a bit one dimensional but a few good laughs ( )

Six plays by the 17th century French playwright, these plays (some, such as "The School For Wives", famous ones I had heard of) are a mixed bag. In a way, they represent the best of the French comedies of manners of the period, deftly lampooning the social and religious mores of the time. "Tarttuffe; or, The Impostor", for example, portrayed a hypocritical and parasitical Jesuit cleric, which was not well-received by the religious powers of 17th century France. They attempted to forbid Moliere a Christian burial, and his plays were suppressed for a time. Moliere in some ways was a liberal thinker ahead of his time; many of his plays made sport of such customs as arranged marriage by the parents. His plots are intriguing and draw the reader into caring about the characters, but Moliere often employs a "rabbit-from-the-hat" sleight of hand at the end. For example, a near-omniscient and benevolent king suddenly deigns at the end of "Tartuffe" to expose the wicked cleric and rescue his innocent dupes. ( )