Tags
Engravings by Moreau le jeune, Jean-Batiste de Lully, Les Femmes savantes, Les Précieuses ridicules, Molière, Pierre Michard
Portrait of Molière by Pierre Mignard (ca. 1658)
I’m late again.
My doctor asked me to take one Aspirin tablet every morning, to avoid a cardiovascular accident. It was prescribed medication. However, I suffer from a very mild form of haemophilia, so I haemorrhaged. It happened during the night, when I was sound asleep. I did not notice I had bled until morning, when I saw dry blood on the bedclothes, all around my mouth, my teeth, my hands, my night gown. What a mess!
So, I stayed put for a few days.
Les Femmes savantes (1672) is hilarious, but there are comments that could lead one to think that Molière was a misogynist. He wasn’t, but he featured pedants and women who opposed marriage, sexual intercourse, especially. The laws governing comedies demand a marriage, i.e. the perpetuation of life.
Molière features characters who cannot steer a middle-ground (called modération [restraint]) and threaten the marriage of comedy’s young lovers. Les Femmes savantes has affinities with Les Précieuses ridicules (1659). Magdelon and Cathos are blinded by their wish to open a salon. They cannot tell that Mascarille and Jodelet are valets to La Grange and Du Croisy, fine young men they have rejected.
Henriette’s mother, Philaminte, her sister Armande and aunt, Bélise, are blinded not so much by genuine knowledge, but by pedantry. They want Henriette to marry Trissotin (sot means fool or idiot, and tri suggests trinity [three]). As for Henriette’s father, Chrysalde, although he wishes his daughter to marry Clitandre, he does as his wife dictates. Philaminte runs their household, their ménage.
The Cast
- our femmes savantes are Philaminte, Chrysale’s wife, Bélise and Armande
- the young lovers are Henriette (Armande’s sister) and Clitandre
- our pedant is Trissotin (bel esprit)
- Chrysale is Armande and Henriette’s father
- Ariste is Chrysale’s brother, a helper, and the raisonneur
- Vadius is a learned man
- the play also features servants, Martine is the most important
The dramatis personæ will be given in my next post.
Les Femmes savantes
(engraving by Moreau le jeune) (wiki2.org)
Lully — Marche royale
Les Précieuses ridicules (engraving by Moreau le jeune) (wiki2.org.)
© Micheline Walker
23 March 2019
WordPress
Micheline's Blog 
Please change doctors to a more careful practitioner! antonia
On Sat, Mar 23, 2019 at 11:39 AM Micheline’s Blog wrote:
> michelinewalker posted: ” I’m late again. My doctor asked me to take one > Aspirin tablet every morning, to avoid a cardiovascular accident. It was > prescribed medication. I suffer from a very mild form of haemophilia, so I > haemorrhaged. It happened during the night, when I was so” >
LikeLiked by 1 person
Antonia,
I hope my experience will help others. One can’t always go by the book, which many doctors do. One must also take a patient’s history into account. I suffer from a very mild case of haemophilia, but a haemorraghe can kill. I know from experience. Aspirin is not innocent medication. It cannot be prescribed to everyone. I thank you for writing.💕
LikeLike
I am glad you have recovered.
LikeLike
Amanda, I have recovered. I rested sufficiently. It’s hard to believe, but Aspirin, which can be very helpful, can also be very dangerous. I hope word spreads. It is the most dangerous medication I have ever I have ever been prescribed. Take care, Micheline
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you and my best. Micheline
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope the medical balance can be found
LikeLike
Derrick, It’s quite simple. I had a small cardiovascular accident, too small to medicate. Moreover there is nothing wrong with my carotid arteries. They are not clogged. I have asked my doctor not to make changes to the medication I was prescribed when I moved here. It gave me sufficient energy to earn a living. But I will never take aspirin again. I had two near-fatal haemorrages. I don’t want to embarrass my doctor, but it’s don’t touch me. I didn’t seek help after the haemorrhage. I cleaned up and I rested. I’m working on Molière. Take care,
Micheline 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Désolé de tes ennuis de santé Micheline, j’espère qu’ils ne sont pas trop handicapants.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Merci énormément. En fait, je suis en bonne forme, mais j’ai appris que prendre de l’aspirine pouvait comporter des dangers. Les hémorragies sont possibles et, dans mon cas, probables. Je m’en suis remise. Amitiés, Micheline
LikeLike
I am concerned: what kind of a physician would prescribe aspirin for a patient prone to hemorrhaging? I hope you feel better, dear Micheline; please take care of yourself!
Certainly, The Learned Women have often been viewed as Moliere’s expression of his personal views of such females. I am looking forward to your discussion of the play, when you feel better, of course.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well Moliere and I share several views. He mocked the medicine of his day, and the people he mocked were charlatans. I cannot understand why my doctor prescribed Aspirin to me. I had near fatal hemorrhages and he knew very well. I lost 14 siblings to a congenital blood disease. The Romanovs and Micheline: consanguinity. He was also prescribing propanolol for a several years telling that me it would ease my migraines. My bloor pressure is extremely low. He’s now stopped. I believe I’ve become a battleground. My former doctor was one of the best in his field and British and my former GP toped her class. I was well looked after and led a normal life. This new doctor would like me to take medicine my former doctor did not prescribe and I have told me not to change a thing. I spent three months in a hospital having medication adjusted to me needs. The only change in me is ageing, which is a factor and which also precluded aspirin. This is hubris. During the three months I was in hospital, I also underwent a SPECT scan (Mount Sinaï in Toronto) and was diagnosed with severe myalgic encephalomyelis. It revealed a slow rate of perfusion of blood to the brain and the damage this had caused. However, the brain is flexible. My doctors did all they could to make sure I could earn a living and carry on with my research.
The “Femmes savantes” is about pretentious women and one tyrannical woman. The “trick” of the play is transferring to a woman the tyrannical powers of the heavy father (pater familias). The play does not contain a discussion of a woman’s intelligence. Molière played a role the battle of reason over instinct or instinct over reason. So did Pascal. Love💛
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so sorry to hear about your health issues and incompetent physicians! A propos, are you related to the Romanovs, the Valois, or the Stuarts? Regardless, try not to lose too much of the royal blood that runs through your veins! Just trying to cheer you up a bit, dear Micheline.
I think the misconception regarding Femmes Savantes has been due to translation: in English, it is “The Intelligent Women” or, sometimes “The Learned Women,” in German “Die Gelehrte Frauenfe,” and in Russian “Ученые Дамы” (similar to the German translation). Historically, society has perceived learned women, or women of reason, rather than instinct, as a threat.; thus, the title of Moliere’s play supported this attitude.
Feel better, dear friend; I hope to benefit from the depth of your knowledge again and again!
LikeLike
I thank you for your kind words. Yes, it’s royal blood. I’m a descendant of Alix de France, Eleanor of Aquitaine’s second daughter by Louis VII, a Bourbon king, which means I’m related to Felipe VI of Spain and other Bourbon royals. My sister has the relevant documents. That was a very long time ago.
Molière staged pedantry, false knowledge, when the marriage of the young lovers is threatened. Trissotin (three times an idiot [sot]) is a pedant, a plagiarist and fortune hunter. The “femmes savantes” are not real “savantes.” “The Imaginary Invalid” is a little more complicated. Hypochondria is a mental disorder and nearly impossible to cure. In the end, Argan is turned into doctor. He is told that the clothes suffice, and that makes him happy. The society of the play cannot contradict him fully because this would alienate him. He is the father of his children. which is a very important role. Moreover, in Molière, people are what they are. Monsieur Jourdain becomes a “mamamouchi” and Argan, a doctor. Molière was a good psychologist, which may be why we are still interested in his plays.
My health is poor, but I am carrying on, albeit at a slower rate.
My physician? Good question!
Love, Micheline 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Honored to be in your company, Your Grace! 😻 I suspected that…
I also see Moliere as a psychologist, way ahead of his times. An interesting statement: “people are what they are.” You are an expert, of course, but I tend to think that we relate to his characters from contemporary perspective and fit them into our schema of understanding and interpretation. Although an excellent Russian film “The Imaginary Invalid” seems to confirm your analysis.
Feel better, dear friend, and take good care of yourself!
Much love,
D
LikeLike
Alix lived in the twelfth century, which is a long time ago. For Molière, one is what one is. Monsieur Jourdain cannot be a “gentilhomme.” But he is transformed into a mamamouchi and his daughter is marrying the son of the great Turk. It’s a happy ending. Love to you, M 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I am quite familiar with history of Eleanor of Aquitaine and her numerous children, especially her daughter Eleanor, Queen of Castile, because of the mythical love affair between King Alfonso and Rahel “de Fermosa.” Who knows…
Be well, dear friend!
LikeLike
Eleanor of Aquitaine is a very interesting historical figure. Louis VII kept his daughters when the marriage was annulled. Her role in the history of music is significant. Keep well my friend. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Certainly, and not only her own court , the mythical “Court of Love,” supposedly quite artistic, musical, and poetic for those times, but also as one of the main characters in Donizetti’s
LikeLike
❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was cut off, so sorry. I was about to mention Donizetti’s “Rosmonda,” of course. Have a nice weekend, dear Micheline!
LikeLike
I’ll put in Donizetti’s “Rosmonda.” I thank you for your good wishes. Have a fine weekend. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the full title is “Rosmonda d’Inghilterra”
Ah, so you are descended directly from Capets, from whom the Valois, the Stuarts, and eventually, the Romanovs got the hemophilia gene. It is utterly amazing that you have documentation of it!
Enjoy your weekend, dear friend.
LikeLike
Dear friend, Yes, the Capets themselves, but I never give it a thought and seldom talk about it. My sister has the documents. We haven’t told other members of our family (cousins, etc.). I am a bleeder, but I doubt that it has anything to do with royal ancestry. It has been too long. I will no longer take aspirin. Have a good weekend. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is consider a royal gene, so it does have to do with ancestry. Regardless, take care of yourself and have a wonderful weekend.
LikeLike
Dear Friend,
I should think it has to do with ancestry. I do suffer from a very mild case of hemophilia, but small as it is, it has nearly killed me on a few occasions. It had to start somewhere. But there is consanguinity among French Canadians. France sent very few settlers and the settlers who lived with the Amerindians whom they married. One interesting event is King Louis XIV sending women to Canada. Most of these women, the King’s Daughters, were in convents, which is where the impoverished aristocracy sent daughters they could not endow. Among these women there may have been illegitimate daughters of reigning monarchs. At the same time, the King sent a regiment of soldiers, including aristocrats. Some returned to France, but many remained in New France. The King’s Daughters were selected on the basis of physical strength. Before courting and marrying, they were taught how to look after a household. The daughters of aristocrats did not know how to run a household. They could not spin and weave wool or cotton. They could not cook. Unbelievable! These women were delighted to leave their convents in France to be wives and have a family in New France. They were women.
My sister is undergoing chemotherapy for a very agressive cancer. After chemotherapy, we will discuss the matter. She lives on the West Coast. She’ll pull through which will give her ten more years of life. She’s not a bleeder. Love, Micheline ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Micheline, first of all, I am sorry to hear about your sister, and I will pray for her health and success of the treatment.
Secondly, you have shared with me a fascinating part of history that I had not known and would love to research further and write about. It has definite possibilities; I can feel it!
Be well, dear friend, and have a wonderful weekend.
LikeLike
First, I thank you for your concern for my sister. She will be in chemotherapy until early 2020. Infusions began last November. She is always in my thoughts and prayers. There is no history of cancer in my family. I believe the environment is more dangerous. She’s quite the fighter and she is not depressed. Fortunately, I have an excellent doctor. He did think I had sinusitis and discovered advanced emphysema. But I resemble my sister. It’s time to write a book and to remain very close to my readers. All of you are very dear to me.
Eleanor’s times were fascinating and Molière is a fine author to discuss. I’ve never stopped loving my work. It may be difficult to write the book, but posts on Molière is a fine way of wiping away a few decades. The Molière 21 research group in Paris provide information and the latest edition of Molière’s work. I will be writing to them. They’ve listed my articles, except one. So, there are resources I did not expect to find, colleagues through Molière 21, and my very dear readers. Much love to you, Micheline. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am very much looking forward to your book, and I am sure it will be a resounding success.
Be well, dear Micheline!
LikeLike
I thank you very much. Making friends is one of the benefits of writing posts. It is quite marvellous. Keep well my dear. Micheline
LikeLiked by 1 person
You do the same and have a wonderful week, dear Micheline!
LikeLike
Much love, Micheline ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person