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L'Avare is a 1668 five-act satirical comedy by French playwright Molire. Its title is usually translated as The Miser when the play is performed in English.

The play was first performed in 1668 at the Palais Royal in a period when Molire's company was on the one hand under considerable establishment pressure to modify its output but on the other hand under the protection of Louis XIV himself. Little is known about the original performance although it is said that Molire himself played Harpagon utilising his by this point chronic cough and gait to humorous effect.1 Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Roles 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External links Plot summary

The Miser's plot involving a rich moneylender called Harpagon whose feisty children long to escape from his penny-pinching household and marry their respective lovers is a comedy of manners to which the 17th-century French upper classes presumably objected. It is less savage however and somewhat less realistic than Molire's earlier play Tartuffe which attracted a storm of criticism on its first performance.

The play is also notable for the way in which it sends up certain theatrical conventions. Many comedies from the Elizabethan period and onwards contain asides which are delivered by characters to the audience and which the other actors ignore. In L'Avare however characters generally demand to know who exactly these asides are being delivered to.

The play's ending is also self-consciously ridiculous mocking the French idea of comedy to better the comical effect of the play and its parts while still taking in hand the tragedy of Harpagon and his life. Roles Harpagon miser tyrant father of Clante and Elise in love with Mariane. Clante Harpagon's son lover to Mariane. Valre son to Anselme and brother to Mariane. In love with lise. Frosine an intriguing woman the matchmaker. La Flche valet to Clante. Master Jacques cook and coachman to Harpagon. lise daughter to Harpagon. In love with Valre. Signior Anselme father of Valre and Mariane. Master Simon broker. Brindavoine and La Merluche lackeys to Harpagon. An Officer and his clerk. Mariane daughter to Anselme and sister to Valre. In love with Clante. Mistress Claude servant to Harpagon. References The Miser Further reading Molire trans. Martin Sorrell. The Miser Nick Hern Books London 2004. External links eText of The Miser in English eText of L'Avare the original French

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