Molière (2007) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

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1. 1

   1645: Molière's release from debtor's prison

   Molière, a struggling young actor, has just been released from debtor's prison after a failed run as a tragic performer. Monsieur Jourdain, a wealthy and socially aspirational man, offers to pay his debts if Molière will teach him to act. This bargain marks the start of a life-changing professional and personal alliance.

   When

   1645

   Where

   Paris

2. 2

   Jourdain's plan to woo Célimène with a short play

   Jourdain hopes to use Molière's talents to ingratiate himself with Célimène, a recently widowed aristocrat he obsesses over. He plans to perform a short play he has written for the occasion, hoping it will win her favor. Molière becomes the instrument of this social strategy.

   When

   1645

   Where

   Jourdain residence, Paris

3. 3

   Molière is introduced as Tartuffe to the family

   To serve as tutor for the younger daughter, Molière is secretly presented to the Jourdains as Tartuffe, a pious priest figure. The deception positions him at the center of the family’s ambitions and lies. This ruse sets the stage for later conflicts.

   When

   1645

   Where

   Jourdain home

4. 4

   Molière falls in love with Elmire

   As he tutors the family, Molière becomes drawn to Elmire, Jourdain's neglected wife, creating a personal conflict with the masquerade he must maintain. The romance introduces emotional stakes that complicate his professional duties. The affair hints at the deeper themes of hypocrisy that inform his later work.

   When

   1645

   Where

   Jourdain home

5. 5

   The older daughter's love life subplot

   The Jourdains' older daughter's romantic life unfolds as a parallel thread, adding social pressure and creating opportunities for dramatic irony. Her pursuits intersect with her father’s ambitions and Molière's precarious position in the household. This subplot enriches the social satire underpinning the story.

   When

   1645

   Where

   Jourdain home

6. 6

   Dorante's intrigues against Jourdain

   Dorante, a penniless and cynical aristocrat, schemes at the expense of Jourdain, manipulating situations to test or profit from his gullibility. His maneuvers expose the fragility of social pretensions in the world around them. The interactions foreshadow the kinds of social games Molière would later satirize.

   When

   1645

   Where

   Paris / high society

7. 7

   The bargain deepens as performances loom

   Jourdain continues to pursue acting lessons from Molière, and the household becomes a theatre where personal and social ambitions are staged. The dynamic tightens as both mentor and pupil navigate fame, love, and deception. The tension points toward the double life that Molière will lead.

   When

   1645

   Where

   Jourdain residence

8. 8

   Molière returns to Paris with his troupe (present)

   The film cuts to 1658, with Molière returning to Paris alongside his acting troupe to perform in a theatre granted by the king's brother. The move signals Molière's rising prominence and the start of his public career. It reframes the earlier events as memories informing the present.

   When

   1658

   Where

   Paris

9. 9

   A theatre project is set for the audience

   The troupe prepares a production to appeal to the Paris audience, seizing the opportunity to showcase Molière's talents. The theatre project becomes a hinge point in his career, blending personal history with his literary ambitions. The event marks a transition from personal entanglements to public achievement.

   When

   1658

   Where

   Paris theatre

10. 10

    The narrative interleaves Tartuffe, Le Misanthrope, and more

    The film intermittently stages moments from Tartuffe, Le Misanthrope, Le Malade imaginaire, and Le Bourgeois gentilhomme, with their principal character named Jourdain echoing the real-life patron. These inserts connect Molière's life to his works and suggest that his experiences fed his mature plays. The line between life and art becomes a central theme.

    When

    1658

    Where

    Various stages and settings

11. 11

    Romance and deception threaten the balance

    The double life Molière leads—teacher and lover amid a web of social games—begins to push against the boundaries of honesty. Elmire’s presence and the other household intrigues threaten to unravel the masquerade. The outcomes foreshadow confrontations that will define his career.

    When

    1645-1658

    Where

    Jourdain residence / Paris

12. 12

    Legacy: the events inspire Molière's maturity

    Although the film blends history with fiction, it implies that the experiences—the love, the deception, and the social satire—helped shape Molière's later plays. The audience is invited to see how personal life and theatrical craft intertwine. The story ends by linking life to art.

    When

    1645-1658

    Where

    Paris