Molière

About Molière

Molière, born Jean-Baptiste Poquelin in 1622, was a towering figure of French literature, widely regarded as one of the greatest playwrights in Western history. As a writer, his contribution lies primarily in his satirical comedies, which sharply critiqued the hypocrisies of 17th-century French society, particularly the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie. His lasting influence is cemented by his inclusion as the 207th most historically important figure in MIT's Pantheon project, a rank reflecting his enduring cultural and linguistic impact across centuries.

In the modern digital age of 2025, Molière garners approximately 267K annualized Wikipedia views, placing his internet attention at about a 1x multiple relative to his historical importance. This suggests a relatively balanced digital presence for a figure of his stature. However, comparing him to other writers reveals a clearer picture: the highly influential Molière receives significantly less modern attention than both Anne Frank (2.6M views, HPI #396) and Agatha Christie (2.0M views, HPI #346), who are both ranked lower in overall historical importance.

While his yearly views are up slightly at +1.7%, Molière shows a small drop in current interest, with a -8% momentum shift when comparing Q1 to Q3 of 2025. This indicates that while his importance remains stable, the immediate search interest is beginning to slightly wane.