The Flying Doctor LRJ

Sarita Beekie
Ms. Peifer
10 IB - Hour 5
26 March 2009

The Flying Doctor LRJ

The theme of The Flying Doctor is very whimsical and comedic, in a sense that the conundrum featured in the story is portrayed in a light-hearted manner due to the facetious way the accidental hero Sganarelle sets out to solve this problem, and that all of the characters are made content in the end. The conundrum is that Lucile's father, "is bent upon marrying [her] to Villebrequin" (Moliere 1) even though Lucile is very much in love with Valere. So Lucile's cousin Sabine suggests to Valere, "Could you not find one [doctor], some friend of yours, who would be on our side, and order the invalid to go into the country for a change of air? The old man [Gorgibus] will be sure to send my cousin to live in the pavilion, which is at the bottom of our garden. In that way you will be able to see her, unknown to our uncle, and marry her" (Moliere 1). So Valere sends out his fool-hearty servant Sganarelle to act as a doctor, whose identity as a servant is almost discovered by Gorgibus, but Sganarelle tells Gorgibus, "I am [the doctor's] brother, sir; we are twins, and we resemble each other like two peas, and are often taken the one for the other" (Moliere 7). Confusion and liveliness ensues, but everything is resolved happily in the end.

The plot of the story (or lack there of) leaves plenty of room for humor. Casting a seemingly "dull-witted" servant as a knowledgeable doctor that would eventually become the hero sets up the story perfectly for comedic moments. One specifically being one the of the more dramatic moments in which Sganarelle has been jumping in and out of the window, being both the the "doctor" and the doctor's twin brother. Then is asked to appear as the doctor and the twin brother at the exact same time in front of Gorgibus, (which he manages to do) in which Gorgibus' valet exclaims, "Upon my word, he is a sorcerer!" (Moliere 11).

The Flying Doctor is a prime example of farce, seeing how the play is fairly short (the entire script is only 12 pages long), and despite the utter foolery on the Sganarelle's behalf, and the agitation he puts Gorgibus through, Sganarelle is still spared from being hung because he convinces Gorgibus that it was right to do so, and justifies his actions by simply stating, "Why sir, what good will it do you to hang me? Hear a word or two, I beg of you. It is true that, thanks to my stratagem, my master is with your daughter; but while serving him, I have done you no wrong. It is a good match for her, both as to birth and money. Believe me, do not make a scandal which would turn to your shame; but send this knave here to the devil along with Villebrequin" (Moliere, 12).

All of this being said, The Flying Doctor cannot be called a satire due to its humorous disposition and lack of any form of sarcasm, irony, or wit. The characters' shortcomings are cast in an amusing light (versus something to be ridiculed or scorned), and most importantly, the primary purpose of this literary work was to entertain, and was certainly not created to communicate some subliminal message through the work (a prominent characteristic in satires).