The Imaginary Invalid

The Imaginary Invalid Summary | Act 1, Scene 1 Summary

The Imaginary Invalid was the last piece to be written by the French playwright Moliere. The author was ill and facing his own mortality when he created a character who only imagined a similar fate. Moliere himself played Argan on opening night of the first production of the play.

The play begins with Argan, the main character, sitting at a table adding up his bills from his apothecary, Mr. Fleurant. Argan talks to himself as he uses counters to tick off each bill. At times he stops to read the description of the bill, a healing compound or a prescription, and admonishes Mr. Fleurant out loud, but to himself. Argan takes it upon himself to adjust some of the bills downward to make Mr. Fleurant's prices more reasonable. He does not believe the apothecary should take advantage of the ill. Argan angrily calls for Toinette as the scene ends.