Notes on the theatrical ‘topos’of the ‘Imaginary Invalid’

Abstract

The paper takes a historical-pedagogical view of Molière's theatrical comedy ‘The Imaginary Sick Man’, staged in Paris in 1673. In particular, the author concentrates on it as a literary topos to be recalled and applied to other narratives, including Carlo Collodi's ‘The Adventures of Pinocchio’ and Cervi's 1979 film of the same name, bringing out some important lessons that derive from this comparative analysis.