School for Wives recap

Arnolphe plans to marry his ward Agnès, whom he has deliberately kept uneducated and secluded because he thinks an ignorant wife cannot deceive him. Returning home, he learns that she and young Horace have fallen in love. Horace does not know that Arnolphe is also Monsieur de la Souche, Agnès's guardian, and repeatedly tells him every plan, allowing Arnolphe to interfere. Yet Agnès grows more articulate and determined as Arnolphe tries to impose obedience and marriage on her. A failed elopement briefly puts her back in his power. Then Horace's father arrives to arrange Horace's marriage to the long-lost daughter of Enrique. That daughter proves to be Agnès herself. Horace and Agnès are free to marry, and Arnolphe loses the woman whose mind and future he tried to control.

Arnolphe explains to his friend Chrysalde that he dreads the public humiliation of an unfaithful wife. To prevent it, he has had a poor girl named Agnès raised in seclusion and kept deliberately ignorant; now that she is grown, he means to marry her. Chrysalde doubts both the ethics and the effectiveness of this plan. Arnolphe has recently taken a new name, Monsieur de la Souche, at the house where Agnès lives with the servants Alain and Georgette. He then meets Horace, son of his friend Oronte. Horace confides that he has fallen in love with a young woman kept by a foolish, possessive guardian called Monsieur de la Souche. Because Horace does not know Arnolphe's other identity, Arnolphe immediately learns that his absence has allowed a courtship to begin.

Arnolphe berates Alain and Georgette for allowing Horace near Agnès, then questions Agnès herself. Her innocent account confirms that Horace approached her openly, treated her kindly, and won her affection. Arnolphe tries to redefine the encounter as sinful and announces that she must marry, letting her assume he means Horace before making clear that he intends himself. He instructs her in a model of marriage based on fear, obedience, and confinement. Agnès's frankness gives Arnolphe information, but it also reveals the flaw in his project: lack of formal education has not prevented her from responding to affection or forming wishes of her own.

Arnolphe presents Agnès with rules describing the absolute submission he expects from a wife and prepares to secure the marriage quickly. He believes he has forced her to reject Horace after ordering her to drive the young man away. Horace, still treating Arnolphe as an ally, reports what actually happened: Agnès threw down a stone as commanded, but attached to it was a message declaring her feelings and asking Horace not to blame her for the guardian's actions. Her ability to write such a letter shows rapid emotional and intellectual growth. Arnolphe is shaken that the very innocence he tried to preserve has not produced obedience, while Horace remains unaware that each confidence gives his rival advance warning.

Arnolphe seeks advice and legal assistance while arranging stronger barriers around Agnès. Horace again reveals the progress of the courtship, including a meeting that Agnès helped him conceal from her guardian. He then discloses a plan to return by ladder that night and take her away. Arnolphe uses the information to prepare an ambush, ordering Alain and Georgette to watch the house and drive off the intruder. Despite his advantage, Agnès continues choosing Horace and rejects the future Arnolphe offers. Every new precaution makes clearer that Arnolphe may confine her physically but cannot manufacture her consent.

Horace unknowingly hands Agnès over to Arnolphe for safekeeping after the failed escape. Arnolphe reveals that he is Monsieur de la Souche and tries threats, pleading, and promises, but Agnès refuses him and plainly prefers Horace. Oronte arrives and orders Horace to accept a marriage arranged with Enrique's daughter. Horace asks Arnolphe to intercede; resentful, Arnolphe instead supports the father's authority. This maneuver collapses when Enrique's history is disclosed. Agnès is Enrique's daughter, placed in another household during his long absence, and she is the same young woman chosen as Horace's bride. The lovers' private choice and their families' arrangement therefore coincide. Agnès leaves Arnolphe's custody to marry Horace, and Arnolphe is left defeated by the attempt to make another person's ignorance the guarantee of his own security.

After Horace's attempted escape with Agnès fails, he unknowingly entrusts her to Arnolphe, still not realizing that Arnolphe and Monsieur de la Souche are the same man. Arnolphe reveals his identity and presses Agnès to accept him, but she refuses: her experience with Horace has taught her enough to recognize the injustice of the life planned for her. Oronte then arrives intending to make Horace marry the daughter of Enrique. Horace appeals to Arnolphe for help, only to have Arnolphe support the command out of spite. The arrangement reverses Arnolphe's apparent victory when Enrique identifies Agnès as his daughter, who was placed with a peasant family years earlier and eventually entrusted to Arnolphe. She is therefore the intended bride, and Horace can marry the woman he already loves. Arnolphe's elaborate effort to manufacture a submissive wife collapses, while Agnès leaves his control with her identity, family, and chosen match restored.