I. Surprises de l'Amour.—The two Surprises de l'Amour (1722 and 1727), la Double Inconstance (1723), le Dénouement imprévu (1724), le Jeu de l'Amour et du Hasard (1730), les Serments indiscrets (1732), l'Heureux Stratagème (1733), la Méprise (1734), le Legs (1736), les Fausses Confidences (1737), la Joie imprévue (1738).
II. Comédies de caractère.—La Fausse Suivante (1724), le Petit-maître corrigé(1734), la Mère confidente (1735), les Sincères (1739), l'Épreuve (1740).
III. Comédies de moeurs.—L'Héritier de Village (1725), l'École des
Mères (1732), le Préjugé vaincu (1746).
IV. Comédies héroïques.—Le Prince travesti (1724), le Triomphe de l'Amour (1732), la Dispute (1744).
V. Comédies philosophiques.—L'Ile des Esclaves (1725), l'Ile de la
Raison (1727), la Colonie (1729).
VI. Comédies mythologiques.—Le Triomphe de Plutus (1728), la Réunion des Amours (1731).
VII. Comédies féeries.—Arlequin poli par l'Amour (1720), Félicie (1757).
VIII. Fantaisie.—Les Acteurs de bonne foi (1757).
Comedies which have been lost, wholly or in part, cannot be classified; but the following list may be of value for reference: —L'Amour et la Vérité (of which the prologue only has come down to us), la Commère, l'Heureuse Surprise (possibly the same as la Joie imprévue), l'Amante frivole, la Femme fidèle (fragments of which play have been printed by Larroumet [pp. 313-319] and by Fleury [pp. 365-371]).
From this classification it will be seen that by no means all of Marivaux's comedies could be termed Surprises de l'amour, although some of his best come within that category. There is a whole series of plays, to which Larroumet[112] calls attention, in which Marivaux has left the real for the imaginary world. There are times when we are almost inclined to admit with Lemaître "that fancy's wing, which bears so high and so far the poet of A Midsummer Night's Dream, has at least grazed the powdered brow of Marivaux." [113]