A brief summary of The Imaginary Patient, which you will find in this article, will introduce you to the comedy-ballet created in 1673. Its premiere took place at the Palais Royal Theater on February 10 of the same year. The author of the work is Moliere. The “Imaginary Sick”, a summary of which you will read, is the last play by this author and perhaps the most mysterious of all. She begins with an introduction to the main character.
Representation of the protagonist
Argan, the hero of the comedy, has spent the past few days in records and calculations. He found out why he had been feeling so bad lately. It turned out that he drank too many medicines - about 40 types of various medicines and tablets, made 14 injections and 15 injections. Argan decided to express dissatisfaction with Dr. Purgon, his attending physician, because he almost sent him to the next world.
The attitude of family members to the eccentricity of Argan
The fact that Argan showed an increased interest in his health was differently related to his family members. Belina, his second wife, was following the instructions of the doctors. She hoped that this way her husband would die faster than catching a cold. Angelica, his daughter, was negative about her father’s desire to cure another disease he had invented. However, she was silent, showing obedience to the elders. But Tuaneta, the maid, refused to be silent. The woman discussed the doctors and quarreled with the patient, not wanting to make another poultice. She will play a very important role in the work. What exactly will Tuanita do, you will find out if you read to the end a summary of the story "Imaginary Sick."
Angelica's Secret
Angelica once told the maid about a secret that tormented her: she fell in love with the young Cleant, whom she saw only once. Saving Angelica from the rudeness of some gentleman, he made an indelible impression on her. Therefore, the girl was seized with excitement when her father tried for the first time to talk about the wedding. Angelica thought that Cleant had come to her father to ask for her hands and hearts. However, the ardor quickly cooled the girls. Argan was going to give her away as a more suitable groom.
Husband Candidate
It turned out to be Thomas Diaphuarus, the nephew of Dr. Purgon. This young man was soon to become a doctor himself. Father painted Angelica the virtues of the future son-in-law, saying that the girl will always have a doctor at hand, and she will not need to pay for his services. In addition, Thomas is the heir to both his father and Uncle Purgon. The girl did not answer anything to her father, but after this conversation she cried on the shoulder of the maid. She told Argan everything that his daughter thought, but all in vain - the girl’s father was as if deaf. What will be next? Read the summary of the "Imaginary Patient" and you will find out the answer.
The maid takes her fate in her hands
Belina also had reasons to prevent the marriage of Angelica: her stepmother was greedy and did not want to share her husband’s inheritance with the girl. She even tried to hide Angelica in the monastery. The fate of the girl, therefore, was in the hands of Tuaneta, who happily took on this burden. First of all, it was necessary to inform Cleant that they wanted to give Angelica as another. And Tuaneta sent to him an open sign, a usurer, long in love with this maid.
Cleant's Appearance
The first sideshow with dances and songs depicts an open door, walking along the street, drunk with love, which leads to a funny incident with the gendarmes. Kleant soon came to Argan, however, not out of love for his daughter, but as a substitute for a singing teacher, who went briefly to the village for urgent matters. Father agreed only on condition that he would personally be present during the classes.
Cleant and Angelica Opera
As soon as the lesson began, Diaphuurus, a father and a son, entered. The last greeted speech greeted Argan. Then he mistook the girl for the future mother-in-law. Realizing that he was mistaken, he hastened to make her an offer. Thomas presented the bride with a treatise on the dangers of blood circulation, which he himself wrote. To celebrate the engagement, a museum was chosen in which a public autopsy of a woman’s body was performed .
Angelica's father wanted her to do something too. Suddenly he noticed a singing teacher and decided to make the girl entertain the audience with singing. Kleant gave notes to Angelica and said that they would perform his new opera, and the girl should prepare for a little improvisation. The opera talked about a shepherdess and a shepherdess - two lovers under whom it was not difficult to identify Cleant and Angelica. The opera was performed as if for everyone, but in fact, Cleante turned to his beloved, telling her the story of their love. At the end of the play, a shepherd comes to her lover's house, learning that her father wants to pass her off as an unworthy boyfriend. We only briefly described this curious scene from the work "Imaginary Sick." Its very brief content, of course, loses much to the original. But we have no right to describe this scene in detail within the framework of the topic of the article. Therefore, we continue to acquaint readers with the plot.
In the end, Argan ordered to stop. He did not understand what was the matter, but felt that something was wrong in this opera. When the music ceased, Argan told his daughter to take Thomas by the arm and name him with all her husband. The girl suddenly refused to obey the order. Guests had to leave with nothing.
Failed engagement
Argan is furious. Having visited Angelica, Belina finds Cleant at her. He hurries off. Then Berald, his brother, comes to Argan. He says that he found another worthy candidate for the role of the husband of his daughter, but Argan does not want to hear anything. Then Berald decides to invite gypsies to his house, which should entertain his oppressed brother. In the second sideshow, gypsy dances and their joyful songs about spring, about people and love.
Conversation of two brothers
Berald wants to reason with his brother, but in vain: he insists that a doctor be her husband, and no one else. Berald wonders why Argan, having such good health, spends his time on doctors? He explains his brother’s good health by saying that despite taking so many different medicines, Argan is still alive. Apparently, Moliere himself ("The Imaginary Sick") is surprised at this. Are you interested in reading a summary? The original of the work cannot be compared with the presentation of its plot. Moliere’s play will surely bring you a lot of pleasure if you decide to get to know her better.
The brothers gradually start a conversation about medicine, about whether it is needed. Berald admits that healers are educated people who know ancient languages ​​and humanities. However, they are pretenders and liars, extorting money from patients. The human body is alien to interventions - it is organic, complex and subtle in itself. Only nature can cope with the disease if doctors do not interfere with it. However, Argan (in the photo above - Konstantin Stanislavsky in his role) is not affected by any convictions of his brother. The only way out for Berald is to take him to the comedy of Moliere, whose author ridicules the unfortunate doctors. But Argan does not want to hear about it. He convinces his brother that if he does not obey the doctors, he will die a terrible disease.
Berald insults Purgon
A brief summary of the "Imaginary Patient" continues with the appearance of pharmacist Fleran, who brings in a clyster made by Dr. Purgon specifically for Argan. Berald, despite his brother’s resistance, drives him away. When leaving, the pharmacist promises to report everything to Purgon. After a while, a doctor appears, wounded to the core. He says that Argan should not dare to ask him about anything, he remarks that he will soon die without his departure.
Tuaneta pretends to be a doctor
What finale does Moliere prepare for us? The “imaginary patient”, the summary of which is drawing to a close, will not disappoint readers in this regard. But first things first.
Tuaneta appears in the clothing of a wandering doctor. The maid appears to be the best doctor with the best recommendations and medicines in the world. He was allegedly interested in Argan, since no one can cure him. "Doctor" offers its services, saying that this unique case is of great value for medicine. Tuaneta notes that Purgon is an ignoramus. The maid makes the opposite diagnosis to Argan, gives him a prescription and leaves. Isn’t it, Moliere ("The Imaginary Sick") created a very witty heroine? The summary of the chapters, unfortunately, does not convey all the subtleties of the characters.
Belina's exposure
The brothers again discuss the girl’s marriage. Argan insists on his own - only a doctor can become her husband, or Angelica will go to the monastery. Of course, Belina offers exactly the last option. Then the maid plans to fine-tune the situation in which Belina’s true intentions will become clear to everyone. The imaginary patient agrees to participate in this and pretends to be dead.
Upon learning of the death of her husband, Belina does not hide her joy - all the money finally went to her! Kleant and Angelica, on the contrary, fall into despair. Suddenly Argan resurrects and agrees to Cleant marry his daughter, however, provided that he receives a medical education.
Happy ending
Here, finally, we came to the finale, which concludes his work, Jean Baptiste Moliere ("Imaginary Sick"). A summary of it is as follows. The brother of the imaginary patient offers him to become a doctor himself. Even if he cannot comprehend science, it doesn’t matter - he still does not need to know anything about medicine. It is enough to put on a dressing gown and hat and use the Latin language, talking about diseases.
The final sideshow is performed by actors who are familiar to Berald. Argan is initiated into a doctor. This concludes the summary of The Imaginary Patient, as, indeed, the play itself.