The Would-Be Gentleman (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Moliere
- First Published: 1671
- Type of Work: Drama
- Type of Plot: Comedy of manners
- Time of Work: Seventeenth century
- Setting: Paris, France
- Genres: Drama, Comedy, Comedy of manners
- Subjects: France or French people, Love or romance, Paris, Seventeenth century, Business or business people, Ballet or ballet dancers, Nobility, Royal courts or courtiers
- Locales: Paris, France
Characters Discussed
Monsieur Jourdain (zhohr- DAHN), a rich, forty-year-old tradesman. Ashamed of and denying his father’s occupation, he tries to pass as a gentleman through elaborate spending of his wealth. He has a “sweet income and visions of nobility and grandeur,” says his music master, “though he is an ignorant cit.” In addition to his music master, he has also in attendance a dancing master, a fencing master, and a philosophy master, and through their instructions he hopes to ape persons of quality. He wants concerts every week but would add a marine trumpet...
[The entire page is 1232 words long]
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