Les Classiques Hachette - 13: Le Malade imaginaire

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<i>The imaginary invalid</i> or <i>The Hypochondriac</i> is the last comedy and at the same time the last play written by Molière. It is a comedy-ballet in three acts. In Molière’s outrageous satire of medicine and its practitioners, the wealthy Argan, to put it mildly, "enjoys" poor health. Laxatives, suppositories, bloodlettings, and second and third opinions from the leading quacks are the order of his day and hell on his wily, back-talking servant Toinette. His daughter Angélique is in love with the impoverished Cléante, but Argan wants to marry her to Thomas Diafoirus, a medical dunce who can assure his father-in-law a lifetime of health care. Cléante disguises himself as a music teacher to gain access to his love, but Béline, Argan’s mercenary second wife, threatens to expose them. A disguised Toinette, sage advice from his brother Béralde, and a faked death scene finally teach Argan where to place his trust.