Dr. Love
F.  J. Morlock, translator
(I numbered scenes.)

Our dramatis personæ are

Sganarelle (father of Lucinda) (Moliere)
Lucinda
Clitandre (lover to Lucinda)
Lucrece (cousin of Sganarelle)
Lisette (Lucinda’s servant)
Aminte (neighbor of Sganarelle)
Mr. Guillame (a seller of tapestry)
Mr. Josse
Dr. Tomes
Dr. Des Fernandes
Dr. Macroton
Dr. Bahays
Mr. Filerin
A Notary
Champagne (Sganarelle’s valet)

LE BALLET

L’Amour médecin (Dr. Love or Dr. Cupid), is

• a three-act farce,
• a comedy of manners, and
• a comédie-ballet.

As a farce, L’Amour médecin was written in prose and contains three acts. Farces allow some physical comedy. As a comedy of manners, it is Molière’s second satire on medicine, the first is Le Médecin volant (The Flying Doctor), written in 1645 and played in 1659. The third and fourth are Le Médecin malgré lui (1666) and Le Malade imaginaire imaginaire (1673). L’Amour médecin is rooted in Le Médecin volant, in Charles Sorel’s Olynthie, a short story, and in earlier farces.

Venue

L’Amour médecin was first performed at Versailles on 15 September 1665. Molière’s troupe was la troupe du Roi and Louis was demanding. L’Amour médecin was written, and roles learned and rehearsed, in five days. After it premièred at Versailles, L’Amour médecin was performed at the théâtre du Palais-Royal, la troupe du Roi‘s main venue.

Sganarelle

In L’Amour médecin, the role of Sganarelle, created in Le Médecin volant, is that of heavy father. Sganarelle was played by Molière during Molière’s life time. In Dom Juan, he is a valet.

Four Doctors

It should be noted that L’Amour médecin‘s doctors were given the names of real doctors. They were not simple miroirs publics. They have identifiable names and are known doctors, but all reflect Molière’s and many of his contemporaries’ view of doctors. Doctors killed, but did so officially, according to established covenants, and wearing the clothes that match the job. In the case of doctors, Molière had Guy Patin in mind, and Les Femmes savantes Trissotin, a pedant, is modeled after l’abbé Charles Cotin, a learned gentleman, but …

At any rate, L’Amour médecin was a very successful comedy and, despite a cast of several doctors, the plot was simple, a characteristic of Molière’s plays. 

ACT ONE

In L’Amour médecin, Lucinde is feigning illness, but her father believes she is very sick. Neighbours and relatives have their opinion to give. Monsieur Guillaume, who sells tapestries, thinks a tapestry showing a forest should adorn her room. Monsieur Josse thinks the gift of “finery and fancy dress,” as well as jewels may save Lucinde’s life. Aminte believes that Lucinde should marry, but Lucrèce objects. Pregnancies would kill Lucinde, given her humeur, the four temperaments.

Et moi, je tiens que votre fille n’est point du tout propre pour le mariage. Elle est d’une complexion [humeur] trop délicate et trop peu saine, et c’est la vouloir envoyer bientôt en l’autre monde, que de l’exposer comme elle est à faire des enfants. Le monde n’est point du tout son fait, et je vous conseille de la mettre dans un couvent, où elle trouvera des divertissements qui seront mieux de son humeur.
Lucrèce à tous (I. i, p. 3)
[And as for me, I hold that your daughter is not at all fit for marriage. She has a very delicate complexion [humor] and not very healthy and it would be a determination to send her soon to the other world by exposing her, the way she is — to having children. The world is not at all her thing — and I advise you to put her in a convent — where she will find diversions more in accord with her humor.]
Lucrèce to all (I, 1, p.7)

Sganarelle feels that, the remedies they propose show that his niece, neighbours and friends have something to gain by following Sganarelle’s advice. He uses the word intéressé.[1]

Tous ces conseils sont admirables assurément: mais je les tiens un peu
intéressés … (.)
Sganarelle à tous
[… you advise me quite well for yourselves …(.)] (I. 1, p.7)
Sganarelle to all

Sganarelle dismisses them all saying that his plan is to keep his daughter.  He and Lucinde have a conversation.

However, after asking Lucinde what could cure her, Lucinda nods when Sganarelle asks:

Aimerais-tu quelqu’un et souhaiterais-tu d’être mariée?
Sganarelle à Lucinde (I. ii, p. 3)
[Might you be in love and wish to be married?]
(my translation)
In 17^th-century France and in Molière’s comedies, jealousy transforms a lover’s discourse into imprecations that alienate a young woman, the ingénue. Incestual love is out of the question. Sganarelle loves his daughter as fathers do. So, let us suggest a twist on the reversal all comedies feature. Comedies promotes the marriage of the young lovers. Le blondin berne le barbon. (The young man fools the old man.) In L’Amour médecin, the young man is Clitandre. Lucinde has not told Lisette about Clitandre, which may reveal hopelessness. In comedy, maids, servants, valets, and, at times, siblings are the brilliant minds who ensure that a young woman is not handed over to a man she does not love. 

I re-read a few chapters (préciosité) of one of Georges Mongrédien’s books on the 17^th century in France. According to Mongrédien,[2] Molière did not oppose préciosité, despite his Précieuses ridicules. These were affected ladies whom he simply humiliated. Although comedy is rooted in ancient fertility riduals, Molière, does not allow young women to be forced into marrying men they find repulsive. At that time in history, women often died in childbirth or were pregnant year after year, which could lead to a premature death. However, we are alive. So, many women have survived pregnancies and many, if not most have never been subjected to yearly pregnancies.

In short, L’Amour médecin is comedy as usual, which the title of the play suggests. In fact, L’Amour médecin is Molière’s only comedy the contents of which are revealed in the title. Lucinde wishes to live a normal life and, for many women, life has long been considered improbable without the company of a man. L’honnête homme was born in the salons and salons also shaped galanterie. Mademoiselle de Scudéry‘s Carte de Tendre is a product of the salons. However, although our pater familias is the alazṓn of Greek old comedy, he wishes to keep his daughter for himself, which is absurd.

A-t-on jamais rien vu de plus tyrannique que cette coutume où l’on veut assujettir les pères? Rien de plus impertinent, et de plus ridicule, que d’amasser du bien avec de grands travaux, et élever une fille avec beaucoup de soin et de tendresse, pour se dépouiller de l’un et de l’autre entre les mains d’un homme qui ne nous touche de rien? Non, non, je me moque de cet usage, et je veux garder mon bien et ma fille pour moi.
Sganarelle à Lisette et Lucinde (I. v, p. 6)
[Has there ever been seen a greater tyranny than this custom they want to impose on fathers, nothing more impertinent and more ridiculous than to amass wealth with great work and to raise a daughter with great care and tenderness to be despoiled of both by the hands of a man who pays us nothing? No, no — I mock that custom and I intend to keep my wealth and my daughter for myself.]
Sganarelle to Lisette and Lucinde (I. p. 10)

ACT TWO

The Doctors

• blood-letting
• an emitic
• enemas & broths

In Act 2, Lisette fumes when she hears that Sganarelle is calling in a team of doctors.

Ma foi, Monsieur, notre chat est réchappé depuis peu, d’un saut qu’il fit du haut de la maison dans la rue, et il fut trois jours sans manger, et sans pouvoir remuer ni pied ni patte; mais il est bien heureux de ce qu’il n’y a point de chats médecins: car ses affaires étaient faites, et ils n’auraient pas manqué de le purger, et de le saigner.
Lisette à Sganarelle (II. i, p. 8)
[My word, sir, our cat survived a jump from the roof of a house to a street, and it went 3 days without eating and it couldn’t move foot or paw — but it was really lucky there were no cat doctors, for her affair would have been done — and they wouldn’t have failed to purge and bleed her.]
Lisette to Sganarelle (II.1, p.3)

The cure is blood-letting according to Monsieur Tomés. An emetic is required, claims Monsieur De Fonandrés. As for Monsieur Macroton, the remedy at hand are enemas and broths

Il vaut mieux mourir selon les règles, que de réchapper [to recover] contre les règles.
Monsieur Bahys aux médecins et à Sganarelle (II. v, p. 13)
[It’s better to die according to the rules than to escape despite the rules.]
Monsieur Bahys to colleagues (II. 5, p. 16)

As the scene ends, Sganarelle goes to see a charlatan. He doubts the doctors attending to his daughter and goes to purchase Orviétan[3] from a charlatan.

ACT THREE

• the doctors
• Clitandre as doctor
• Sganarelle is fooled

During Act 2, the doctors disagree. So, at the beginning of Act 3, they reflect upon their quarrel and conclude that they are endangering their profession. They could not cure, not in the 17^th century, but human beings who fell ill consulted and this is how doctors made a comfortable living. So, to a large extent, doctors preyed on vulnerable human beings and thus constituted a group of impostors, a dramatist’s target. They worked for the money.

Je n’en parle pas pour mon intérêt. Car, Dieu merci, j’ai déjà établi mes petites affaires. Qu’il vente, qu’il pleuve, qu’il grêle, ceux qui sont morts sont morts, et j’ai de quoi me passer des vivants. Mais enfin, toutes ces disputes ne valent rien pour la médecine.
Monsieur Filerin aux autres médecins (III. i, p. 15)
[I’m not speaking only for my interest, for thank God, I’m very well off — let it snow, let it pour, let it hail. Those who are dead are dead and I have somewhat to spend with the livery — but in the end all these disputes are not good for medicine.]
Doctor Filerin other to colleagues (III. 1, p. 19)

Yet, a new doctor is introduced. Lisette and Clitandre have organized a stratagem. Clitandre will make believe he is a doctor and he will be a doctor who has already cured Lucinde. Lisette introduces him and Sganarelle notices that there is not much beard to this doctor. Clitandre tells Sganarelle that he treats both the mind and the body. He has succeeded in curing Lucinde by learning that she wanted to marry. What a silly thought! Sganarelle agrees. A very astute Clitandre takes Sganarelle’s pulse and tells him that his daughter is very sick. Sganarelle is surprised, but Clitandre explains that there is sympathy between a father and a daughter.

Sg. Vous connaissez cela ici?
Cl. Oui, par la sympathie qu’il y a entre le père et la fille.
Sganarelle et la réponse de Clitandre (III. v, p. 18)
[Cl. (taking Sganarelle’s pulse) Your daughter is really sick]
Clitandre to Sganarelle (III. 5, p. 21)

The plan is to make Lucinde believe she is getting married. As you know, in Molière, one plays along with a patient’s fancy, which is what Toinette and Béralde will do in Le Malade imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid), to help the young lovers and Argan. She will enable Clitandre to speak with Lucinde, Lisette tells Sganarelle that Clitandre must speak to his patient alone. 

The cure is a marriage. It will not be a real marriage, in Sganarelle’s eyes, but he will be made to sign the documents, as will Lucinde. Clitandre has arrived, ring in hand and a notary waiting outside. Sganarelle is going: “folle, folle, folle” as he himself marries off his daughter, endowing her generously.

Sg. Oh! la folle! Oh! la folle! Oh! la folle! (III. vi, p. 20)
[Sg. Oh — madwoman — madwoman!] (III. 5, p. 23)
The spectator can hear Lisette’s “un mari, un mari, un mari.” L’Amour médecin is a comédie-ballet so Clitandre invites Sganarelle to be entertained.

Li. Un mari, un mari, un mari. (I. iii, p. 5)
[Li. A husband, a husband, a husband.] (I. 3, p. 9)

Sganarelle has been fooled into allowing his daughter to marry. Illusion was reality. A play rescued Lucinde.

Sg. Voilà une plaisante façon de guérir. Où est donc ma fille et le médecin?
Li. Ils sont allés achever le reste du mariage.
Sganarette et Lisette (III. Scène dernière, pp. 21-22)

[Sg. Here’s a pleasant way of curing! Where are the doctor and my daughter?
Li. They want to consummate the marriage.]
Sganarelle and Lisette (III. Last scene, p. 24)

Conclusion

Molière’s L’Amour médecin is one of the finest illustrations of the comic scenario. The blocking-character is “hoisted by his own petard.” A maid helps the young lovers.  Clitandre is a psychologist. The father is fooled, but he will no doubt recover. So, basically, “all’s well that ends well.”

Among friends and colleagues, La Mothe Le Vayer, in particular, Molière accepted that nature was both good and bad, but that it couldn’t be changed. La Mothe le Vayer wrote a letter defending Molière’s Tartuffe.

____________________
[1] In 17^th-century France, La Rochefoucauld is associated with the discourse on self-interest (intérêt).
[2] Georges Mongrédien, La Vie littéraire au XVII^e Siècle (Paris : Taillandier, 1956), pp. 187-253.
[3] L’orviétan était un remède miracle, une sorte de panacée qu’un charlatan italien, Jeronimo Ferranti, prétendait avoir apporté d’Orvieto et qui fut vendu avec beaucoup de succès par lui-même et ses descendants jusqu’au XVIII^e siècle. [Orvietan was a miracle cure, a sort of panacea that an Italian charlatan, Jeronimo Ferranti, claimed he brought from Orvieto, and which he and his descendants sold successfully until the 18^th century.]
toutmolière.net

—ooo—

Love to every one 💕

Jean Rondeau records “Vertigo” (Joseph-Nicolas-Pancrace Royer [et Rameau])

© Micheline Walker
23 April 2019
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