The Learned Women

The Learned Women (Les Femmes Savantes) is a comedy by Moli�re in five acts. A satire on academic pretention, female education, and pr�ciosit� (French for preciousness), it was one of his most popular comedies. It premiered at the Th��tre du Palais-Royal on 11 March 1672.Two young people, Henriette and Clitandre, are in love, but in order to marry, they must overcome an obstacle: the attitude of Henriette's family. Her sensible father and uncle are in favour of the marriage; but unfortunately her father is under the thumb of his wife, Philaminte. And Philaminte, supported by Henriette's aunt and sister, wishes her to marry Trissotin, a "scholar" and mediocre poet with lofty aspirations, who has these three women completely in his thrall. For these three ladies are "learned"; their obsession in life is learning and culture of the most pretentious kind, and Trissotin is their special prot�g� and the fixture of their literary salon.