Le Malade Imaginaire by Moliere

 Le Malade Imaginaire by Moliere


From a Positive Psychology Perspective, checking the list of Jacob Socol

 

The Imaginary Invalid is a famous comedy to which I listened again this morning, trying to see what the positive message might be.

At first glance, apart from the laughter, there couldn’t be much to learn from a man who sees himself as sick, all the time. And yet, there are some possible Optimistic conclusions.

Argan derives pleasure from finding new signs of…disease. 

If we take the twelve things happy people do differently, by Jacob Socol

1.       Express gratitude- Argan is grateful whenever he finds a new symptom

2.       Cultivate optimism- he looks forward to a new pain

3.       Avoid social comparison – the Imaginary Invalid thinks he is worse off than the rest

4.       Practice acts of kindness – Argan is not kind to anyone, except Diafoirus

5.       Nurture relationships- he is keen to talk to…his doctor

6.       Develop strategies for coping – the plan is to use all kinds of (fake) remedies

7.       Learn to forgive – that happens at one stage, but for most of the time – Unforgiven

8.       Increase flow – our hero is ecstatic when…he is sick (in his perceptions)

9.       Savor life’s joys – for a twisted mindset, it’s possible to enjoy…pain

10.   Commit to your goals- a goal can be to get to be an…invalid

11.   Practice spirituality – Argan is praying for appreciation of his wretched state

12.   Take care of your body – this is the whole point- that is all the Imaginary Invalid does…he goes so far as to plan to marry his daughter, Angelique to Diafoirus, in order to have a (wicked) doctor in the house.

 

Moliere seems to have been an extraordinary man, not just an exceptional play writer. I have seen a film where he was played by Romain Duris a great actor. Both the script and the marvelous interpretation have helped create in my mind the image of a social, affable, humorous (confirmed by the comedies), attractive personality.

 

I have also had the chance to see the late Luis de Funes in the Imaginary Invalid- what a treat.

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