Turcaret: Analysis of Major Characters
"Turcaret: Analysis of Major Characters" explores the intricate web of relationships and deception within a nuanced narrative. Central to the story is M. Turcaret, a naive financier who falls hopelessly in love with the alluring Baroness, unaware of her manipulative tactics that exploit his affections for financial gain. The Baroness, characterized as a charming widow and coquette, skillfully navigates the affections of both Turcaret and the knight, revealing her duplicitous nature. Frontin, the clever valet, emerges as a master of deception, expertly orchestrating the flow of money between Turcaret, the Baroness, and the knight, ultimately securing his own future with Lisette, the maid. The knight, a superficial character, is motivated by greed, seeking to benefit from the Baroness’ charm and Turcaret’s gullibility. Other notable characters include Mme Turcaret, the financier's estranged wife, and Mme Jacob, his sister, each contributing to the play's exploration of themes like manipulation, love, and betrayal. This analysis highlights the complexities of each character's motivations and interactions, providing insight into the broader social commentary embedded in the narrative.
Turcaret: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Alain-René Lesage
First published: 1709
Genre: Play
Locale: Paris, France
Plot: Social
Time: Seventeenth century
Frontin (frohn-TAN), the knight's valet, later M. Turcaret's valet. A master of fraud, he ably shows that he is better at trickery than his masters. Replacing M. Turcaret's valet, he keeps funds flowing from the financier to the Baroness, from her to his knight, and secretly from the knight to himself. By the end of the play, Frontin has accumulated enough money for Lisette to marry him.
M. Turcaret (tewr-kah-RAY), a duped financier who is in love with the Baroness, a charming widow. Deeply enamored, he lavishes gifts on her, little realizing that she is passing on his funds. He is dropped by the coquette shortly before he is arrested for a pay-officer's default of two hundred thousand crowns.
The Baroness, a young widow and a coquette. Madly in love with the knight, she is duped as she herself has duped M. Turcaret. Sensing M. Turcaret's fiscal embroilments, she lets him go only to cast off the parasitic knight when she discovers his duplicity.
The knight, a coxcomb who loves the Baroness only for the crowns she can get from gullible M. Turcaret.
Marine (mah-REEN) and Lisette (lee-ZEHT), the Baroness' maids. Annoyed by her mistress' gullibility, Marine leaves her post and is replaced by Lisette, who aids Frontin in keeping funds flowing to the knight.
Mme Turcaret, the financier's estranged wife.
The marquess, her coxcomb.
Mme Jacob (zhah-KOHB), M. Turcaret's sister, a dealer in toilette necessaries.
Flammand (flah-MAHN), M. Turcaret's first valet.