Shakespeare, Jonson, Molière: The Comic Contract

absurd action Agnès Alceste Alchemist appear argues argument Arnolphe attempt attitude audience authority Bartholomew Fair become century characters comedy comic contrast course court critics doctors Dom Juan doubt Duke earlier effect Elizabethan Epicoene example expect fact Fair father feel Femmes figure final force give given human idea ideal intended ironic irony Jonson Juan justice King ladies language laugh less London look lovers marriage master means Measure Measure for Measure Médecin Molière Molière's moral nature never Night's normal Paris pattern play position Précieuses Prospero reason representative ridiculous role satire scene seems seen sense sexual Shakespeare social society sort speech stage suggests Tartuffe theatre Theseus things tradition Troilus and Cressida turn Volpone whole