The Miser

In Act 2 Cleante is reunited with La Fleche, his servant. Cleante tells La Fleche, “the stakes are now life and death: I’ve just found out that my father is my rival for Marianne’s hand” (21). They will need money if they are to win her back from him, and he asks La Fleche how their loan is going. La Fleche assures Cleante that their broker, Master Simon, is intent on helping him. Cleante is relieved, until he learns the conditions of the loan: an interest rate of over 25%, and a large sum of the funds will not be loaned in cash, but instead in a collection of hard goods, most of which are tattered and worn pieces of furniture. Cleante is aghast; he exits with La Fleche upon hearing Harpagon’s footsteps.

Harpagon enters with Master Simon, the broker. He asks Master Simon about the young man he will be lending money to, but the broker cannot give any particulars other than he comes from a respectable, wealthy family. Harpagon decides this is enough for him and agrees to lend the money. As they are making the arrangement, Cleante and La Fleche re-enter. They are all surprised to see that, unbeknownst to either of them, Harpagon has just agreed to loan his own son money. Additionally, the man who is charging Cleante an exorbitant amount of interest is his own father.

The two men are furious with the other and storm off just as a new character, Frosine, enters. She comes in from the garden, pulling her dress free from the jaws of the Dobermans. La Fleche alone remains behind, and the two of them begin to talk. La Fleche asks why Frosine is there, and she tells him she is there to fix something for Harpagon. She does not give details, but merely adds, “There are certain services for which any man will pay dearly” (25). La Fleche scoffs at her confidence, for he refuses to believe the miser will pay for anything, no matter how badly he wants it. La Fleche sees that Harpagon is coming back and hastily makes his exit.

Harpagon greets Frosine, and asks her how the match with Marianne is going. Frosine, after showering the miser with compliments, tells him it is all going well. Marianne’s mother has put Marianne in Frosine’s charge for the night, so she can attend Elise’s marriage later that evening. Harpagon is pleased and asks about a dowry. Frosine tells him that Marianne guarantees twelve thousand francs per year. Harpagon, who knows Marianne is impoverished, is shocked by this figure. Frosine explains that Marianne cannot give him twelve thousand francs, but that is the amount of money he will save by marrying her. Unlike other young women, Marianne sees no need in wearing clothes that are expensive, and she eats very little, so not much will be spent on food. Harpagon is not convinced; he wants something tangible. Frosine tells him that Marianne and her mother speak of “some foreign land where they own counties of property” (27). This puts Harpagon’s mind at ease.

Harpagon then expresses his fears that Marianne, who is significantly younger than he, will not find him attractive. Frosine plays up her own attraction to Harpagon, then spins a lie about how Marianne despises younger suitors and much prefers a more mature man. Finally, Harpagon is convinced that the match is a great one. Frosine takes advantage of the moment and tells Harpagon that she desperately needs money for an upcoming lawsuit. Harpagon wavers, and Frosine says, “[A]ll I need is a little bit. Just to see me through this troubled time” (29). Harpagon ignores her and tells her she will accompany Marianne and Elise to the carnival that night. Frosine begs Harpagon, but he pays no mind to her. After he leaves, Frosine drops the flattering act and curses him angrily, vowing revenge.