Molière and the Doctors: For a long time, Molière had declared war against doctors. He launched his first arrows at them in Don Juan. In Love is the Doctor, Doctor at Wit’s End, and in Monsieur de Pourceaugnac, he doubled his attacks. In The Imaginary Invalid, he strikes them down.

Why these attacks: a. Because this kind of mockery is traditionally common in Italian farce and Spanish comedy. b. Because the state of medicine in the 17th century somewhat justifies the mockeries and criticisms. c. Because Molière was ill, hypochondriac as they used to say, neurasthenic, as we would say today, and, like all those tormented by an incurable disease, he mocks the weakness of medicine that could not heal.