
THE MISER. - (L'AVARE.) - BY
MOLIÈRE
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH PROSE. - WITH A SHORT INTRODUCTION AND EXPLANATORY NOTES. - BY
CHARLES HERON WALL
THE MISER.
ACT I. - SCENE I.——VALÈRE, ÉLISE.
ACT II. - SCENE I.——CLÉANTE, LA FLÈCHE.
ACT III. - SCENE I.——HARPAGON, CLÉANTE, ÉLISE, VALÈRE, DAME CLAUDE (holding a broom), MASTER JACQUES, LA MERLUCHE, BRINDAVOINE.
ACT IV. - SCENE I.——CLÉANTE, MARIANNE, ÉLISE, FROSINE.
ACT V. - SCENE I.——HARPAGON, A POLICE OFFICER.
In a bustling Parisian home, a wealthy patriarch whose love of money eclipses every other affection guards his fortune with a ferocious grip. His son and daughter are both caught in the throes of secret romances, while an eager young suitor and his own lover navigate the labyrinth of family expectations. The household hums with servants, brokers, and meddlesome acquaintances, each adding a layer of wit and complication to the tangled relationships.
Molière’s sharp comedy shines as the miser’s obsessive clinging to wealth collides with the youthful desire for love and freedom. Clever schemes, whispered plans, and frantic attempts to hide valuable coins create a lively dance of misunderstanding and farcical tension. Listeners will enjoy the vivid character sketches and the timeless observation that greed can turn even the closest of kin into rivals, all while the play’s brisk dialogue and bright humor keep the scene irresistibly engaging.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (115K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
E-text prepared by Delphine Lettau and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net)
Release date
2004-11-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1622–1673
A master of French comedy, this playwright turned sharp observations of vanity, hypocrisy, and social ambition into plays that still feel lively onstage today. His wit is elegant, but it always lands with human warmth.
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