User:Pechuyu/Le Parasite

The Parasite "(Le Parasite") is a five act comedy by Tristan L'Hermite, and his last dramatic work. Dedicated to Charles d'Albert d'Ailly, duke of Chaulnes, The piece consistes of  1,750 alexandrins. It was performed in 1653, and was then published the following year.

Specialists in the work of Tristan and Molière agree on the influence of this comedy, based on l'Angelica (1585) de Fabrizio de Fornaris, on The Bungler("L'Étourdi").

Characters

 * Alcidor, merchant from the provinces,
 * Manille, Alcidor's wife,
 * Phénice, Manille's servant,
 * Lucinde, Manille's daughter,
 * Fripesauces, Parasite,
 * Le Capitan,
 * Cascaret, Capitan's ,
 * Lisandre, Lucinde's lover,
 * Périante, Lisandre's friend,
 * Lucile, Lisandre's father.
 * Figurants : Des archers.

It is set in Paris, in front of Manille's home

Representation and Publication
Tristan L'Hermite dedicated his comedy to Charles d'Albert d'Ailly, duke de Chaulnes. The play was shown in 1653, at l'Hôtel de Bourgogne or at the Théâtre du Marais.

Analysis
Adolphe van Bever, reserved towards La Mariane de Tristan L'Hermite, thought of Le Parasite, as "his best work" and cites the third and fourth scenes in the first act.