The Miser

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Molière, 1622-1673

Contributor:

Wall, Charles Heron

Standardized Title:

L'avare. English

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Miser" by Molière is a classic play written in the late 17th century, showcasing the themes of greed and familial conflict. The narrative centers around Harpagon, a man whose excessive love for money overshadows his relationships with his children, Cléante and ÉLIse, as well as his romantic pursuits. Their struggles with his miserly ways form the core of the story, highlighting the tensions between personal desires and parental control. The opening of the play introduces key characters, beginning with Valère and ÉLIse, who express their secret love for one another while also addressing the fears that parental disapproval might bring. Cléante soon joins them, revealing his own affection for Marianne, a young woman Harpagon intends to marry himself. Harpagon's oppressive obsession with money and control becomes apparent as he discusses marriage plans that disregard his children's feelings. The opening sets up a comedic conflict between love and avarice while establishing the manipulative dynamics of Harpagon, who views his children as rivals rather than equals. Through witty dialogue and sharp exchanges, Molière lays the groundwork for a satirical exploration of societal values surrounding wealth, love, and family obligations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

E-text prepared by Delphine Lettau and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 90.3 (5th grade). Very easy to read.

Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Miser

Release date is 2004-11-01