The Miser Family Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Paragraph)

Quote #1

"Was there ever anything more cruel than the strict penny-pinching he forces us to live with, the unnatural parsimoniousness in which we are made to languish?" (1.2.17).

With no options left, Cléante tries to help out Mariane by borrowing money. The only reason he can borrow money, though, is because his father is rich and the lender knows that he'll be able to collect the money from the father if Cléante can't come up with the dough later on. Little does Cléante know, though, that it's his own dad who's putting up the loan.

Quote #2

"I have a certain widow in mind for your brother." (1.4.76)

Cléante curses his fate for being the son of a miserly old father. As far as he's concerned, it's a father's duty to give his children money, especially if he has plenty of it. This is based on Cléante's belief that money spent in youth is way more valuable than money spent in old age.

Quote #3

"What else can I do? This is what young men are reduced to by the damned stinginess of their fathers." (2.1.39)

When La Flèche steals Harpagon's moneybox, his first thought is to tell Cléante. Now usually, you might not tell a guy that you just stole his dad's money. But in this case, Cléante hates his father's stinginess just as much as La Flèche.