The School for Wives: Analysis of Setting
"The School for Wives" is a comedic play by Molière that intricately explores themes of love, jealousy, and social dynamics within a structured setting. The play unfolds in a Parisian public square, a bustling hub that mirrors the societal interactions and character relationships central to the narrative. This open setting facilitates the comedic elements of the story, particularly through the character of Arnolphe, who adopts the alias "Monsieur de la Souche" in an attempt to disguise his true intentions regarding his ward, Agnes. The interactions between Arnolphe and the young, naive Horace take place outdoors, allowing for a constant play of misunderstandings and revelations that drive the plot forward.
By situating the drama in a public space, Molière adheres to the Aristotelian unities of time and place, emphasizing the immediacy and absurdity of the characters' circumstances. The square serves as a backdrop for the unfolding tension as Arnolphe's jealousy and Horace's innocence clash. The setting not only enhances the comedic misunderstandings but also reflects the societal values and expectations of seventeenth-century France. Ultimately, the open square becomes a critical component of the narrative, shaping the interactions and motivations of the characters, while also contributing to the overall humor and critique of social norms.
The School for Wives: Analysis of Setting
First published: 1663 as L’École des femmes (English translation, 1732)
First produced: 1662
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Comedy of manners
Time of work: Seventeenth century
Asterisk denotes entries on real places.
Places Discussed
*Parisian public square
*Parisian public square. The play’s setting—an open square in a city full of coquettes and seducers—is integral to the comedy, as well as essential to adherence to the Aristotelian unity of place, which was essential in seventeenth century French drama. Arnolphe’s silly vanity induces him to change his name to “Monsieur de la Souche,” which allows the newly arrived young Horace to believe that Agnes is the ward of a different man and makes it necessary for Molière to stage his frequent encounters with Arnolphe outdoors. The information obtained from Horace by the increasingly horrified Arnolphe motivates the middle-aged man to decide to marry his ward immediately, thus enabling Molière to adhere to another Aristotelian unity—that of time. Most of the laughter the play evokes is a function of Horace’s and Arnolphe’s talking at cross purposes. Horace is a newcomer, a friendly, trusting young man who does not realize he is confiding in the Monsieur de la Souche, who is the strict and jealous guardian of the sweet, innocent, and desirable Agnes, a seventeen-year-old ingénue fresh from the convent.
Bibliography
Calder, Andrew. Molière: The Theory and Practice of Comedy. London: Athlone Press, 1993. Examines connections between dramatic theory and theatrical performances of Molière’s comedies. Discusses conflicts between ridiculous and sympathetic characters and the role of moral judgment in The School for Wives.
Guicharnaud, Jacques, ed. Molière: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1964. Contains numerous essays originally written by major critics in English or translated from French into English for this volume on Molière’s comedies. Explores satire, parody, comedy of manners, and wit in Molière’s comedies.
Hall, H. Gaston. Comedy in Context: Essays on Molière. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1984. Contains twelve essays by an eminent Molière specialist. Examines comic images, social satire, and parody in The School for Wives.
Palmer, John. Molière: His Life and Works. London: G. Bell and Sons, 1930. A well-documented biography of Molière’s career as a playwright, actor, and director of a theatrical troupe. Discusses the perverse nature of Arnolphe’s failed attempt to dominate Agnès and his specious reasoning in The School for Wives.
Walker, Hallam. Molière. Updated ed. Boston: Twayne, 1990. Contains an excellent general introduction to Molière’s comedies and an annotated bibliography of important critical studies on Molière. Examines images of marriage and the exploitation of women in The School for Wives.