Show Plot Miser

Author: Molière

Time Period: late 17th century

Setting: Paris, France

Summary:  Harpagon plans to marry a young, poor woman named Mariane and force his children, Cléante and Élise, into loveless marriages of convenience for money.  Unbeknownst to Harpagon, his son Cléante is secretly in love with Mariane, while his daughter Élise is secretly engaged to Valère, a young man working undercover as a steward in Harpagon's house to win her father's approval.  When Cléante's clever servant, La Flèche, discovers and steals Harpagon's hidden cashbox, Harpagon descends into absolute madness, accusing everyone in sight and launching a frantic investigation.  The chaos peaks when a wealthy nobleman named Anselm arrives and it is revealed that Anselm is actually Valère and Mariane's long-lost father.