Les Femmes Savantes

Les Femmes Savantes is Molière's sharp satire of academic pretension and the précieuses. The five-act verse comedy centers on Henriette and Clitandre, whose marriage plans are thwarted by Henriette's mother Philaminte, a devotee of the pedantic poet Trissotin. Molière lampoons the characters' obsession with superficial learning and their foolish devotion to a mediocre scholar, creating a timeless critique of intellectual snobbery.

The play was one of Molière's great successes and remains a staple of French theatre. Its witty dialogue and memorable characters—from the pompous Trissotin to the deluded Armande—offer a delightful glimpse into 17th-century Parisian society. This summer's production in Paris provides an excellent opportunity to experience classic comedy in the city where it premiered.