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Madeleine Bejart was Moliere's mistress, but he married a different member of the Bejart family named Armande. Armande may have been Madeleine's sister or daughter.
The book Moliere: A Theatrical Life addresses this issue. This site includes a Publisher's Weekly review mentioning the author's view of Bejart:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Moli-RE/Virginia-Scott/e/9780521782814/?itm=2&usri=Moliere++A+Theatrical+Life
Here are a few other links pertaining to their relationship:
http://www.enotes.com/literary-criticism/moliere-vol-28
"In 1642, possibly while traveling as valet de chambre to Louis XIII, he became romantically involved with an actress named Madeleine Béjart, who strongly influenced his decision in 1643 to renounce his royal appointment in order to pursue a more precarious theatrical career. He adopted the stage name of Molière and established the troupe L'Illustre Théatre with Madeleine Béjart and her family."
http://www.theatrehistory.com/french/bejart001.html
"With Molière she remained until her death on the 17th of February 1672. She had had an illegitimate daughter (1638) by an Italian count, and her conduct on her early travels had not been exemplary, but whatever her private relations with Molière may have been, however acrimonious and violent her temper, she and her family remained faithful to his fortunes."
And:
http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Theatre/Moliere/moliere.shtml
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/58945/Armande-Bejart
The book Moliere: A Theatrical Life addresses this issue. This site includes a Publisher's Weekly review mentioning the author's view of Bejart:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Moli-RE/Virginia-Scott/e/9780521782814/?itm=2&usri=Moliere++A+Theatrical+Life
Here are a few other links pertaining to their relationship:
http://www.enotes.com/literary-criticism/moliere-vol-28
"In 1642, possibly while traveling as valet de chambre to Louis XIII, he became romantically involved with an actress named Madeleine Béjart, who strongly influenced his decision in 1643 to renounce his royal appointment in order to pursue a more precarious theatrical career. He adopted the stage name of Molière and established the troupe L'Illustre Théatre with Madeleine Béjart and her family."
http://www.theatrehistory.com/french/bejart001.html
"With Molière she remained until her death on the 17th of February 1672. She had had an illegitimate daughter (1638) by an Italian count, and her conduct on her early travels had not been exemplary, but whatever her private relations with Molière may have been, however acrimonious and violent her temper, she and her family remained faithful to his fortunes."
And:
http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Theatre/Moliere/moliere.shtml
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/58945/Armande-Bejart
Voted as best: kaiote
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