description Le Médecin malgré lui Overview

Le Médecin malgré lui (The Doctor in Spite of Himself) is a three-act comedy by the French playwright Molière, first performed in 1666. The plot follows Sganarelle, a woodcutter who is beaten and coerced by locals into pretending to be a physician to cure a wealthy man's supposedly mute daughter. The play incorporates elements of traditional commedia dell'arte improvisation and satirizes the contemporary medical profession.

help Le Médecin malgré lui FAQ

What is the plot of Molière's Le Médecin malgré lui?

The plot follows a woodcutter named Sganarelle who is beaten by locals and forced to pretend to be a brilliant physician. He ends up successfully "curing" a wealthy man's daughter, Lucinde, who was only faking her illness to avoid an arranged marriage.

When was Le Médecin malgré lui first performed?

Molière's three-act comedy was first performed in 1666. It remains one of his most frequently revived farces, celebrated for its sharp satirical take on the medical profession.

Who is Sganarelle in The Doctor in Spite of Himself?

Sganarelle is the central character, a drunken and abusive woodcutter who unexpectedly becomes a fake doctor. He is a classic Molière character type, often representing the clever but flawed common man who outsmarts the elites.

Is Le Médecin malgré lui based on an earlier work?

Yes, Molière actually wrote it as a rapid remake of his own earlier comedy, Le Médecin volant (The Flying Doctor). He adapted the earlier plot while heavily incorporating the Italian commedia dell'arte style that was popular at the time.

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