Molière - Dramawan Jean-Baptiste Poquelin

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin juga dikenal dengan nama panggung Molière (lahir di Paris, Prancis, 15 Januari 1622 – meninggal di Paris, Prancis, 17 Februari 1673 pada umur 51 tahun adalah seorang dramawan dan aktor Prancis yang dianggap sebagai salah satu empu komedi dalam kesusastraan Barat. Beberapa karya Molière yang terkenal adalah Le Misanthrope, (The Misanthrope), L'Ecole des femmes (The School for Wives), Tartuffe ou l'Imposteur, (Tartuffe or the Hypocrite), L'Avare ou l'École du mensonge (The Miser), Le Malade imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid), dan Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (The Bourgeois Gentleman). Berasal dari keluarga berada dan pernah bersekolah di Jesuit Clermont College (sekarang Lycée Louis-le-Grand), Molière memang orang yang cocok untuk mulai menggeluti teater. Pengalaman tigabelas tahun sebagai aktor keliling mengasah kemampuan komedinya ketika dia juga mulai menulis, menggabungkan unsur-unsur Commedia dell'Arte dengan komedi Prancis yang lebih berkelas.

Melalui bantuan beberapa aristokrat termasuk adik kandung Louis XIV, Molière tampil dalam pertunjukan yang ditanggap oleh sang Raja di Louvre. Memainkan sebuah drama klasik karya Pierre Corneille dan sebuah ''farce'' karyanya sendiri, Le Docteur amoureux (The Doctor in Love), Molière diperbolehkan untuk menggunakan ruang Salle du Petit-Bourbon di Louvre, sebuah aula yang diperuntukkan bagi beragam pertunjukan teater. Lalu, Molière diijinkan untuk menggunakan Palais-Royal. Di kedua tempat tersebut dia mendapat sambutan hangat dari para warga Paris dengan drama-drama seperti Les Précieuses ridicules (The Affected Ladies), L'École des maris (The School for Husbands) dan L'École des femmes (The School for Wives). Kebaikan pihak istana ini diikuti dengan dana pensiun bagi kelompoknya dan gelar "Troupe du Roi" (Kelompok Teater Raja). Molière lalu bekerja sebagai penulis resmi untuk acara hiburan istana.

Meskipun dia disayang pihak istana dan warga Paris, satir-satir karya Molière memancing kritik dari kaum moralis dan pihak Gereja. Tartuffe ou l'Imposteur (Tartuffe or the Hypocrite) dan serangannya terhadap kemunafikan religius terus menerus menerima kecaman dari pihak Gereja sedangkan Don Juan dilarang pentas. Kerja keras Molière dalam beragam aspek dan profesi di dunia teater mulai menggerogoti kesehatannya dan, pada 1667, dia terpaksa beristirahat sejenak dari kegiatan dunia panggung. Pada 1673, selagi mementaskan karya terakhirnya, Le Malade imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid), Molière, yang menderita TBC paru-paru, mendadak batuk tanpa henti selagi berperan sebagai Argan sang pengidap hipokondria. Dia menyelesaikan pertunjukan tersebut tetapi kembali pingsan dan meninggal beberapa jam kemudian. Semasa hidupnya di Paris, Molière benar-benar telah mereformasi komedi Prancis.


Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière (15 January 1622 – 17 February 1673), was a French playwright, actor and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and universal literature. His extant works include comedies, farces, tragicomedies, comédie-ballets and more. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed at the Comédie-Française more often than those of any other playwright today.[2] His influence is such that the French language itself is often referred to as the "language of Molière". Born into a prosperous family and having studied at the Collège de Clermont (now Lycée Louis-le-Grand), Molière was well suited to begin a life in the theatre. Thirteen years as an itinerant actor helped him polish his comic abilities while he began writing, combining Commedia dell'arte elements with the more refined French comedy.

Through the patronage of aristocrats including Philippe I, Duke of Orléans—the brother of Louis XIV—Molière procured a command performance before the King at the Louvre. Performing a classic play by Pierre Corneille and a farce of his own, The Doctor in Love, Molière was granted the use of salle du Petit-Bourbon near the Louvre, a spacious room appointed for theatrical performances. Later, he was granted the use of the theatre in the Palais-Royal. In both locations Molière found success among Parisians with plays such as The Affected Ladies, The School for Husbands and The School for Wives. This royal favour brought a royal pension to his troupe and the title Troupe du Roi ("The King's Troupe"). Molière continued as the official author of court entertainments.

Despite the adulation of the court and Parisians, Molière's satires attracted criticism from churchmen. For Tartuffe's impiety, the Catholic Church denounced this study of religious hypocrisy followed by the Parliament's ban, while Don Juan was withdrawn and never restaged by Molière. His hard work in so many theatrical capacities took its toll on his health and, by 1667, he was forced to take a break from the stage. In 1673, during a production of his final play, The Imaginary Invalid, Molière, who suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis, was seized by a coughing fit and a haemorrhage while playing the hypochondriac Argan. He finished the performance but collapsed again and died a few hours later.