The School for Wives (; ) is a theatrical
comedy written by the seventeenth century French playwright
Molière and considered by some critics to be one of his finest achievements. It was first staged at the
Palais Royal theatre on 26 December 1662 for the
brother of the King. The play depicts a character who is so intimidated by femininity that he resolves to marry his young, naïve ward and proceeds to make clumsy advances to this purpose. It raised some outcry from the public, which seems to have recognized Molière as a bold playwright who would not be afraid to write about controversial issues. In June 1663, the playwright cunningly responded to the uproar against this play with another piece entitled
La Critique de L'École des femmes, in which he provided some explanation for his unique style of comedy. A musical adaptation entitled
The Amorous Flea was staged
off-Broadway in 1964.