The Princess of Elis - Molière

Summary

'La Princesse d'Élide' is a comédie-ballet by Molière, first performed in 1664 for King Louis XIV's lavish festival, "Les Plaisirs de l'Île enchantée." The play revolves around Cidné, the Princess of Élide, a beautiful and spirited woman who has proudly vowed never to fall in love, viewing it as a weakness that compromises one's freedom. Her father, the Prince of Élide, arranges a tournament to find her a husband, attracting three noble suitors: Princes Euryale, Ariste, and Tésée. Euryale, deeply smitten but frustrated by Cidné's coldness, devises an elaborate scheme. He pretends to abandon his pursuit of the Princess and instead passionately declares his love for Aglante, one of Cidné's ladies-in-waiting. This feigned indifference and open display of affection for another woman gradually spark jealousy and then genuine love within the Princess. Through this ruse, Euryale manages to break down Cidné's prideful resistance, leading her to acknowledge and accept her own true feelings for him. The play is interspersed with ballets and musical interludes, characteristic of the comédie-ballet genre.

Book Sections

Section 1: Act I

The play opens with the Prince of Élide hosting a magnificent festival and tournament, with the ultimate goal of finding a husband for his daughter, Princess Cidné. However, Cidné is firm in her resolution to remain independent and avoid love, which she views as a demeaning weakness. Her father tries to reason with her, but she is unwavering. Three princes—Euryale, Ariste, and Tésée—have arrived to compete for her hand. Cidné receives them all with a detached politeness, making it clear she is not interested in any of them. Prince Euryale, deeply affected by her beauty but stung by her coldness, decides that conventional courtship will not work. He confides in his trusted friend, Lyciscas, his bold plan: he will pretend to fall in love with one of the Princess's ladies-in-waiting, hoping to provoke jealousy in Cidné and thereby awaken her hidden affections.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Cidné	The Princess of Élide; beautiful, proud, independent, and disdainful of love.	To maintain her autonomy and avoid the emotional vulnerability she associates with romantic love.
Prince Euryale	A handsome, intelligent, and determined prince; genuinely in love with Cidné.	To win Cidné's heart, employing a clever strategy to overcome her proud resistance.
Prince Ariste	One of the suitors for Cidné's hand; earnest and direct.	To win Cidné's affection and hand in marriage.
Prince Tésée	Another suitor; also sincere in his pursuit of Cidné.	To win Cidné's affection and hand in marriage.
Lyciscas	Euryale's loyal confidant; wise and supportive.	To assist his master, Euryale, in his romantic endeavors and offer counsel.
Prince of Élide	Cidné's father; benevolent and concerned for his daughter's future.	To see his daughter happily married and ensure the continuation of his royal line.

Section 2: Act II

Euryale puts his plan into action with great theatricality. He conspicuously begins to court Aglante, one of Cidné's ladies-in-waiting, showering her with passionate declarations and compliments, always ensuring that Cidné is an observer of these interactions. He makes grand gestures of love and devotion towards Aglante, staging scenes of tender affection. Cidné, initially trying to appear unconcerned and even amused, finds herself increasingly disturbed by Euryale's ardent pursuit of another woman. She rationalizes her discomfort as mere wounded pride, or perhaps a slight concern for Aglante's potential heartbreak. The jester, Moron, offers cynical and witty comments on love and the proceedings, adding a layer of comic commentary on human folly.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Aglante	One of Cidné's ladies-in-waiting; initially flattered and perhaps genuinely attracted to Euryale.	To respond to what she perceives as genuine affection and possibly to elevate her own status at court.
Moron	The Princess's jester; a sharp-witted and cynical observer of human nature.	To entertain the court, provide satirical commentary, and secure his position through wit.

Section 3: Act III

Cidné's unease intensifies, evolving into unmistakable jealousy. She struggles to reconcile her previous declarations against love with the growing bitterness she feels when she sees Euryale with Aglante. She confides in Philis, another lady-in-waiting, admitting her discomfort but still refusing to name it as love. Philis, being perceptive, subtly encourages the Princess to acknowledge her true feelings. Meanwhile, Princes Ariste and Tésée are completely bewildered by Euryale's sudden change of affection and his passionate pursuit of Aglante, failing to grasp the deception. Euryale, observing Cidné's growing agitation, feels his plan is progressing as intended and continues his feigned courtship of Aglante with even greater conviction.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Philis	Another of Cidné's ladies-in-waiting; insightful and empathetic.	To support and discreetly guide the Princess, recognizing the true nature of her internal struggle.

Section 4: Act IV

The Princess is now in deep turmoil. Her pride, which has been her shield, is in direct conflict with her burgeoning emotions. She confesses to Philis that she feels an inexplicable sadness and resentment when she sees Euryale with Aglante, even going so far as to criticize Aglante's character. Euryale, sensing that Cidné is on the verge of admitting her feelings, decides to deliver the final blow. He stages a dramatic scene where he feigns utter despair, claiming that Aglante has rejected his "sincere" love (a further layer to his deception, or perhaps Aglante is now genuinely interested, complicating things for Euryale) and that he is so heartbroken he must leave the court forever. This declaration, intended to be overheard by Cidné, pushes her to the brink of emotional collapse.

Section 5: Act V

Faced with the imminent departure of Euryale, Cidné can no longer suppress her true feelings. Panic-stricken, she confronts him. Though she tries to maintain an air of proud indifference, her words betray her. She confesses her growing affection for him and her profound distress at the thought of him leaving. Euryale, having achieved his goal, reveals his entire ruse. He explains that his love for her was always genuine and that his elaborate courtship of Aglante was merely a strategy to break through her self-imposed barrier against love. Relieved and overjoyed, Cidné gracefully admits her defeat, acknowledging the power of love, and accepts Euryale's proposal. The play concludes with festive ballets and celebrations, marking the triumph of genuine affection over pride and stubborn resistance.

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Literary Genre: Comédie-ballet

Author Facts:

• Full Name: Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière.
• Birth/Death: Born in Paris in 1622, he died in 1673, famously collapsing on stage during a performance of his own play, Le Malade imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid).
• Occupation: He was a celebrated playwright, actor, and director, widely regarded as one of the greatest masters of comedy in world literature.
• Patronage: Molière's troupe, the Troupe de Monsieur, later known as the Troupe du Roi, enjoyed the strong patronage of King Louis XIV, for whom he often created spectacular court entertainments.
• Legacy: His works, including Tartuffe, The Misanthrope, and The Bourgeois Gentleman, are renowned for their sharp wit, social satire, and insightful portrayals of human folly, hypocrisy, and class distinctions in 17th-century France.

Moral of the Story:
The central moral of 'La Princesse d'Élide' is that love is a powerful and natural human force that cannot be truly resisted or denied, regardless of pride or preconceived notions. It illustrates that attempts to suppress one's true emotions often lead to internal conflict and eventual surrender, and that genuine happiness often lies in embracing vulnerability and accepting the affections of the heart. The play also subtly critiques the vanity of excessive pride and the futility of trying to defy one's own human nature.

Curiosities:

• Royal Commission: The play was specifically commissioned by King Louis XIV as part of "Les Plaisirs de l'Île enchantée," an extravagant week-long festival held at the Palace of Versailles in May 1664. It was the central dramatic piece of the second day's festivities.
• Hasty Composition: Due to the immense pressure and very tight deadline for the festival, Molière famously completed only the first act in prose. The subsequent acts were performed with a mixture of prose and hastily written verse, suggesting the speed at which it was composed. For its later public run, Molière adapted the entire play into verse.
• Integration of Arts: 'La Princesse d'Élide' is a prime example of the comédie-ballet, a genre Molière largely pioneered with the composer Jean-Baptiste Lully. In these works, music and dance are not mere interludes but are integral to the plot and the overall theatrical experience, often reflecting the characters' emotions or advancing the narrative.
• Source of Inspiration: While distinctively Molière's, the plot draws inspiration from various sources, including one of the interpolated stories within Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quijote, 'El curioso impertinente' (The Impertinently Curious Man), which also features a character trying to test his lover's fidelity.
• King's Participation: During "Les Plaisirs de l'Île enchantée," King Louis XIV himself famously participated in some of the ballet sequences, demonstrating his personal involvement in the arts and blurring the lines between monarch and performer.