Incredible Authors Moliere and Leo Tolstoy - Case Study Example

Comparison between Moliere and Tolstoy The question under consideration is connected with the life peculiarities and literary works of two great and incredible authors Moliere and Leo Tolstoy. It is relevant to admit that these authors have lived in the different time frames, worked in various geographical areas and have been surrounded by different people. Nevertheless, they both remain to be fascinating and unique personalities in the field of literature and art. It is possible to find adjacent themes in the works of Moliere and Leo Tolstoy, as well as designate peculiar and exceptional features for each of them. It is relevant to begin with the country, period and sphere the authors work in as these facts provide a significant influence on their worldview and character. Social, political and economical statuses are also considered to be highly important issues for the comparison of these two people. Moliere has been born on January 15, 1622 in Paris (Gaines, xi). He is considered to be a famous French author and actor. His family is remained to be rather prosperous and bourgeois. His father has been a valet of the Kings chamber and keeper of carpets and upholstery. His position is regarded as a serious occupation; therefore, Moliere has been from the family of court bourgeoisie. As for the Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy he has been born on September 9, 1828 at Yasnaya Polyana in Russia (Terras, 476). He is famous novelist and philosopher of the nineteenths century. It is worse to mention that this man also has a noble family with a prosperous property as his father has been a count in Russia while his mother is considered to be a née Princess Volkonskaya. Such facts represent a high status of both authors under consideration and show that Moliere and Tolstoy are regarded as educated and cultured people. Both of them have great opportunities for development and self-improvement. To such extent it is relevant to admit that Moliere has tried to study law, but within some period of time he understands that such occupation is not interesting to him and devotes his career to acting (Gaines, xi). The matter is that this man adores theatre and desires to be involved into the process of creation a play. Tolstoy also has entered the university, but hates History and within some time has been disappointed in the entire educational system (Terras, 476). That leads to the refusal to study in the university. It can be admitted that both figures have been in need of creativity in their lives. Social surrounding and historical events are considered to extremely relevant for the thematic peculiarities and style of the authors. Despite the fact that Moliere and Tolstoy are regarded as representatives of different social environments the resembling themes are occurred in their creative heritage. Moliere has lived in seventeenth century in a rebelled France (Gaines, xii). That is considered to be a period of wars and revolt for the country. Ordinary people have occurred in a difficult economic position but they desired for a better life. Moliere remains to be a representative of the bourgeoisie and spends a lot of time in such circles. Still, he has not been interested in money and prosperity. He is considered to be a creative person, and makes everything possible for the development of theatre and drama. However, his surrounding provokes him to concentrate his attention in the plays on a number of social themes that seem relevant for Moliere. A lot of his plays based on a theme of French bourgeoisie or the contrast between rich people and ordinary ones. This author ridicules people of higher status and shows them as insatiable and egoistic figures. The interesting is that he has been able to wimple all his thoughts under the comedy and funny situations that he includes to a huge number of his plays. In comparison with Moliere, Leo Tolstoy has a chance to live in Russia with landlords’ rules and royal government. At the young age he likes his wealth and power, but with some period of time he changes his worldviews (Terras, 477). His marriage, joining the army in particular and life experience in general force him to alternate his attitude to wealth and money. He strongly sentences people with high social status and sympathize people who has a lover status. These ideas are reflected in a number of his works and remain to be the central theme in the novels and essays of Lev Nikolaevich. It is possible to observe a lot of examples that prove the idea that Tolstoy shows a respective attitude to ordinary people that are in need to work hard for the sake to hold the family. Hence, it can be admitted that Moliere and Tolstoy concentrate their attention on a number of important social issues at the periods they have created and lived. Bourgeoisie or people with high social status have been strongly criticized by these authors. Satire, farce and even sarcasm are considered to be the basic devices for Moliere, as his plays are full of funny stories and comical situations. On the contrary, Tolstoy writes more serious prose; still, satire with a note of irony is implicated into his creations and it can be regarded as one of the characteristic features of his works. The question of woman roles in their art is considered to be interesting and ambiguous. It is relevant to admit that both authors include females into their creations and it is possible to observe different representations of ladies’ images in the literary masterpieces of Moliere and Tolstoy. The similar features can be found in Elmire the character from Moliere’s “Tartuffe” and Praskovya Fedorovna from Tolstoy’s narrative “The Death of Ivan Ilych”. Elmire is regarded as a strong and independent woman. She is considered to be the wife of Tartuffe. She knows her desires and is able to manipulate people. She is viewed as a good actress, but unfair woman. The matter is that she uses all possible methods, even her sexuality, for the sake to manipulate her husband. The lines “I had a few more secrets to discuss with you” prove that she is an intriguer (Moliere, n.p.) All her proceedings have been performed for her personal profits. Therefore, it is worse to suggest that Elmire is mercenary person. Some similar features can be designated if to take under consideration Praskovya Fedorovna image from the Tolstoy’s work. This woman is also presented as a wife of central character. Her personality can be described as strong, but grumpy and severe. She has difficult relationship with her husband. Such words are represented as a confirmation of this “she began to wish he would die; yet she did not want him to die because then his salary would cease” (Tolstoy, 31). It is obvious that Praskovya Fedorovna is interested in money more than in her family or person who pretends to be her husband. Even after the death of Ivan Ilych his wife worries about her future income and materialistic issues, as she asks if she will have some financial support because of her husband death. Praskovya Fedorovna can be surely named as the money-grubbing widow. As it is clearly observed both characters are strong and beautiful, but they are spoiled by materialistic issues and society. Manipulation for the personal purposes and thirst for money have made these ladies look miserable. They become insidious and crafty for the sake of acquiring big or small benefits. Taking all facts under consideration, it is significant to mention that Moliere and Tolstoy have been great people of their period. They both have made a huge contribution into the field of literature and art. This writers have lived in a different periods and worked in a different literary sphere, but both of them have been creative and incredible personalities that are famous to the entire world. Moliere and Tolstoy are considered to be the representatives of various social surroundings; still, it is possible to find similarities in thematic peculiarities of their works. Moliere has written plays and adored theatre, while Tolstoy has created huge novels and stories. Nevertheless, both authors sentence wealthy and avaricious people. They use irony and satire to develop the plot of their works and implicate their ideas into the texts they create. Reference List: Gaines, James F. “The Molière Encyclopedia”. USA: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002. Print. Molière. “Tartuffe”. Translated by Ranjit Bolt. UK: Oberon Books, 2002.Print. Terras, Victor. “Handbook of Russian Literature”. New Haven CT: Yale University Press, 1985. Print. Tolstoy, Leo. “The Death of Ivan Ilyich”. Edited by Max Bollinger. USA: Interactive Media. Print. Read More