Men and Masks: A Study of Molière

Lionel Gossman

• Publisher: Paeroa House
• Year: 2026
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9781779795021
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

Behind the glittering facade of 17th-century French theater lies a world where truth and deception dance in perpetual embrace. In the salons of Paris and the royal court of Versailles, one man wielded comedy like a surgeon's blade, exposing the raw nerves of human vanity, greed, and self-delusion. Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known to history as Molière, transformed the stage into a mirror that reflected society's most uncomfortable truths, and in doing so, created theatrical masterpieces that continue to resonate with devastating accuracy today. Lionel Gossman's penetrating analysis strips away centuries of academic dust to reveal the pulsating heart of Molière's genius. This is not merely a study of dramatic technique, but an exploration of how one artist captured the eternal human struggle between authentic self and performed identity. Gossman illuminates the intricate relationship between the masks we wear in daily life and the theatrical masks that paradoxically reveal deeper truths. Through meticulous examination of plays like Tartuffe, The Misanthrope, and Don Juan, we witness how Molière's characters become archetypal figures that transcend their historical moment. The hypocrite, the social climber, the religious fraud, the romantic idealist – all emerge as timeless portraits of human nature's complexity. Gossman's scholarship breathes life into these theatrical creations, showing how Molière's comedy operates as both entertainment and social criticism, wielding laughter as both weapon and healing balm. In our age of social media personas and carefully curated public images, Molière's insights into the performance of identity feel remarkably contemporary. This book offers readers far more than literary criticism – it provides a masterclass in understanding human psychology and social dynamics. Gossman's elegant prose makes sophisticated analysis accessible, transforming what could be dry academic discourse into a compelling journey through the landscape of human behavior. Whether you're a student of literature, theater professional, or simply someone fascinated by the enduring questions of authenticity versus performance, this study illuminates why Molière's voice remains so vital and necessary.

Table of contents

• Title page
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• DEDICATION
• Preface
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• 1 — AMPHITRYON
• 2 — DOM JUAN
• 3 — LE MISANTHROPE
• 4 — LE TARTUFFE
• 5 — GEORGE DANDIN
• 6 — MOLIÈRE IN HIS OWN TIME
• 7 — AFTER MOLIÈRE