Influence of Moliere on Restoration Comedy

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. This essay in comparative literature attempts to determine the nature and extent of the influ ence exerted by Moliere on English comedy from 1660 to 1700. Its purpose is not so much to identify particular cases of indebtedness to the French master as to study the general features of his influence on the art and outlook of the period. I shall be gratified if it con tributes in any way to a better understanding of Restoration comedy, or to a more extended appreciation of the greatest comic genius of France.