Miser (with CD)

Author: Molière
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: "The Miser," also translated as "The," is a five-act prose comedy regarded as a masterpiece on par with "Tartuffe." Its plot is derived from the ancient Roman comedy by Plautus, "Menaechmi." The protagonist, Alceste, is a usurer who is greedy, miserly, and loves money above all else, creating constant conflicts with his children. To save expenses, he plans to marry off his daughter to an elderly man, arrange for his son to marry a widow, and marry a young, beautiful girl himself without spending a penny—only to find that the girl is his son's lover, leading to a rift between father and son. Alceste is a typical character and an immortal artistic figure created by Molière. He values money more than honor, virtue, or even love.