Posted 3/12/2018 11:36 AM (GMT -5)
France's greatest playwright in the seventeenth century is largely believed to have been Molière, also known by his real name as Jean-Baptiste Poquelin. A famous actor, he started writing when touring as a young man. When is plays began to be performed, they were a hit and Molière was asked to come to the capital city of Paris, to perform for the king. He performed his social satires in Paris with his own troupe for many years.
Later in life, he became sick with tuberculosis, but continued to write and perform. His final play, The Imaginary Invalid, became known as the play that caused Moliere's death. During a royal performance before King Louis the 14th, Molière began to cough and gasp. The performance was stalled momentarily, but Molière insisted that he continue. He bravely made it through the rest of the play, despite collapsing once more and suffering a hemorrhage.
Hours later, after returning home, Molière's life slipped away. He died as he had lived--saving the best of himself for the stage and the audience.