The Characteristics of Molière’s Comedy Writing —Centred on Harpagon’s Characterisation

Abstract

The works of the French classical comedian Molière are of exceptional value. In his satirical comedies, Molière often creates sensible, vivid, contemporary, and real characters through descriptions of detailed behavior and the setting of coincident and conflicts. Harpagon, for instance, has become a global synonym for miserliness due to Molière’s extreme focus on this single character trait. Critics of his time labeled Harpagon as a “flat character”, yet it is precisely this “flatness” that makes the character memorable. Molière possessed a serious spirit of realism and a democratic tendency, using comedy as a means to educate the public. Through characters like Harpagon, he exposed the bourgeoisie’s cruelty, hypocrisy, and greedy exploitation of the lower class, delivering sharp and pungent satire. Molière’s ability to craft such characters not only entertained but also conveyed powerful social critiques, solidifying his importance in literary and social history.