Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme

In Act II, Scene 1, The Music Master and Dance Master have prepared a performance piece. M. Jourdain tells them to wait until his special guest, for whom he requisitioned the piece, arrives for dinner. The Music Master cajoles, “However sir, this is not enough. A person like you, who lives magnificently, and who are inclined toward fine things, should have a concert of music here every Wednesday or every Thursday” (23). M. Jourdain asks, “Is that what people of quality do?” (23) and the Music Master affirms that it is. The Music Master assures M. Jourdain that the performance will be excellent, and the Dancing Master coaches him as he attempts to dance the minuet. M. Jourdain informs the Masters that he will need to learn how to bow properly to a marchioness named Dorimène.

As the Dancing Master teaches M. Jourdain how to bow, a lackey announces that the Fencing Master has arrived. As Scene Two begins, the Fencing Master is coaching M. Jourdain. He insists that Fencing is by far the most important science above “all the other useless sciences, such as dancing, music…” (26). The three Masters argue as M.