The Miser

The Miser is a satirical play written by Henry Fielding in 1732. The play follows the story of a wealthy old man named Harpagon, who is obsessed with his money and possessions. Harpagon’s miserly behavior causes tension within his family, as his children long for their father’s love and attention, but are constantly rebuffed due to his greed. Meanwhile, Harpagon is also pursuing a young woman named Mariane, whom his son Cleante is also in love with. The play is filled with comedic misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and ultimately, a happy ending. Through his portrayal of Harpagon and his family, Fielding critiques the excesses of wealth and the dangers of placing too much value on material possessions. The Miser is a classic work of English literature and remains a popular play to this day.Mar. Ha, ha, ha! I shall die. Ha, ha, ha! You extravagant Creature, how cou’d you throw away all this Jest at once; it wou’d have furnish’d a prudent Person with an Annuity of Laughter for Life. Oh! I am charm’d with my Conquest; I am quite in Love with him already. I never had a Lover yet above half his Age.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world’s literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.