The School for Wives facts for kids
The School for Wives (which in French is L'école des femmes) is a famous play written by Molière. He was a very important French playwright. This play was first shown in December 1662 at the Palais Royal theatre in Paris, France. It is a comedy that makes people laugh while also making them think about serious ideas. The story is about a man who tries to control a young woman's life, but things do not go as he plans.
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Who Was Molière?
Molière (whose real name was Jean-Baptiste Poquelin) was born in Paris, France, in 1622. He became one of the greatest writers of comedies in history. Molière was not just a writer; he was also an actor and the leader of his own acting company. His plays often made fun of people's silly habits and the problems in society.
Molière's plays were very popular with the king of France, King Louis XIV. This helped him to perform his plays for many people. He wrote many famous comedies, including Tartuffe and The Misanthrope. Molière's plays are still performed all over the world today.
What is The School for Wives About?
The School for Wives is a comedy in five acts. It tells the story of a man named Arnolphe. He is an older, wealthy man who has a strange idea about how to find the perfect wife. Arnolphe believes that educated women are not good wives. He thinks they might be unfaithful or too smart for him to control.
So, Arnolphe decides to raise a young girl named Agnès from childhood. He keeps her away from the world and makes sure she learns very little. He wants her to be innocent and simple-minded. This way, he believes she will be a perfectly obedient wife for him when she grows up.
The Main Characters
- Arnolphe: He is the main character and a wealthy man. He is very proud and thinks he is very clever. He believes he can control Agnès completely.
- Agnès: She is the young woman Arnolphe has raised. She is innocent and knows little about the world. However, she is also smart and learns quickly.
- Horace: He is a young, charming man. He falls in love with Agnès, and she falls in love with him. This causes many problems for Arnolphe.
- Chrysalde: He is Arnolphe's friend. Chrysalde often gives Arnolphe good advice, but Arnolphe rarely listens.
The Story Unfolds
Arnolphe brings Agnès to his house, planning to marry her soon. But then, a young man named Horace arrives in town. Horace sees Agnès and immediately falls in love with her. He does not know that Arnolphe is Agnès's guardian or that Arnolphe plans to marry her.
Horace tells Arnolphe all about his love for Agnès. He even asks Arnolphe for advice! Arnolphe is secretly furious but pretends to help Horace. He tries to keep Agnès and Horace apart. However, Agnès, despite her sheltered life, finds ways to communicate with Horace. She even throws a letter to him from her window.
The play becomes a funny game of cat and mouse. Arnolphe tries everything to stop their love. He scolds Agnès, locks her up, and even tries to force her to become a nun. But Agnès and Horace are clever. They find ways to be together, often with the help of Arnolphe's own servants.
The Ending
In the end, a surprising twist happens. It turns out that Horace is the son of Arnolphe's old friend. Also, Agnès is discovered to be the daughter of a wealthy family. This means that Agnès and Horace are meant to be together. Arnolphe's plans are completely ruined. The play ends with Agnès and Horace getting married, and Arnolphe is left alone and defeated.
Why is This Play Important?
The School for Wives was a very important play for Molière. It was one of his first big successes. It also caused some arguments because some people did not like how it made fun of society.
The play explores ideas about freedom and control. It shows that love and natural feelings are often stronger than strict rules or attempts to control others. It also makes people think about how women should be educated and treated. Molière suggests that keeping someone ignorant does not make them a better person or a better partner.
Even today, people enjoy The School for Wives because it is funny and its ideas are still relevant. It reminds us that trying to control someone's life too much can lead to unexpected and often humorous problems.
Images for kids
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Front page of L'École des femmes—engraving from the 1719 edition
See also
In Spanish: La escuela de las mujeres para niños
