The Imaginary Invalid: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Imaginary Invalid" is a comedic play by Molière that centers around Argan, a wealthy hypochondriac who obsessively measures his health through the frequency of his medical treatments. Argan's character is marked by his foolishness and gullibility, particularly in his dealings with physicians who he believes can save him, despite often being skeptical of their financial motives. His second wife, Béline, pretends to care for him, but her true intentions are revealed to be driven by greed. Toinette, Argan's clever servant, serves as a voice of reason, aiding Argan's daughter Angélique in her secret love for Cléante while exposing Béline's insincerity through a clever ruse. Angélique herself is obedient yet resistant to her father's plans for her to marry a physician, showcasing her desire for genuine love. Cléante, who aspires to be with Angélique, disguises himself to navigate Argan's objections. Meanwhile, Argan's brother Béralde criticizes the medical profession, advocating for a more natural approach to health. The ensemble of characters creates a rich tapestry of folly and wisdom, ultimately leading to revelations about love, loyalty, and the absurdity of blind faith in medicine.
The Imaginary Invalid: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Molière
First published: 1674 as Le Malade imaginaire (English translation, 1732)
Genre: Play
Locale: Paris, France
Plot: Comedy
Time: Seventeenth century
Argan (ahr-GAHN), a hypochondriac, though he does not have the melancholia frequently associated with his state. His associates keep things too lively in his house to permit it, and he revels in his poor health. He gauges his health by the number of purges and clysters he has had this month compared to last. If the number is fewer, it is obvious that his condition is worse. He is glad he has only two children; more would leave him with no time for his illnesses. Although he enjoys the attention of two physicians and an apothecary, he is suspicious of their bills and checks them carefully, cutting the amount he intends to pay because “20 sous in the language of an apothecary is as much as to say 10 sous.” To have a physician in the family to attend to him at all times is his wish; therefore, he refuses to consider any other as a son-in-law. His temper is revealed in his shouting at his servant when she is not prompt in answering the bell, and he calls her names, including “jade,” “carrion,” and “impudent.” That he is extremely foolish is shown by his worry about orders of the physician to walk in his room: Should it be the long or the broad way? When his brother orders the physician out of the house, Argan is convinced that without his doctor's attention he will die. He is completely taken in by his second wife and her affectionate manner until her true feelings for him are revealed by the maid's trick. This also shows him his daughter's real love, and he permits the marriage to Cléante, provided he will become a physician, or at least an apothecary.
Toinette (twah-NEHT), Argan's servant, a sensible, amusing, and clever young woman. She loves Argan's daughter Angélique, shares her confidences, and aids her love affair. She is also aware of Argan's wife's true feelings toward her hypochondriac husband, and she proposes a test that convinces Argan that his wife is interested only in his money. Toinette gets along with her master very well, though she speaks up against his plan to marry Angélique to a physician and argues with him. She ridicules the young physician Argan has chosen as Angélique's husband, then apes the young man's speeches for those who missed hearing them. In an attempt to cure the hypochondriac of his fear of and respect for physicians, she disguises herself as a physician and ridicules the profession by making absurd diagnoses and diet suggestions. Her final clever plan for Argan to feign death to test the true feelings of his wife and daughter results in a happy close to the play.
Béline (bay-LEEN), Argan's second wife. Her relations with her husband seem calm and affectionate, but her true nature is revealed when she begs Argan not to talk about making his will, though she has the notary at hand to consult with him on this matter. She says she is not interested in his money, then checks on where he has hidden it and on the amount due on notes he has mentioned. She tries to persuade Argan to place both daughters in a convent so that she will get the entire property. Her real nature is revealed by Toinette's trap. On hearing of Argan's supposed death, she states her relief at his demise. She leaves quickly when he is proved to be alive.
Angélique (ahn-zhay-LEEK), Argan's older daughter. Although she is an obedient daughter, she objects to her betrothal to the young physician. When Toinette argues with Argan against his marriage plans for Angélique and the physician, she merely listens. Toinette is her real confidant, especially in questions of her love for Cléante; Toinette says that their conversation for six days was only about him. Part of this conversation is a witty catechism. Despite Angélique's differences with her father, she objects to the trick her uncle plans to play on him, but she agrees when assured it is only a giving in to his fancies and not really a trick on him. When Argan is supposed dead, Angélique's expression of her love and her sense of loss convinces Argan that she should not be forced into an unwelcome marriage.
Cléante (klay-AHNT), the young man in love with Angélique. Because of Argan's objection to him as a suitor, Cléante disguises himself as a music master so that he can see his beloved. He cleverly states the plot of an opera he will sing with her; it is a statement of their own circumstances. Argan sees through the story and calls it an impertinence. Cléante returns at the time of Argan's pretended death, to pay his respects and to try once again for the hypochondriac's good will. After Argan agrees to the marriage if he will become a physician, Cléante promises to become even an apothecary.
Béralde (bay-RAHLD), Argan's brother, who is opposed to physicians because he believes that nature will cure all ills. He recommends Molière's comedies exposing the ridiculousness of physics, if not of physicians. After he forbids the apothecary to administer the clyster ordered by the physician and drives him from the house, he calls his brother a simpleton. He also sees through Béline's plan to have the daughters placed in a convent and warns his brother. Argan, he suggests, should become a physician himself rather than ask Cléante to become one; he could learn all by merely putting on a gown and cap. Finally, he plans an interlude of a doctor's mission in which Argan will play the principal character.
Thomas Diafoirus (toh-MAHS dyah-fwah-REW), the son of Dr. Diafoirus, a stupid young physician favored by Argan as his son-in-law. Although he takes his cues from his father, he forgets parts of his memorized speeches to Angélique and Béline and mistakes one for the other. In medicine, he sticks to the ancients, not believing in any of the experiments of the day. He invites Angélique to witness the dissection of a woman.
Dr. Diafoirus, the father of Thomas, a physician who admits that his son is somewhat of a blockhead. Father and son, after an amusing examination of Argan, tie their diagnosis to Dr. Purgon's, which Argan repeats for them.
Dr. Purgon (pewr-GOHN), Argan's regular physician. Angry at the rejection, by Béralde's order, of the clyster he has ordered, he leaves, prophesying Argan's decline in health in four days, from “a bradypepsia to dyspepsia to apepsia to lienteria to dissenteria to dropsy to death.”
Bonnefoy (bon-FWAH), a notary. In league with Béline, he tells Argan he cannot will his wife anything because only gifts given now or secretly to friends, for return to his wife later on, are legally permitted.
Fleurant (flew-RAHN), an apothecary working with Dr. Purgon. Argan says he is “extremely civil” but believes his charges ought to be more reasonable.
Louison (lwee-ZOHN), the younger daughter of Argan. She sides with her sister, though her father does learn from her that Cléante is disguised as the music master. When her father threatens to beat her for not readily volunteering the information, she feigns death.