The Jealousy of le Barbouillé (La Jalousie du Barbouillé)

A lively short farce opens with Le Barbouillé, a husband convinced that his wife’s lively social life has turned him into the most unlucky man alive. He storms into a doctor’s office, half‑ranting, half‑pleading for a cure to his jealousy, and the doctor responds with an absurd parade of self‑aggrandizing titles. Their exchange crackles with rapid wit, as the doctor inflates his credentials through a comedic counting‑game that spirals into ridiculous philosophy.

The supporting cast—Angélique, her flirtatious lover Valère, the witty maid Cathau, and her stern father Gorgibus—adds layers of misunderstanding and slapstick intrigue. Molière’s sharp satire pokes fun at pretentiousness, marital mistrust, and the pretended wisdom of the learned, all while the dialogue snaps with the cadence of classic French comedy.

Presented in a clear, modern prose translation, this piece captures the original’s buoyant energy, making the 17th‑century humor instantly enjoyable for contemporary ears. Listeners will be drawn into the bustling courtroom of domestic jealousy, eager to see how the characters’ antics unfold.