The Miser

Once they are certain the coast is clear, Frosine, Marianne, Cleante, Elise, and Valere re-enter from the garden. They must decide their next steps. Marianne feels trapped, telling the group that her mother’s “dying wish [is] that [she] marry a wealthy, older man. Thanks to you, Frosine, that wish has been realized, contract and all” (43). Frosine, who never would have insisted on the match if she had known Marianne’s feelings for Cleante, begins to scheme a way out of their situation. She concludes that it should not be too difficult to sway Marianne’s mother. The trouble, then, will lie with Harpagon: He will object to the marriage being called off, so it must be his idea instead. They plan to invent a wealthier, older woman that he will want to meet, someone he would leave Marianne for so he could make more money. In the meantime, Marianne must win over her mother’s blessing. Cleante leans over to kiss her on the cheek just as Harpagon returns.

He remarks at the odd sight before him: his son kissing the cheek of his stepmother. All but Cleante leave, and Harpagon begins to interrogate Cleante about Marianne. Cleante insists that there are no feelings there, and any chemistry Harpagon has seen between them is purely coincidental. Harpagon tells him it is too bad, for he had planned on allowing Cleante to marry Marianne, since they were closer in age, but since there are no feelings there, Harpagon rescinds his offer. He sarcastically tells Cleante, “Son, there’s nothing worse than a loveless marriage. I wouldn’t do that to you” (46). Cleante realizes he has lost his chance, and the two of them get into a boisterous fight.

Master Jacques enters, and the father and son use their servant to mediate the argument. The following scene plays up the comedy of misunderstandings. Master Jacques goes back and forth between Harpagon and Cleante, listening to their complaints, agreeing with them, and assuring each man that their message will be relayed to the other. However, whenever he arrives at the other party, he changes the message so that it will be flattering. This leads to a comedic misunderstanding that first makes father and son reconcile, since each of them (thanks to Master Jacques) believes they have gotten their way. When they discover this is not the case, they chase each other around the room. Harpagon shouts that he disinherits Cleante and flees from the room.

Suddenly, thunder roars and lightning flashes, and “a muddy suit of armor totters in carrying a muddy strongbox” (50). Cleante drops to his knees in fear, but the suit of armor tells him to get up. The suit of armor lifts his visor and reveals a person inside: La Fleche. He figured out where the treasure was hidden, waited until the right time, then dug it up. Now, the two of them have the money they need and must get out of there. They leave the room, past the howling dogs and into the stormy night.

Harpagon races back in, crying after the thieves. He shouts, “[T]hey’ve cut my throat, they’ve murdered me, they’ve stolen my money!” (50), then starts searching the room for them. After a moment of this, he turns towards the audience, asking them if they saw where Cleante went. He keeps talking to the audience, eventually growing angry over them laughing at him. He rings the bell and summons the police, intent on arresting the “guilty” (51) audience. He shouts, “I want the whole world hanged […]! And if I don’t get my money, I’ll hang myself!” (51). The Act ends with Harpagon wrapping the bell cord around his neck and pulling it with his body.