The Miser

17th century French comedy by Molière

AI overview

"The Miser" is a 17th-century French comedy by Molière that satirizes extreme greed through the story of a wealthy man obsessed with money. The play remains significant as a masterpiece of comic drama that explores human folly and has influenced comedic theater for centuries.

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Key facts

Written by: Molière
Characters: Harpagon Cléante Élise Valère Mariane Anselme Frosine Master Simon Master Jacques La Flèche Mistress Claude Brindavoine La Merluche A magistrate A clerk
Date premiered: September 9, 1668 ( 1668-09-09 )
Place premiered: Paris
Original language: French
Subject: Avarice
Genre: Comedy
Setting: Paris, in Harpagon's house

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Full text

Molière – Der Geizige – Molière

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Wikidata facts

Read free · Project Gutenberg: #6318
Image: Aganit.jpg

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Commons category: L'Avare
publication date: 1668-01-01
inception: 1668-00-00
title: L'Avare
work available at URL: www.projekt-gutenberg.org/moliere/geizige/geizige.html

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Article

The Miser (French: L'Avare; pronounced [lavaʁ]) is a five-act comedy in prose by the French playwright Molière. It was first performed on September 9, 1668, in the theatre of the Palais-Royal in Paris.

This is a character comedy whose main character, Harpagon, is characterised by his caricatured avarice. Harpagon is an elderly widower who wishes to have an arranged marriage to the impoverished young woman Mariane, while securing another arranged marriage for his unwilling daughter Élise. He is initially unaware that Mariane is the girlfriend of his own son, or that Élise has a boyfriend. Meanwhile, Harpagon is stubbornly protecting a cassette full of gold. When his gold is stolen, Harpagon considers the entire urban and suburban population to be suspects for the crime. The five acts comprise five, five, nine, seven and six scenes respectively.