Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

Cléante

At the beginning of the play, it looks like Élise might be our main character. But as we move into the second act, Cléante takes on the role of protagonist. His disputes with his father take up much more of the play than Élise's, and his scheme to steal Mariane from Harpagon becomes even Élise's main concern as the plot unfolds. He's young, handsome, and reasonably good: total leading man material.