The Miser facts for kids
The Miser is a funny play written by Molière, a famous French writer. It was first shown on September 9, 1668. This happened at the Palais-Royal theatre in Paris, France. The play tells a story about a very old man who loves money too much. He is so careful with his money that it causes many silly problems for him and his family.
Contents
What is The Miser About?
The play is mostly about a character named Harpagon. He is an old man who is extremely greedy. He tries to save every single coin he has. This makes him act in very strange and funny ways. He even hides his money in his garden.
Harpagon's children, Élise and Cléante, are in love. But their father's greed makes things difficult. Harpagon wants them to marry rich people. He does not care if his children love these people or not. He even wants to marry a young woman himself, who is much younger than him.
The story gets even funnier when Harpagon's hidden money goes missing. He becomes very upset and suspects everyone around him. The play shows how being too greedy can lead to many misunderstandings and funny situations. It teaches us that money is not the most important thing in life.
Who Wrote The Miser?
The play was written by Molière. His real name was Jean-Baptiste Poquelin. He was born in Paris, France, in 1622. Molière was a great actor and playwright. He wrote many famous comedies. His plays often made fun of people's silly habits and society's problems.
Molière's plays are still performed today. They are loved for their humor and smart stories. The Miser is one of his most well-known works. It shows his talent for creating funny characters and clever plots.
Where Did The Idea Come From?
Molière got some ideas for The Miser from older plays. One of these was a Latin comedy called Aulularia. It was written by a Roman playwright named Plautus. This old play also featured a greedy man who hid his money.
Molière also took inspiration from Italian comedies. These plays were popular in his time. They often had funny characters and fast-paced stories. Molière used these ideas to create his own unique and hilarious play. He made it fit the French society of his time.
Images for kids
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Harpagon and La Flèche in a German production of The Miser, 1810
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Master Jacques repeatedly relights a candle behind Harpagon's back.
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Molière, painted by Charles-Antoine Coypel, 1730
