The Learned Ladies - Molière

Summary

'Les Femmes savantes' (The Learned Ladies) is a five-act comedy by Molière, first performed in 1672. The play satirizes pretentiousness, affectation, and the misuse of intellect, particularly among women of a certain social standing who prioritize pedantry and pseudo-intellectualism over common sense and domestic duties.

The plot revolves around two sisters, Armande and Henriette, and their parents, Chrysale and Philaminte. Henriette is a sensible young woman who wishes to marry Clitandre, a respectable and earnest man. However, her mother, Philaminte, her aunt Bélise, and her elder sister Armande are all obsessed with intellectual pursuits, poetry, and philosophy, guided by the charlatan poet Trissotin. Philaminte, a domineering woman, is determined to marry Henriette to Trissotin, believing him to be a genius, despite his obvious mediocrity and self-interest. Chrysale, the father, a good-natured but weak man, is initially powerless against his wife's will. The play builds through comical confrontations between common sense and pedantry, culminating in a clever scheme devised by Chrysale's brother, Ariste, to expose Trissotin's true mercenary nature and ensure Henriette's happiness.

Book Sections

Section: Act I

The play opens in the home of Chrysale and Philaminte. Armande expresses her disdain for marriage and worldly affections, preferring a life devoted to intellectual pursuits, and scolds her younger sister Henriette for wishing to marry. Armande reveals that she herself had previously rejected Clitandre, who has now fallen in love with Henriette. Henriette, on the other hand, is modest and practical, desiring a simple domestic life with the man she loves. Bélise, their aunt, enters and misinterprets Clitandre's affection for Henriette as a disguised declaration of love for herself, believing all men are secretly infatuated with her. Clitandre arrives and, after trying to politely disabuse Bélise of her notion, declares his genuine love for Henriette, which infuriates Armande.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Armande	Eldest daughter, proud, intellectual snob, disdainful of marriage, somewhat envious.	To pursue a life of pure intellect and philosophy, to maintain a perceived superiority, to prevent Henriette's marriage to Clitandre out of a subtle jealousy.
Henriette	Younger daughter, sensible, modest, practical, kind-hearted.	To marry Clitandre, to live a simple, happy domestic life, to follow common sense and affection.
Bélise	Chrysale's sister, deluded, romantic, believes all men are in love with her.	To indulge in her romantic fantasies, to interpret every action as a sign of affection towards her, to participate in the "learned" circle.
Clitandre	A young gentleman, honorable, sensible, sincere, genuinely in love with Henriette.	To marry Henriette, to prove his worth, to navigate the absurdities of the family to achieve his goal.

Section: Act II

Clitandre seeks the support of Chrysale and his brother, Ariste, to win Henriette's hand. Chrysale, though fond of Clitandre and wanting Henriette to be happy, is portrayed as weak-willed and dominated by his wife, Philaminte. He assures Clitandre that he approves of the match but admits his wife makes all the decisions. Ariste, a voice of reason, promises to help.

The scene then shifts to Philaminte, who is furious with her cook, Martine, not for any culinary fault, but for using grammatically incorrect language. Martine, a woman of simple common sense, defends herself, arguing that good food is more important than perfect grammar. Philaminte, supported by Bélise and Armande, dismisses Martine, prioritizing pedantry over practicality. This incident highlights Philaminte's misplaced values and her oppressive intellectualism. Chrysale tries to intervene on Martine's behalf but is quickly silenced by his wife. Philaminte then reveals her plan: she intends for Henriette to marry Trissotin, the supposedly brilliant scholar and poet, rather than Clitandre.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Chrysale	Father, kind-hearted, well-meaning, but weak-willed, easily dominated by his wife.	To maintain peace in the household, to see his daughters happy, but lacks the backbone to assert his will against Philaminte.
Philaminte	Mother, domineering, pedantic, obsessed with intellectual pursuits and appearances, dismissive of common sense.	To elevate her family's intellectual standing, to marry her daughter to a "genius" (Trissotin), to enforce her academic and linguistic standards.
Ariste	Chrysale's brother, sensible, clear-headed, practical, a voice of reason.	To help his niece Henriette, to restore common sense to the household, to expose hypocrisy.
Martine	The cook, common-sense, loyal, speaks plainly, unconcerned with grammatical correctness.	To do her job well, to speak her mind, to defend herself against unreasonable accusations.

Section: Act III

The "learned ladies" – Philaminte, Armande, and Bélise – gather with Trissotin. They engage in a ludicrous display of intellectual affectedness, discussing philosophy, astronomy, and grammatical rules with great solemnity and pretentiousness. Trissotin reads his latest poem and sonnet, which are met with rapturous applause and exaggerated praise from the ladies, despite their obvious mediocrity. The scene is a highlight of Molière's satire of intellectual snobbery.

Another scholar, Vadius, arrives. Initially, Trissotin and Vadius exchange overly complimentary greetings and praises of each other's work. However, their mutual admiration quickly turns into a petty, venomous academic quarrel over their respective poetic talents and classical scholarship, revealing their vanity and intellectual insecurity. This squabble highlights the hollowness of their "learning." Philaminte remains undeterred and reaffirms her decision to marry Henriette to Trissotin.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Trissotin	A charlatan poet and scholar, conceited, untalented, sycophantic, a mercenary.	To gain social standing and wealth through flattery and pretending to be a genius, to marry into a rich family.
Vadius	Another pedantic scholar, rival of Trissotin, equally vain and pompous.	To assert his intellectual superiority, to engage in academic disputes, to be recognized as a great scholar.

Section: Act IV

Chrysale, finally fed up with his wife's irrationality and tyranny, attempts to assert his authority. He consults his brother Ariste, who encourages him to stand firm and refuse Trissotin as a son-in-law. A heated family council ensues, with Chrysale weakly trying to uphold his decision to marry Henriette to Clitandre, while Philaminte, supported by Armande and Bélise, vehemently pushes for Trissotin. The argument reveals Chrysale's fundamental timidity and Philaminte's unyielding will. Despite Chrysale's protests and Henriette's pleas, Philaminte remains resolute, citing astrological predictions and Trissotin's supposed genius as reasons. She declares that the marriage will proceed that very evening. Ariste then proposes a plan to expose Trissotin's true character.

Section: Act V

Ariste implements his plan. He enters with two documents, claiming that one is a letter announcing Chrysale's complete financial ruin, with all his property seized due to an unfortunate lawsuit. The other document is a court order demanding an immediate payment of a large sum. Philaminte, while initially shocked, tries to maintain her stoic intellectual facade. Trissotin, upon hearing the news of the family's supposed poverty, immediately begins to make excuses, claiming his "tender heart" cannot bear to see Henriette's misfortune, and politely withdraws his marriage proposal, revealing his mercenary motives.

Clitandre, on the other hand, immediately declares that he will marry Henriette even if she has nothing, affirming his genuine love and loyalty. Ariste then produces a third letter, from an uncle in America, offering a rich inheritance to Henriette, but only if she marries a man of simple virtue and not a scholar. Trissotin, hearing of the inheritance, tries to backtrack and reaffirm his interest, but his hypocrisy has been fully exposed.

Philaminte, finally seeing Trissotin's true colors, is forced to concede. Chrysale, emboldened by Trissotin's unmasking, finally asserts his paternal authority. He gives his blessing to Henriette and Clitandre. The play concludes with the sensible couple united, and the learned ladies humbled, at least for the moment.

Literary Genre

Comedy of Manners, Satirical Comedy, Farce.

Author's Details

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière (1622–1673), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature. Born in Paris, he initially studied law but abandoned it to pursue a career in theatre. He founded the Illustre Théâtre in 1643, which initially failed. After touring the provinces for thirteen years, he returned to Paris and gained the patronage of Louis XIV. Molière's plays frequently satirized the hypocrisies of French society, the medical profession, religious bigotry, and the affectations of the bourgeois class. His works are characterized by sharp wit, strong characterization, and a blend of slapstick and intellectual comedy. Some of his most famous plays include 'Tartuffe', 'The Misanthrope', 'The Imaginary Invalid', and 'The Bourgeois Gentleman'. He collapsed on stage during a performance of 'The Imaginary Invalid' and died shortly after.

Moral Lesson

The play's primary moral lesson is the importance of common sense, moderation, and genuine virtue over superficial learning, pretentiousness, and affectation. It critiques intellectual snobbery and the dangers of allowing academic pursuits to overshadow practical duties, domestic harmony, and true human connection. Molière advocates for a balanced approach to life, where reason and good judgment prevail over vanity and misplaced intellectual pride. It also champions the idea that true wisdom lies not in accumulating obscure knowledge or perfect grammar, but in practical intelligence and sincere emotions.

Curiosities

• Real-Life Inspiration: It is widely believed that the character of Trissotin was a satirical portrayal of the real-life abbé and poet Charles Cotin, a popular figure in Parisian salons whom Molière had a rivalry with. Vadius is thought to be a caricature of Gilles Ménage, another scholar and critic. Molière's direct satire of contemporary figures caused significant controversy.
• The Power of Women: While satirizing the misdirection of women's intellectual pursuits, the play also indirectly comments on the limited roles available to intelligent women in 17th-century French society, which might have driven some to seek intellectual validation as a form of empowerment, albeit in an exaggerated and ridiculed manner.
• Linguistic Debate: The play engages with the ongoing 17th-century debate about the purity of the French language and the role of the Académie française. Philaminte's obsession with grammar reflects a real cultural concern of the time.
• Molière's Later Work: 'Les Femmes savantes' is considered one of Molière's mature comedies, showcasing his refined ability to blend social critique with masterful character development and comedic timing. It was written relatively late in his career, just a year after 'Le Bourgeois gentilhomme'.