Molière
Amphitryon
"Amphitryon" by Molière is a comedy first performed in 1668. Based on Greek mythology and Plautus's ancient play, it tells the story of Jupiter disguising himself as the mortal Amphitryon to seduce the beautiful Alcmene. Meanwhile, Mercury impersonates Amphitryon's servant Sosie, creating chaos and confusion. As look-alikes clash and identities blur, the real Amphitryon struggles to understand why his faithful wife describes a night that never happened. This comedic tale of divine deception became an immediate success and allegedly sparked scandal by hinting at King Louis XIV's own romantic escapades.