Love Versus Fortune

Le Père

This flow traces the pressure of wealth on Cléante’s ability to trust romantic feeling.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Rich Daughter The Rich Daughter from "Le Père". Wealth as Barrier Nisida’s Fortune Nisida is the only daughter of a wealthy father.

Wealth as Barrier Nisida’s Fortune Nisida is the only daughter of a wealthy father. Her wealth makes every suitor suspect, because affection may be confused with calculation. Cléante’s Inferiority Cléante believes his poverty makes him unworthy to declare love. He fears that Nisida would doubt his motives or Arlequin would reject him. Money distorts the meaning of desire.

Renounced Rank Renounced Rank from "Le Père". Love Chosen Over Career Social Sacrifice Cléante abandons the visible dignity of a captain to become a secretary.

Renounced Rank from "Le Père". Love Chosen Over Career Social Sacrifice Cléante abandons the visible dignity of a captain to become a secretary.

Love Chosen Over Career Social Sacrifice Cléante abandons the visible dignity of a captain to become a secretary. His action proves devotion but worsens his material position. Suspicion Avoided He thinks silence will prevent anyone from saying he seeks Nisida’s fortune. The attempt to appear disinterested paradoxically makes his conduct more secretive. Love and fortune become mutually suspicious.

Marriage Settlement Marriage Settlement from "Le Père". Wealth Offered Freely Arlequin’s Gift Arlequin offers Nisida everything he owns to secure the marriage with marquis d'Yrville.

Marriage Settlement from "Le Père". Wealth Offered Freely Arlequin’s Gift Arlequin offers Nisida everything he owns to secure the marriage with marquis d'Yrville.

Wealth Offered Freely Arlequin’s Gift Arlequin offers Nisida everything he owns to secure the marriage with marquis d'Yrville. The gesture treats fortune as protection. Cléante’s Despair The offer makes his own poverty seem decisive. He cannot compete with a socially approved husband on material terms. The fortune appears to close the path to love.

Unexpected Inheritance Unexpected Inheritance from "Le Père". Poverty Reversed Hidden Heir Cléante reveals that he is the son of comte de Valcourt, whose fortune Arlequin possesses. His lack was never proof of low worth.

Unexpected Inheritance from "Le Père". Poverty Reversed Hidden Heir Cléante reveals that he is the son of comte de Valcourt, whose fortune Arlequin possesses. His lack was never proof of low worth.

Poverty Reversed Hidden Heir Cléante reveals that he is the son of comte de Valcourt, whose fortune Arlequin possesses. His lack was never proof of low worth. Moral Priority Arlequin returns the property rather than using legality to retain it. The reversal exposes the ethical weakness of judging love by present wealth. Fortune changes hands without changing the lovers’ original devotion.

Fortune at Love’s Service Fortune at Love’s Service from "Le Père". Wealth Repositioned Cléante’s Choice Cléante accepts the fortune only to place it at Nisida’s feet.

Fortune at Love’s Service from "Le Père". Wealth Repositioned Cléante’s Choice Cléante accepts the fortune only to place it at Nisida’s feet.

Wealth Repositioned Cléante’s Choice Cléante accepts the fortune only to place it at Nisida’s feet. Property becomes an offering rather than a qualification for love. Equality Achieved The lovers can unite without the poverty that frightened Cléante or the suspicion that wealth created. Their emotional bond survives the economic reversal. Fortune is finally subordinated to affection and duty.

today before the marriage announcement

six months before today

today at Arlequin’s announcement

near the ending

the final scene