Les Fourberies de Scapin Ending Explained: What Happened and Why?

What Happens at the End of Les Fourberies de Scapin?

The action is set in Naples, opening a door onto an imagined maritime world stretching towards the Orient. Faced with two authoritarian fathers, two sons, both of whom are thwarted lovers, turn to the crafty Scapin, who is driven by a mad desire for revenge. The character is a double of Scaramouche, the Italian actor of the adventurous life whom Molière admired: “to tell you the truth, there are few things that are impossible for me, when I put my mind to them” declares the buffoonish servant whose name, as Denis Podalydès points out, derives his from the Italian scappare which means “to escape”, “to scamper off”. Scapin is beaten with a stick at one point but also gets his own back and, against a background of ransom demands and paternal contradictions, he comes up with an avalanche of stratagems and other tricks, which Molière excels in depicting.

Denis Podalydès's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Gilles David (Argante)'s journey. Faced with two authoritarian fathers, two sons, both of whom are thwarted lovers, turn to the crafty Scapin, who is driven by a mad desire for revenge.

How Does Gilles David (Argante)'s Story End?

• Gilles David: Gilles David's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• Bakary Sangaré (Sylvestre): Bakary Sangaré's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Benjamin Lavernhe (Scapin): Benjamin Lavernhe's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of Les Fourberies de Scapin Mean?

The ending of Les Fourberies de Scapin brings the narrative to a close, though viewer reception has been mixed. The resolution of Gilles David's story may not satisfy all audiences.