The Magnificent Lovers - Molière

Summary

'Les Amants magnifiques' (The Magnificent Lovers) is a comédie-ballet by Molière, commissioned by King Louis XIV. The plot revolves around Princess Eriphile, whose mother, Queen Clyméne, is pressuring her to choose a husband from two vying princes, Iphicrate and Timoclès. Both princes attempt to win Eriphile's hand through lavish and extravagant spectacles, as dictated by the Queen's desire for a truly "magnificent" match. However, Eriphile has secretly fallen in love with an unknown, seemingly humble man she encountered during a hunt. This man is, in fact, Sostrate, the valiant commander of the King's armies, who is also responsible for organizing the very entertainments the princes are using to compete. Sostrate is caught between his duty and his hidden love for the princess. Through a series of misunderstandings, consultations with a manipulative astrologer and a (sometimes ambiguous) oracle, and a final, heroic act involving a combat with a monster, Sostrate's true identity, courage, and worth are revealed, allowing him to overcome the wealthy but undeserving princes and win Eriphile's hand.

Book Sections

Section 1

The play opens in the beautiful Valleys of Tempe in Thessaly, where Princess Eriphile is introduced alongside her mother, Queen Clyméne. The Queen is determined to find a "magnificent" suitor for her daughter, someone who can provide the grandest and most impressive displays of wealth and power. Two princes, Iphicrate and Timoclès, are currently competing for Eriphile's hand, each trying to outdo the other with lavish entertainments, ballets, and spectacles. Eriphile, however, is weary of their superficial rivalry and her mother's constant pressure. She finds neither prince appealing. A philosopher, Lyciscas, and a cynical courtier, Aristione, offer contrasting perspectives on love, ambition, and the absurdity of the courtly world. The first act establishes the central dilemma and the opulent, yet somewhat hollow, setting.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
ERIPHILE	Princess, intelligent, discerning, weary of superficiality.	To find true love, resist her mother's arranged marriage, and escape the constant rivalry of the princes.
CLYMÉNE	Queen, Eriphile's mother, proud, obsessed with grandeur and magnificence.	To secure a "magnificent" and prestigious match for her daughter, reflecting her own status and power.
IPHICRATE	Prince, one of the suitors, wealthy, ambitious, somewhat arrogant.	To win Eriphile's hand through lavish displays, believing wealth and status are sufficient to impress.
TIMOCLÈS	Prince, the other suitor, equally wealthy and ambitious, rival to Iphicrate.	To outdo Iphicrate and win Eriphile's hand through even grander spectacles and demonstrations of power.
LYCISCAS	Philosopher, intellectual, offers reasoned and often detached observations.	To comment on the nature of love, power, and human folly from a philosophical perspective.
ARISTIONE	Courtier, cynical, witty, observes the court with a critical, often sarcastic eye.	To provide commentary and comic relief through satire of courtly pretensions and the princes' extravagant folly.

Section 2

In this section, Eriphile confides in her maid, Clitidas, revealing that her heart has already been captured by an "unknown" man whom she met during a recent hunting expedition. She describes him as noble, courageous, and charming, a stark contrast to the boisterous princes. Unbeknownst to Eriphile, this mysterious man is Sostrate, the respected commander of the King's armies. Sostrate is officially introduced in his capacity as the orchestrator of all the magnificent diversions and spectacles. He is deeply in love with Eriphile but keeps his feelings hidden due to his lower social standing compared to the princes. He finds himself in a difficult position, forced to facilitate the very courtship that threatens his own hopes.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
SOSTRATE	Commander of the King's armies, valorous, honorable, secretly in love with Eriphile.	To serve his king and ensure the success of the courtly entertainments, while secretly hoping to win Eriphile's affection despite his perceived lower status. He is torn between duty and personal desire.
CLITIDAS	Eriphile's confidante and maid, practical, supportive.	To advise and support Princess Eriphile, helping her navigate the complexities of courtly life and the pressures from her mother, while also witnessing and commenting on the events.

Section 3

The rivalry between Iphicrate and Timoclès intensifies, with each prince staging even more elaborate ballets and entertainments to impress Queen Clyméne. Eriphile's inner turmoil grows as she is increasingly repulsed by the princes' superficiality and longs for her unknown lover. She even seeks Sostrate's counsel, unaware that he is the man she loves, describing her secret affection to him. Sostrate, while overjoyed by her confession, must maintain his composure and conceal his true feelings, which causes him immense anguish. Meanwhile, Queen Clyméne, seeking divine guidance, consults Anaxarque, an astrologer, who frequently offers convoluted and self-serving prophecies, further complicating the situation and fueling the Queen's superstitions. This section often highlights the comedic absurdity of the court's reliance on omens and the princes' ridiculous displays.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
ANAXARQUE	Astrologer, shrewd, manipulative, often gives ambiguous or self-serving prophecies.	To maintain his influence over the Queen, gain favor, and manipulate events to his own advantage or at least maintain his position.

Section 4

Queen Clyméne, still unable to make a definitive choice between the two princes, decides to consult the Oracle of Delphi for guidance. Sostrate, aware of Eriphile's true feelings and hoping to find a way to resolve the situation, is tasked with arranging the oracle's pronouncements. This often involves a degree of manipulation, as Sostrate attempts to subtly steer the oracle's message in a way that might benefit Eriphile's secret love, without revealing his own involvement or feelings. The oracle's pronouncements are initially ambiguous, stating that Eriphile will marry the one who performs "the most magnificent action." This ambiguity only heightens the tension and confusion, leading the Queen and the princes to misinterpret the oracle's true intent, believing it refers to another grand spectacle. Eriphile's desperation grows, fearing her fate is slipping further from her grasp.

Section 5

The climax of the play unfolds. To interpret the oracle's ambiguous decree, Queen Clyméne, under Anaxarque's influence, proposes a final, perilous trial: a combat against a terrifying monster that has been plaguing the region, and even demands a human sacrifice. The two princes, Iphicrate and Timoclès, initially hesitate, showing their true cowardly nature. It is Sostrate, the valiant commander, who steps forward, volunteers to fight the monster, and bravely confronts it. He emerges victorious, demonstrating true courage and heroism, rather than mere ostentation. Witnessing Sostrate's magnificent action and the princes' cowardice, Queen Clyméne finally understands the true meaning of the oracle. She realizes Sostrate's worth and Eriphile's genuine affection for him. The two rival princes are dismissed, and Sostrate, no longer an "unknown" man but a proven hero, is declared worthy of Eriphile's hand. The play concludes with a celebratory grand ballet, marking the union of the magnificent lovers.

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Literary Genre: Comédie-ballet

Author Details:
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière (1622–1673), was a French playwright, actor, and poet. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature. His works include comedies, farces, comédie-ballets, and tragédie-ballets. Molière's plays often satirized the hypocrisy of French society, the medical profession, and the bourgeoisie, while also championing reason and common sense. He led his own theatre troupe, the troupe de Molière, which eventually became the Comédie-Française. He collaborated frequently with composers like Jean-Baptiste Lully to create his innovative comédie-ballets.

Morale:
The primary moral of 'Les Amants magnifiques' is that true merit, courage, and genuine affection are superior to superficial wealth, ostentation, and calculated matches. It champions genuine love and heroism over the empty displays of power and status. The play also subtly critiques the absurdity of courtly excess, the vanity of false grandeur, and the folly of superstition and manipulation (as seen through Anaxarque). It suggests that while appearances may be magnificent, true magnificence lies in character and deeds.

Curiosities:

• 'Les Amants magnifiques' was a grand comédie-ballet created specifically for King Louis XIV and performed at the Royal Garden of the Tuileries in 1670. It was part of the elaborate court entertainments known as the "Divertissements Royaux."
• The King himself often participated in the ballets of these productions, and it is believed that Louis XIV may have danced in the ballets of 'Les Amants magnifiques', although not in the speaking roles.
• The play featured extensive use of elaborate stage machinery, costumes, music (by Lully), and dance, making it a truly spectacular production for its time.
• Unlike many of Molière's more biting social satires, 'Les Amants magnifiques' is lighter in tone, designed primarily to entertain the monarch and his court with its beauty and spectacle, while still carrying a subtle message about true worth.
• The character of Sostrate, though of lower rank than the princes, is presented as the true hero, reflecting a common theme in Molière's works where virtue and common sense often prevail over aristocratic pretense.