The Miser

In what ways does Molière’s The Miser influence comedy today? What literary techniques and/or themes remain relevant for a contemporary audience?

Many of the characters try to win over Harpagon with flattery. How is flattery depicted, and what does each character’s use of—or avoidance of—flattery reveal about their characterization and/or motivations? What alternatives, if any, exist to flattery in the play?

Out of all of the characters, Cleante and Harpagon seem to fight the most. What might be the reason for this? How and why does the dynamic between Cleante and Harpagon differ from that between Harpagon and Elise?