The Affected Young Ladies: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Affected Young Ladies: Analysis of Major Characters" explores the dynamics of two naive young women, Magdelon and Cathos, who visit Paris and embody the excessive affectation and coquetry of their time. Their romantic ideals lead them to be easily deceived by the valets of La Grange and Du Croisy, who masquerade as gentlemen of high status. The contrast between the girls' artificiality and the genuine intentions of their suitors highlights the themes of deception and superficiality. The valets, Marquis de Mascarille and Viscount Jodelet, revel in their deception, crafting exaggerated tales of nobility that further entrap the young ladies in their fantasies. The story reaches a climax when the true identities of the valets are revealed in a dramatic fashion at a dance party, leading to a reckoning for Magdelon and Cathos. Gorgibus, the girls' father and uncle, embodies the confusion and frustration of the older generation, lamenting the foolishness and romantic nonsense that has ensnared his relatives. Overall, this analysis invites readers to consider the implications of societal norms surrounding romance and identity, particularly in the context of youth and deception.
The Affected Young Ladies: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Molière
First published: Les Précieuses ridicules, 1660 (English translation, 1732)
Genre: Play
Locale: Paris, France
Plot: Comedy of manners
Time: Seventeenth century
Magdelon (mahg-duh-LOHN) and Cathos (kah-TOH), two romantic young ladies from the country, visiting in Paris. They are very affected, in the manner current in their day, and are full of coquetry and artificiality. Being so artificial themselves, they are completely taken in by two gentlemen's valets who pass themselves off to the girls as a marquis and a Viscount. The girls' language is at times so affected as to be practically incomprehensible.
La Grange (lah grahnzh) and Du Croisy (dew krwah-ZEE), two young men who pay court to the romantic young ladies. They are so disgusted with the affectations of the girls that they connive to have their valets disguise themselves as gallants and call on the ladies. After a time, they expose the valets and strip off their finery, telling the young ladies that if they are so beguiled by the servants, they must love them just as much without their masters' clothes.
The Marquis de Mascarille (mah-skah-REE) and Viscount Jodelet (zhoh-deh-LAY), valets to La Grange and Du Croisy, respectively. Delighted to pass themselves off to the romantic young ladies as men of quality, they call attention to their perfumed finery, compose absurd verses and songs, recount imaginary battle heroics, and boast of their noble connections. At the height of a dancing party, their masters enter, expose the ruse, and strip the valets of their fine clothes.
Gorgibus (gohr-zhee-BEWS), Magdelon's father and Cathos' uncle. He is completely confused and befuddled by the affectations of the two young ladies and cannot understand their insistence that La Grange and Du Croisy are too sincere and dull. He is angry and mortified to learn that the valets have tricked the two girls. Feeling disgraced by the trick, he curses foolishness, affectation, and romantic nonsense.