About the work
Sganarelle, or The Imaginary Cuckold is a one-act verse comedy by Molière, first performed in 1660 at the Théâtre du Petit-Bourbon in Paris, with Molière himself playing the title role.
Plot
When the young Célie, secretly in love with Lélie, faints at the sight of his portrait, a chain of misunderstandings follows: Sganarelle and his wife suspect each other of infidelity, as does Célie's betrothed Valère. Only when it emerges that Valère has secretly married another woman does the confusion resolve, freeing Célie and Lélie to be together.
Cultural significance
The play was the most frequently performed of Molière's works during his lifetime and marks an important step from pure stock-type farce toward the more nuanced characterisation Molière developed further in later works such as "The Miser".