For the Love of Money
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Sarah El Tuhami
EN 101 Composition I
July 22, 2012
For the Love of Money
This play illustrates the power money can have over some people. There is no doubt that money is useful and that it is nice to have, however the central character in this play takes the love for money to a whole different level. He completely forgets that there are things in life that are far more important than money. The real important things in life are love, compassion, and definitely your children but for Harpagon he doesnt even care about his own children.
Harpagon is an obsessively greedy old man with only one care in this world-money. He is so concerned with his money that he lets money rule his whole life and is constantly in a state of panic thinking he will be robbed. In his garden he keeps a money box buried in an attempt to protect it from being stolen. Harpagon has servants who he treats poorly by accusing them and not paying them any money. He accuses his servants with no ounce of reason.
His horses go unfed as well and he is actually found stealing oats from them. His horses are starved and weak but he still insists that they are put to work. It is clear that Harpagon is stingy when he states, “but you must only reckon for eight. When there is enough for eight, there is enough for ten. Harpagon has arranged for ten guests to come but is so worried about them depleting his food supply that he demands preparation for only eight. Harpagon goes on to demand Jacques serve as little food as possible by providing the guests with filling food so not as much will need to be given.
Harpagon shows no love for his children. The only thing he cares about is money. It is Harpagons selfishness that causes him to treat his children the way he does. Harpagons selfishness is evident when he accuses his son, “you affect the marquis terribly, and for you to be always dressed as you are, you must certainly rob me.” Harpagon is accusing his son of giving the nobleman a bad reputation by dressing as extravagantly as he does and accuses Cleante of robbing his own father. This illustrates that Harpagon cares nothing about his childen. What kind of father accuses his own children? In addition to accusing his children he also shows throughout the play that he cares nothing about their happiness.
It is shocking when Harpagon announces that he plans to marry the very same girl that Cleante is in love with. Harpagon wishes to marry Mariane out of lust and because he believes she will provide him with a dowry. This thinking is kind of ironic since Marian and her mother barely have enough money to pay for their own needs. Cleante is in love with a young woman from the neighborhood who lives with her sick mom