All that Glitters is not Gold

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Love can be the defining meaning of Moliere’s comedy “The Miser.” Everything can be called love from excessive greed to even the moral definition of love itself. What can we take away from knowing that good is always left unrewarded and evil unpunished? Lets take a look at a few defining factors from the play that lend themselves to loving good and hating evil.

First, lets take a gander at greed. Not just any type of greed but obsessive greed. The character for this type of greed is the main protagonist himself, Harpagon. Harpagon is the kind of greedy penny pincher that makes scrooge look like a pushover. His love for money can be taken as an evil deed left unpunished through a series of misfortunes throughout his life.

Harpagon is a widow, probably in his mid to late 70’s and has two grown children of both who have their eyes set on the goal of getting married in the play. Harpagon does everything he possibly can to save a penny here or a nickel there. Especially to the extent of his house and especially to his kids and there problems throughout the play. In fact his greed is s...

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