Le Misanthrope, comédie où le personnage principal s’en prend à l’hypocrisie des courtisans, n’attira pas un grand public mais plut néantmoins à Boileau, que certains considèrent comme le modèle d’Alceste.   Molière présenta donc Le Médecin malgré lui, une grande réussite malgré l’édition d’une diatribe contre le théâtre de la plume de son ancien protecteur, le prince de Conti.

Après la production de Mélicerte, Mademoiselle du Parc quitta la troupe du Roi pour jouer dans les tragédies de Racine à l’Hôtel de Bourgogne.

The Misanthrope, a comedy in which the central character rails against the hypocrisy of those around him, was not a huge financial success when staged this year.   It was nevertheless praised by the critic Boileau, seen by some to be the play’s inspiration.   A Doctor Despite Himself, which was also performed for the first time in 1666, was a huge success however, despite the publication of a tract against theatre by Molière’s former patron, the Prince of Conti.

After Molière’s third new play of the year, Mélicerte, had completed its run however, one of the King’s players most celebrated actresses Mademoiselle du Parc left Molière’s troop to join Racine and a rival theatre.