Molfetta

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

a city of Italy in the province of Bari delle Puglie. It has many important ancient and modern buildings, a library, a museum, and a theater. Its excellent harbor makes it an important commercial center. Pop. about 45,000. MOLIÈRE (mo-lyar), the professional name of JEAN BAPTISTE POQUELIN (pok-lang), a French dramatist; born in Paris, France, Jan. 15, 1622. He took the name of Molière, out of regard to his parents, when he first became an actor. He was brought up to his father's trade, that of upholsterer; :; but when 14 years of age he was sent to study at the college of Clermont, where he remained several years. He studied law at Orleans, and was received advocate at Paris, and in 1646 he began acting there with a company of amateurs. After obtaining great success in the provinces, he settled at Paris in 1658, having previously produced his two comedies, "The Madcap" and "The Loving Spite." In the following year he increased his reputation by the comedy "The Absurd Précieuses," which had a run of about 120 nights. He excited the animosity of the medical profession, by several sharp attacks on them in his comedies; and that of the priestly and priest-ridden classes, by his terrible attack on pious hypocrites in the famous "Tartuffe," which was withdrawn from the stage by order of the king. The order was annulled in 1668. Among the most admired plays of Molière are: "School for Women"; "Tartuffe"; "The Misanthrope"; "The Wise Women"; "Physician in Spite of Himself"; and "The Imaginary Învalid." His works, it ورلود MOLIÈRE is said, have been more frequently republished than those of any other French author. In 1673 he took part in the presentation of his last comedy, "The Imaginary Invalid," being at the time seriously out of health; the effort was too much for him, and he died the same night, Feb. 17.