The School For Husbands

Act One

As the play opens, brothers Sganarelle and Ariste are discussing their opposing views on how to raise their wards, Isabella and Leonor. Sganarelle scorns his older brother, believing him to be out of touch with the realities of raising a young woman. While Ariste chooses to give Leonor freedom and social interaction, Sganarelle will not let Isabella out of the house without him. He dislikes Leonor’s influence over her sister, and wishes that Ariste would stop coming to his house. Meanwhile Leonor pities her sister, being trapped in Sganarelle’s care. Sganarelle refuses to let Isabella go for a walk with Leonor, stating that he must teach her to be utterly faithful and loyal to him if they are to marry (as was her father’s wish). Instead, she must stay indoors, do his mending, and talk only to him. He pities Ariste for being naive to the temptations Leonor faces in contemporary society and bids him adieu.

As Sganarelle muses on his brother’s foolish notions, he is spotted by