7.2 /10 1 Votes
| 3.6/5 Goodreads | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Classical Studies books Clitandre, Le Paysan parvenu, Graziella | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mélite, or The False Letters, is a comedy in five acts by Pierre Corneille. Written in 1625, it is Corneille's first play and debuted on stage in December 1629 in Berthaud’s Jeu de paume court, and was performed by the acting troupe of Montdory. Mélite represents Corneille’s creation of a new genre, the comedy of manners, which was a departure from the coarse or buffoonish farce in vogue at the time.
Plot
It is said Corneille based his play on an actual event he witnessed. The plot turns on “the misunderstandings of lovers misled by false letters.”
Éraste is in love with Mélite. When Éraste introduces Mélite to his friend Tircis, Mélite falls in love with Tircis. As a result, Éraste forges some love letters and sends them to Philandre as if they had come from Mélite.
The plan succeeds initially, as Tircis sees Philandre bearing these false letters and believes that Mélite is in love with Philandre. Tircis runs away in despair, and Mélite faints when she hears of this.
Now remorseful, Éraste goes mad and suffers from a delusion that he is in hell. Éraste searches for Mélite until he recovers from his madness. Éraste subsequently recovers and finds that Tircis and Mélite are set on marrying one another. Éraste confesses his acts and seeks pardon, and ultimately marries Cloris, Tircis’ sister.