The Imaginary Invalid,also known as The Hypochondriac, is a comedie-ballet in three acts produced in 1673 and published the following year. Act I introduces the key players and conflicts early. The protagonist, Argan the hypochondriac, is auditing his pharmacy bill.  He and his daughter Angelique argue over which suitor shall win her hand; his choice is the son of a doctor,hers is the handsome young man Cléante. His insubordinate and outspoken housemaid refuses to believe or indulge his foul temper, prompting an altercation. His second wife Béline appears, calms him down, and helps him procure a notary to help him re-write his will in her favor.  The plot spins and twists through Act II. Argan’s brother questions his imaginary maladies and convinces him to refuse the treatments of his doctor, who resigns in a huff.  It all comes to a head in Act III when the maid appears in disguise as a distinguished physician seeking an illustrious patient. She debunks all the diagnoses of the “quacks” and suggest the removal of an arm and an eye that are monopolizing his nutrients.  His brother suggests he play dead to test the reaction of his wife and daughter. We are not surprised when Béline is overjoyed at his demise and plots to get quick access to his money. His daughter, however, is grief-stricken. The turnabouts climax with Argan blessing his daughter’s betrothal to Cléante and deciding to become a doctor himself. The Imaginary Invalid was Moliere’s last major work. He was ailing when he wrote the play, and collapsed while performing the title role and died several hours later. 

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