Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux (4 February 1688 – 12 February 1763), commonly referred to as Marivaux, was a French playwright and

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others asp ...

. He is considered one of the most important French playwrights of the 18th century, writing numerous

comedies Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term origin ...

for the

Comédie-Française The Comédie-Française () or Théâtre-Français () is one of the few state theatres in France. Founded in 1680, it is the oldest active theatre company in the world. Established as a French state-controlled entity in 1995, it is the only state ...

and the

Comédie-Italienne Comédie-Italienne or Théâtre-Italien are French names which have been used to refer to Italian-language theatre and opera when performed in France. The earliest recorded visits by Italian players were commedia dell'arte companies employed b ...

of Paris. His most important works are '' Le Triomphe de l'amour'', ''

Le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard ''The Game of Love and Chance'' (french: Le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard) is a three-act romantic comedy by French playwright Marivaux. ''The Game of Love and Chance'' was first performed 23 January 1730 by the Comédie Italienne. In this play ...

'' and ''

Les Fausses Confidences ''Les Fausses Confidences'' is a three-act comedy in prose by the French playwright Pierre de Marivaux, Pierre de Carlet de Chamberlain de Marivaux. It was first performed on the 16 March 1737 by the actors of the Comédie Italienne at the Hôtel ...

''. He also published a number of essays and two important but

unfinished Unfinished may refer to: *Unfinished creative work, a work which a creator either chose not to finish or was prevented from finishing. Music * Symphony No. 8 (Schubert) "Unfinished" * ''Unfinished'' (album), 2011 album by American singer Jor ...

novels, '' La Vie de Marianne'' and '' Le Paysan parvenu''.

Life

His father was a

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

financier whose name from birth was Carlet, but who assumed the surname of Chamblain, and then that of Marivaux. He brought up his family in Limoges and Riom, in the province of

Auvergne Auvergne (; ; oc, label= Occitan, Auvèrnhe or ) is a former administrative region in central France, comprising the four departments of Allier, Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal and Haute-Loire. Since 1 January 2016, it has been part of the new region Au ...

, where he directed the mint. Marivaux is said to have written his first play, the ''Père prudent et équitable'', when he was only eighteen, but it was not published until 1712, when he was twenty-four. However, the young Marivaux concentrated more on writing novels than plays. In the three years from 1713 to 1715 he produced three novels – ''Effets surprenants de la sympathie''; ''La Voiture embourbée'', and a book which had three titles – ''Pharsamon'', ''Les Folies romanesques'', and ''Le Don Quichotte moderne''. These books are very different from his later, more famous pieces: they are inspired by Spanish romances and the heroic novels of the preceding century, with a certain mixture of the marvelous. Then Marivaux's literary ardour entered a new phase. He parodied

Homer Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...

to serve the cause of

Antoine Houdar de La Motte Antoine Houdar de la Motte (18 January 167226 December 1731) was a French author. De la Motte was born and died in Paris. In 1693 his comedy, ''Les Originaux'' (Les originaux, ou, l'Italien), was a complete failure, and so depressed the author ...

, (1672–1731) an ingenious paradoxer; Marivaux had already done something similar for François Fénelon, whose ''Telemachus'' he parodied and updated as ''Le Telemaque travesti'' (written in 1714 but not published until 1736). His friendship with

introduced him to the ''Mercure'', the chief newspaper of France, and he started writing articles for it in 1717. His work was noted for its keen observation and literary skill. His work showed the first signs of what is now called "marivaudage," the flirtatious bantering tone characteristic of Marivaux's dialogues. In 1742 he became acquainted with the then-unknown

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau (, ; 28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment throughout Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolu ...

, helping him revise a play, ''Narcissus,'' though it wasn't produced till long afterwards. Marivaux is reputed to have been a witty conversationalist, with a somewhat contradictory personality. He was extremely good-natured but fond of saying very severe things, unhesitating in his acceptance of favours (he drew a regular annuity from

Claude Adrien Helvétius Claude Adrien Helvétius (; ; 26 January 1715 – 26 December 1771) was a French philosopher, freemason and ''littérateur''. Life Claude Adrien Helvétius was born in Paris, France, and was descended from a family of physicians, originally su ...

) but exceedingly touchy if he thought himself in any way slighted. At the same time, he was a great cultivator of sensibility and unsparingly criticized the rising ''philosophes''. Perhaps for this reason,

Voltaire François-Marie Arouet (; 21 November 169430 May 1778) was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher. Known by his ''nom de plume'' M. de Voltaire (; also ; ), he was famous for his wit, and his criticism of Christianity—es ...

became his enemy and often disparaged him. Marivaux's friends included Helvétius, Claudine Guérin de Tencin, Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle and even Madame de Pompadour (who allegedly provided him with a pension). Marivaux had one daughter, who became a nun; the duke of Orleans, the regent's successor, furnished her with her dowry.

Literary career

The early 1720s were very important for Marivaux; he wrote a comedy (now mostly lost) called ''L'Amour et la vérité'', another comedy, '' Arlequin poli par l'amour'', and an unsuccessful tragedy, ''Annibal'' (printed 1737). In about 1721, he married a Mlle Martin, but she died shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, he lost all of his inheritance money when he invested it in the Mississippi scheme. His pen now became almost his sole resource. Marivaux had a connection with two fashionable theatres: ''Annibal'' had played at the Comédie Française and ''Arlequin poli'' at the Comédie Italienne. He also endeavoured to start a weekly newspaper, the ''Spectateur Français'', to which he was the sole contributor. But his irregular work ethic killed the paper after less than two years. Thus, for nearly twenty years, the theatre, especially the Comédie Italienne, was Marivaux's chief support. His plays were well received by the actors of the Comédie Française, but were rarely successful there. Marivaux wrote between 30 and 40 plays, the best of which are '' La Surprise de l'amour'' (1722), the ''Triomphe de Plutus'' (1728), ''Jeu de l'amour et du hasard'' (1730) (

The Game of Love and Chance ''The Game of Love and Chance'' (french: Le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard) is a three-act romantic comedy by French playwright Marivaux. ''The Game of Love and Chance'' was first performed 23 January 1730 by the Comédie Italienne. In this play, ...

), ''Les Fausses confidences'' (1737), all produced at the Italian theatre, and ''Le Legs'' (1736), produced at the French. At intervals, he returned to journalism: a

periodical publication A periodical literature (also called a periodical publication or simply a periodical) is a published work that appears in a new edition on a regular schedule. The most familiar example is a newspaper, but a magazine or a journal are also example ...

called ''L'Indigent philosophe'' appeared in 1727, and another called ''Le Cabinet du philosophe'' in 1734. But the same causes which had proved fatal to the ''Spectateur'' prevented these later efforts from succeeding. In 1731 Marivaux published the first two parts of his great novel, ''Marianne''. The eleven parts appeared at intervals over the next eleven years, but the novel was never finished. In 1735 another novel, ''Le Paysan parvenu'', was begun, but this also was left unfinished. Marivaux was elected a member of the Académie française in 1742. For the next twenty years, he contributed occasionally to the ''Mercure'', wrote plays and reflections (which were seldom of much worth), and so forth. He died on 12 February 1763, aged seventy-five.

''Marivaudage''

The so-called ''marivaudage'' is the main point of importance about Marivaux's literary work, though the best of the comedies have great merits, and ''Marianne'' is an extremely important step in the development of the French novel. That, and ''Le Paysan parvenu'', have some connection to the work of

Samuel Richardson Samuel Richardson (baptised 19 August 1689 – 4 July 1761) was an English writer and printer known for three epistolary novels: ''Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded'' (1740), '' Clarissa: Or the History of a Young Lady'' (1748) and ''The History of ...

and

Henry Fielding Henry Fielding (22 April 1707 – 8 October 1754) was an English novelist, irony writer, and dramatist known for earthy humour and satire. His comic novel ''Tom Jones'' is still widely appreciated. He and Samuel Richardson are seen as founders ...

. In general, Marivaux's subject matter is the so-called "metaphysic of love-making." As Claude Prosper Jolyot Crébillon said, Marivaux's characters not only tell each other and the reader everything they have thought, but everything that they would like to persuade themselves that they have thought. This style derives mainly from Fontenelle and the ''Précieuses'', though there are traces of it even in

Jean de La Bruyère Jean de La Bruyère (, , ; 16 August 1645 – 11 May 1696) was a French philosopher and moralist, who was noted for his satire. Early years Jean de La Bruyère was born in Paris, in today's Essonne ''département'', in 1645. His family was mi ...

. It abuses metaphor somewhat, and delights to turn a metaphor in an unexpected and bizarre fashion. Sometimes a familiar phrase is used where dignified language would be expected; sometimes the reverse. Crébillon also described Marivaux's style as an introduction of words to each other which have never made acquaintance and which think that they will not get on together (this phrase is itself rather Marivaux-esque). This kind of writing, of course, recurs at several periods of literature, especially at the end of the 19th century. This fantastic embroidery of language has a certain charm, and suits the somewhat unreal gallantry and sensibility which it describes and exhibits. Marivaux possessed, moreover, both thought and observation, besides considerable command of pathos.

Works

Plays

1712 In the Swedish calendar it began as a leap year starting on Monday and remained so until Thursday, February 29. By adding a second leap day (Friday, February 30) Sweden reverted to the Julian calendar and the rest of the year (from Saturda ...

: ''Le Père prudent et équitable'' *

1720 Events January–March * February 10 – Edmond Halley is appointed as Astronomer Royal for England. * January 21 – Sweden and Prussia sign the Treaty of Stockholm (Great Northern War). * February 17 – The Treaty o ...

: ''L'Amour et la Vérité'' * 1720: '' Arlequin poli par l'amour (Harlequin's Lesson of Love)'' * 1720: '' Annibal'', his only tragedy *

1722 Events January–March * January 27 – Daniel Defoe's novel ''Moll Flanders'' is published anonymously in London. * February 10 – The Battle of Cape Lopez begins off of the coast of West Africa (and present-day Gabon), a ...

: '' La Surprise de l'amour (The Agreeable Surprise)'' *

1723 Events January–March * January 25 – British pirate Edward Low intercepts the Portuguese ship ''Nostra Signiora de Victoria''. After the Portuguese captain throws his treasure of 11,000 gold coins into the sea rather than s ...

: '' La Double Inconstance (Infidelities)'' *

1724 Events January–March * January 15 – King Philip V of Spain abdicates the throne in favour of his 16-year-old son Louis I. * January 18 – The Dutch East India Company cargo ship ''Fortuyn'', on its maiden voyage, dep ...

: '' Le Prince travesti'' * 1724: '' La Fausse Suivante ou Le Fourbe puni (The False Servant)'' * 1724: ''Le Dénouement imprévu'' *

1725 Events January–March * January 15 – James Macrae, a former captain of a freighter for the British East India Company, is hired by the Company to administer the Madras Presidency (at the time, the "Presidency of Fort St. Geo ...

: '' L'Île des esclaves (Slave Island)'' * 1725: ''L'Héritier de village'' *

1726 Events January–March * January 23 – (January 12 Old Style) The Conventicle Act (''Konventikelplakatet'') is adopted in Sweden, outlawing all non-Lutheran religious meetings outside of church services. * January 26 – ...

: '' Mahomet second'' (unfinished prose tragedy) *

1727 Events January–March * January 1 – (December 21, 1726 O.S.) Spain's ambassador to Great Britain demands that the British return Gibraltar after accusing Britain of violating the terms of the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht. Britain ...

: '' L'Île de la raison ou Les petits hommes'' * 1727: ''La Seconde Surprise de l'amour'' *

1728 Events January–March * January 5 – The '' Real y Pontificia Universidad de San Gerónimo de la Habana'', the oldest university in Cuba, is founded in Havana. * January 9 – The coronation of Peter II as the Tsar of t ...

: ''Le Triomphe de Plutus (Money Makes the World Go Round)'' *

1729 Events January–March * January 8 – Frederick, the eldest son of King George II of Great Britain is made Prince of Wales at the age of 21, a few months after he comes to Britain for the first time after growing up in Hano ...

: '' La Nouvelle Colonie'' lost and then rewritten in 1750 with the title of ''La Colonie'' *

1730 Events January–March * January 30 (January 19 O.S.) – At dawn, Emperor Peter II of Russia dies of smallpox, aged 14 in Moscow, on the eve of his projected marriage. * February 26 (February 15 O.S.) – Anna of Russia (An ...

: ''

Le Jeu de l'Amour et du Hasard ''The Game of Love and Chance'' (french: Le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard) is a three-act romantic comedy by French playwright Marivaux. ''The Game of Love and Chance'' was first performed 23 January 1730 by the Comédie Italienne. In this play ...

(The Game of Love and Chance)'' * 1731: ''La Réunion des Amours'' *

1732 Events January–March * January 21 – Russia and Persia sign the Treaty of Riascha at Resht. Based on the terms of the agreement, Russia will no longer establish claims over Persian territories. * February 9 – The Swedis ...

: '' Le Triomphe de l'amour (The Triumph of Love)'' * 1732: ''Les Serments indiscrets (Careless Vows)'' * 1732: ''L'École des mères'' *

1733 Events January–March * January 13 – Borommarachathirat V becomes King of Siam (now Thailand) upon the death of King Sanphet IX. * January 27 – George Frideric Handel's classic opera, ''Orlando'' is performed for th ...

: ''L'Heureux Stratagème (Successful Strategies)'' * 1734: '' La Méprise'' * 1734: '' Le Petit-Maître corrigé'' * 1734: ''Le Chemin de la fortune'' *

1735 Events January–March * January 2 – Alexander Pope's poem '' Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot'' is published in London. * January 8 – George Frideric Handel's opera ''Ariodante'' is premièred at the Royal Opera House in Covent ...

: ''La Mère confidente'' * 1736: ''Le Legs (The Legacy)'' *

1737 Events January–March * January 5 – Spain and the Holy Roman Empire sign instruments of cession at Pontremoli in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in Italy, with the Empire receiving control of Tuscany and the Grand Duchy of Parma a ...

: ''

(The False Confidences)'' *

1738 Events January–March * January 1 – At least 664 African slaves drown, when the Dutch West Indies Company slave ship ''Leusden'' capsizes and sinks in the Maroni River, during its arrival in Surinam. The Dutch crew escape ...

: ''La Joie imprévue'' *

1739 Events January–March * January 1 – Bouvet Island is discovered by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier, in the South Atlantic Ocean. * January 3: A 7.6 earthquake shakes the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region ...

: '' Les Sincères (The Test)'' * 1740: '' L'Épreuve'' *

1741 Events January–March * January 13 – Lanesborough, Massachusetts is created as a township. *February 13 – Sir Robert Walpole, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, popularizes the term "the balance of power" in a speech ...

: ''La Commère'' *

1744 Events January–March * January 6 – The Royal Navy ship ''Bacchus'' engages the Spanish Navy privateer ''Begona'', and sinks it; 90 of the 120 Spanish sailors die, but 30 of the crew are rescued. * January 24 – The Dag ...

: ''

La Dispute :''This is for the Marivaux play, for the band, see La Dispute (band).'' ''La Dispute'' is a prose comedy written by Pierre de Marivaux, shown for the first time on 19 October 1744 by the Théâtre-Italien in the Hôtel de Bourgogne. The story i ...

(A Matter of Dispute)'' *

1746 Events January–March * January 8 – The Young Pretender Charles Edward Stuart occupies Stirling, Scotland. * January 17 – Battle of Falkirk Muir: British Government forces are defeated by Jacobite forces. * February ...

: '' Le Préjugé vaincu'' * 1750: '' La Colonie'' * 1750: ''La Femme fidèle'' *

1757 Events January–March * January 2 – Seven Years' War: The British Army, under the command of Robert Clive, captures Calcutta, India. * January 5 – Robert-François Damiens makes an unsuccessful assassination attempt ...

: ''

Félicie ''Félicie'' is a play by the French playwright Pierre de Marivaux. It was published for the first time in the ''Mercure de France'' in March 1757. It portrays the education and discipline of a young girl experiencing passionate love, who was s ...

'' * 1757: '' Les Acteurs de bonne foi (The Constant Players)'' *

1761 Events January–March * January 14 – Third Battle of Panipat: Ahmad Shah Durrani and his coalition decisively defeat the Maratha Confederacy, and restore the Mughal Empire to Shah Alam II. * January 16 – Siege of Pond ...

: ''La Provinciale''

Journals and essays

1717 Events January–March * January 1 – Count Carl Gyllenborg, the Swedish ambassador to the Kingdom of Great Britain, is arrested in London over a plot to assist the Pretender to the British throne, James Francis Edward Stuart. * ...

–

1718 Events January – March * January 7 – In India, Sufi rebel leader Shah Inayat Shaheed from Sindh who had led attacks against the Mughal Empire, is beheaded days after being tricked into meeting with the Mughals to discu ...

: ''Lettres sur les habitants de Paris'' * ''Lettres contenant une aventure'' * ''Pensées sur differents sujets'' *

1721 Events January–March * January 6 – The Committee of Inquiry on the collapse of the South Sea Company in Great Britain publishes its findings. * February 5 – James Stanhope, chief minister of Great Britain, dies a day after ...

–

: ''Le Spectateur français'' *

: ''L'Indigent philosophe'' * 1734: ''Le Cabinet du philosophe''

Novels

1713 Events January–March * January 17 – Tuscarora War: Colonel James Moore leads the Carolina militia out of Albemarle County, North Carolina, in a second offensive against the Tuscarora. Heavy snows force the troops to take ref ...

–

1714 Events January–March * January 21 – After being tricked into deserting a battle against India's Mughal Empire by the rebel Sayyid brothers, Prince Azz-ud-din Mirza is blinded on orders of the Emperor Farrukhsiyar as punishment. * Feb ...

: ''Les Effets surprenants de la sympathie'' * 1714: ''La Voiture embourbée'' — an "improvised" novel (''roman impromptu'') * 1714: ''Le Bilboquet'' * 1714: ''Le Télémaque travesti'' *

1716 Events January–March * January 16 – The application of the Nueva Planta decrees to Catalonia make it subject to the laws of the Crown of Castile, and abolishes the Principality of Catalonia as a political entity, conclud ...

–

: ''L'Homère travesti ou L'Iliade en vers burlesques'' *

: ''Pharsamon ou Les Folies romanesques (Pharsamond, or the New Knight-Errand)''

Unfinished novels

* begun in

: '' La Vie de Marianne (The Life of Marianne)'' * begun in

: '' Le Paysan parvenu (The Upstart Peasant)''

Adaptations

'' Triumph of Love'', a 1997 musical stage adaptation of Marivaux's play '' The Triumph of Love'' had a brief

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

run.

Film and Television

*', directed by

Ugo Falena Ugo Falena (25 April 1875 in Rome – 20 September 1931 in Rome) was an Italian silent film director and occasional opera librettist. His films include ''Otello'' (1909), ''Beatrice Cenci'' (1911), ''William Tell'' (1911), ''Romeo and Juliet'' ...

(Italy, 1914, short film, based on the play ''

'') *''

Monsieur Hector ''Monsieur Hector'' is a 1940 French musical comedy film based upon the play by Pierre de Marivaux, directed by Maurice Cammage and starring Fernandel, Denise Grey and Georges Grey.Quinlan p.178 It was shot at the Neuilly Studios in Paris. The ...

'', directed by

Maurice Cammage Maurice Cammage is a French film director and dialoguist, born in 1882 and died on 15 April 1946 in Paris. Filmography * 1932 : '' Vive la classe'' * 1932 : '' Un beau jour de noces'' * 1932 : '' La Terreur de la pampa'' (script and dialogues ...

(France, 1940, based on the play ''

'') *', directed by

Leopoldo Torres Ríos Leopoldo Torres Ríos (27 December 1899 – 10 April 1960) was an Argentine film director and screenwriter. His brother Carlos Torres Ríos was a notable cinematographer. His son was the film director and screenwriter Leopoldo Torre Nilsson. ...

(Argentina, 1944, based on the play ''

'') *', directed by

Marcel Bluwal Marcel Bluwal (25 May 1925 – 23 October 2021) was a French film director and screenwriter who directed more than 40 films in his career. Selected filmography Director * ''Carom Shots'' (1963) * ''The New Adventures of Vidocq'' (1971, TV ser ...

(France, 1967, TV film, based on the play ''

'') *', directed by

(France, 1968, TV film, based on the play '' Double Inconstancy'') *', directed by

Arthur Maria Rabenalt Arthur Maria Rabenalt (25 June 1905 – 26 February 1993) was an Austrian film director, writer, and author. He directed more than 90 films between 1934 and 1978. His 1958 film '' That Won't Keep a Sailor Down'' was entered into the 1st Moscow ...

(West Germany, 1978, based on the play ''

'') *', directed by (France, 1984, based on the play ''

'') *''La Fausse Suivante'', directed by

Patrice Chéreau Patrice Chéreau (; 2 November 1944 – 7 October 2013) was a French opera and theatre director, filmmaker, actor and producer. In France he is best known for his work for the theatre, internationally for his films '' La Reine Margot'' and ...

(France, 1985, TV film, based on the play '' La Fausse Suivante'') *', directed by Benoît Jacquot (France, 1995, TV film, based on the novel '' La Vie de Marianne'') *'' False Servant'', directed by Benoît Jacquot (France, 2000, based on the play '' La Fausse Suivante'') Marivaux's play '' The Triumph of Love'' (1732) was filmed in English in 2001 as '' The Triumph of Love'', starring

Mira Sorvino Mira Katherine Sorvino (; born September 28, 1967) is an American actress. She won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Woody Allen's '' Mighty Aphrodite'' (1995). She also starred in the films ...

Ben Kingsley Sir Ben Kingsley (born Krishna Pandit Bhanji; 31 December 1943) is an English actor. He has received various accolades throughout his career spanning five decades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Grammy Award, and tw ...

, and Fiona Shaw. It is, so far, the only one of Marivaux's plays ever to be filmed in English. The film received modestly favourable reviews, but was not a box office success. In the French film ''

L'Esquive ''Games of Love and Chance'' (french: L'Esquive) is a 2003 French drama film directed by Abdellatif Kechiche and starring Sara Forestier. It won the César Award for Best Film, Best Director, Best Writing and Most Promising Actress. The film ...

'' (2003), directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, Arab-French adolescents in a Paris suburb prepare and perform Marivaux's play ''

''.

References

External links

* * *
Biography, Bibliography, Analysis, Plot overview
(in French)

(in French) {{DEFAULTSORT:Marivaux 1688 births 1763 deaths Writers from Paris 18th-century French dramatists and playwrights Members of the Académie Française 18th-century French writers 18th-century French novelists