The School For Wives (Play) Plot & Characters

Overview

Synopsis

Arnolphe is a wealthy, middle-aged man with no children of his own. He has, however, brought up his young ward, Agnes, by educating her in a convent and insulating her from the real world��.and men. In return, he plans on marrying Agnes once she is of age, despite the reservations of his friend, Chrysalde. Arnolphe believes that, by shielding Agnes from the world, he has ensured her lifelong devotion and has created the perfect, dutiful wife. Now that Agnes is of marrying age, he moves her into his house and plans to soon wed her.

However, Horace, the son of Arnolphe’s friend, Oronte, has also fallen in love with Agnes. She has told Horace how her guardian, a “Monsieur de la Souche��, keeps her hidden away, but Horace is unaware that Monsieur de la Souche and Arnolphe are one and the same. As such, Horace reveals his plans to elope with Agnes in secret. Worried that his plan is falling apart, Arnolphe confronts Agnes about her relationship with Horace. In the confusion that ensues, Agnes believes that Arnolphe supports her decision to marry Horace. Realizing what has happened, Arnolphe locks Agnes away and sends for the notary to prepare the marriage contract between himself and his ward.

Both Horace and Arnolphe are desperate to keep hold of Agnes, but Arnolphe does everything in his power to foil Horace’s attempts to rescue his true love from the clutches of “Monsieur de la Souche��. Finally, Agnes�� father reappears in his daughter’s life and agrees to the marriage of his daughter to Horace, foiling all of Arnolphe’s plans.

Show Information

Book: Moliere

Category: Play

Age Guidance: Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)

Number of Acts: 5

First Produced: 1662

Genres: Comedy, Satire

Settings: Period, Unit/Single Set

Time & Place: France, Seventeenth Century

Cast Size: medium

Licensor: None/royalty-free

Ideal For: College/University, Community Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Regional Theatre, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Lead Characters

View all characters in The School For Wives

Context

Plot

Characters

Name	Part Size	Gender	Vocal Part
Arnolphe	Lead	Male	Spoken
Agnes	Supporting	Female	Spoken
Alain	Supporting	Male	Spoken
Horace	Supporting	Male	Spoken
Georgette	Supporting	Female	Spoken
Chrysalde	Supporting	Female	Spoken
Enrique	Featured	Male	Spoken
Oronte	Featured	Male	Spoken
A Notary	Featured	Male	Spoken

Songs

Sorry, we currently do not have content for this section.

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on �ǿ��ֹ�� for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on �ǿ��ֹ�� for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

�ǿ��ֹ��