Shakespeare, Jonson, Molière: The Comic Contract

absurd action Agnès Alceste Alchemist appear argues argument Arnolphe attempt attitude audience authority Bartholomew become beginning believe century chapter characters comedy comic contrast course court critics doctors doubt Duke earlier effect Elizabethan Epicoene example expect fact Fair father feel Femmes figure final force give given human idea ideal intended ironic irony Jonson Juan justice King ladies language laugh learned least less look lovers marriage master means Measure Médecin mind Molière Molière's moral nature never night normal pattern perhaps play position possible Précieuses principle Prospero reality reason representative ridiculous role satire scene seems seen sense sexual Shakespeare social society sort speech spirit stage suggests surely Tartuffe theatre Theseus things tradition Troilus and Cressida turn Volpone whole