The School for Wives: Analysis of Major Characters
"The School for Wives" is a comedic play that explores themes of love, manipulation, and the nature of marriage through its major characters. Arnolphe, also known as M. de la Souche, is a controlling guardian who believes that marrying an innocent girl, Agnès, will safeguard him from infidelity. He isolates Agnès from the world to ensure her naiveté, but his plans unravel as she falls in love with Horace, a young man unaware of Arnolphe's true intentions. Agnès represents innocence and ignorance, as she is blissfully unaware of the complexities of romantic relationships. Horace, in turn, is earnest and trusting, viewing Arnolphe as a friend while seeking his help to win Agnès's affection. The dynamics are further complicated by Chrysalde, Arnolphe's friend, who listens to Arnolphe's misguided views on training a wife, and Enrique, Horace's father, who insists on a marriage between Horace and his daughter. The narrative ultimately highlights the futility of Arnolphe's schemes, as love prevails against his manipulative efforts. This interplay of characters provides a humorous yet critical reflection on societal views of love and marriage.
The School for Wives: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Molière
First published: 1663 as L'École des femmes (English translation, 1732)
Genre: Play
Locale: France
Plot: Comedy of manners
Time: Seventeenth century
Arnolphe (ahr-NOHLF), also known as M. de la Souche (deh lah sewsh), a man who is convinced that, to avoid being disgraced by an unfaithful wife, he must marry a very innocent girl who has been sheltered and kept from the world. He decides to marry Agnès, his ward. He sends her to a convent and then keeps her in seclusion in a small cottage on his estate. He plots to keep her apart from Horace, the young man she loves, but eventually is foiled in his plan.
Agnès (ahn-YEHS), Arnolphe's ward, a young and very innocent girl who knows nothing of love affairs but is very much in love with Horace. She is so ignorant that she once asked if babies came from the ear. In spite of Arnolphe's plotting, she is united with her lover.
Horace (oh-RAHS), the young man who is in love with Agnès. He does not know that Arnolphe, her guardian, and the man named de la Souche, who is supposed to marry Agnès, are one and the same person. He considers Arnolphe to be his friend, consults him, and asks for his aid in winning Agnès. Arnolphe attempts to betray him but fails, and Horace and Agnès are united in spite of Arnolphe's plots against them.
Chrysalde (kree-ZAHLD), Arnolphe's friend and confidant. He is the recipient of Arnolphe's declarations about how a wife should be trained.
Enrique (ehn-REEK), Chrysalde's brother-in-law. Horace's father is determined that Horace must marry Enrique's daughter, and Arnolphe encourages this plan. When he learns that Enrique's daughter is really Agnès, his discovery comes too late.
Oronte (oh-ROHNT), Horace's father and Enrique's friend. He insists that Horace must marry Enrique's daughter.