Molière

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known as Molière, is the undisputed master of French comedy. His plays, such as 'Tartuffe' and 'The Misanthrope,' use biting satire to expose the follies, hypocrisies, and vanities of 17th-century French society. Molières genius lies in his ability to combine high-brow social critique with low-brow physical comedy, creating works that are as hilarious as they are intellectually sharp. His influence on the comedy of manners and the development of the theatrical farce is profound, and his plays remain a cornerstone of the global comedic repertoire.