The Imaginary Invalid

He’s sick—but is it real, or all in his head? In The Imaginary Invalid, Molière delivers a razor-sharp comedy that skewers the medical profession, hypochondria, and the absurdities of human fear. Argan is a wealthy man obsessed with his health—so obsessed, in fact, that he’s willing to marry off his daughter to a doctor just to keep one in the family. But his scheming is no match for the wit of his clever maid Toinette, who sets out to cure him of both his imaginary illnesses and his foolish plans. First performed in 1673, this was Molière’s final play—he famously collapsed on stage during its fourth performance. Yet it remains one of his most vibrant and enduring works: a brilliant blend of satire, slapstick, and farce, full of disguises, mistaken identities, and cutting humor. A timeless comedy about fear, folly, and the dangers of taking ourselves too seriously, The Imaginary Invalid is Molière at his boldest and funniest.