''The Niggard Rich'' (''O Rico Avarento'', in the original title) is a play written by

Ariano Suassuna Ariano Vilar Suassuna (; 16 June 1927 – 23 July 2014) was a Brazilian playwright and author. He was the driving force behind the creation of the ''Movimento Armorial''. He founded the Student Theater at Federal University of Pernambuco. Fou ...

, published in 1954 and based in

Molière Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (, ; 15 January 1622 (baptised) – 17 February 1673), known by his stage name Molière (, , ), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and world ...

's literary composition.

Plot

The story, located in Brazil's northeast, is about a rich and powerful colonel and his two employees. Day after day, the colonel shows his avarice to the citizens of his small village, negating alms and food to the poor people who visits his house in desperation. Then, the niggard rich receives an unexpected visit: the Chief of Hell and his dogs appear to arrest him because of his sins.

Reputation in Brazil

The play is considered one of Suassuna's best creations , at the side of ''O Auto da Compadecida'' and '' O Santo e a Porca''.

External links

Ariano Suassuna's Official Website
1954 plays Brazilian plays Plays by Ariano Suassuna {{Brazil-lit-stub