Miser
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
-
For Molière's play, see The Miser.
A miser is a person who is reluctant to spend money, usually to the point of forgoing even basic comforts. The term derives from the Latin miser, meaning "poor" or "wretched."
Contents |
[edit] Stereotypes
The stereotype of the miser is a wealthy, greedy man who lives miserably in order to save and increase his treasure.
A related stereotype is the capitalist as portrayed in, for example, Soviet propaganda. Both are usually moneylenders or industrialists, in any case businessmen, who possess great personal wealth but aren't bothered by the fate of the poor. The difference is that, unlike the miser, the capitalist does spend his money and is typically portrayed leading a decadent life. Anti-Semites have portrayed Jews in both ways. Other stereotypes are the "thrifty" Scotsmen and the "frugal" Dutch.
The motivation for miserliness or avarice can be a strong desire to gain, especially in money or power. Psychoanalytic explanations, e.g. in the tradition of Sigmund Freud, link it to experiences in early childhood in the anal phase within the concept of psychosexual development.
[edit] Famous misers in history
- Ephraim Lópes Pereira d'Aguilar, 2nd Baron d'Aguilar - an eccentric nobleman.
- Andrew Carnegie - Scottish born American industrialist, was notoriously "thrifty" until his old age, when he endowed numerous charities, including the New York Public Library. He was infamous for tipping a dime for services rendered, especially when a much larger tip was appropriate.
- Hetty Green - Boston miser - was considered the world's wealthiest woman in 1916.
- Joseph Nollekens - Londoner generally considered to be the finest British sculptor of the late 18th century, he was also a notorious miser.
- Stephen Schofield - Guildford miser
[edit] Less famous misers in history
Charles Huffman was a miser from the 1950's in the U.S. He was found dead on a Brooklyn, New York street with no money in his pockets. The police traced him to a $7/week room that was filled with bank books and more than $500,000 in stock certificates. He was characterized by Franz Lidz, in the New York Times, on October 26, 2003.
[edit] List of notable misers in fiction
- Montgomery Burns - Scottish American, The Simpsons series
- Norbert Colon - British cartoon character from the adult-orientated comic Viz
- Milburn Drysdale - Scottish American, banker from The Beverly Hillbillies
- Henry Earlsforward - English, in Arnold Bennet's novel Riceyman Steps. (1923)
- Grandet - French, father of Eugenie Grandet, a novel by Balzac
- Harpagon - French, Molière play
- Eugene H. Krabs (aka Mr. Krabs) - Bikinian, from SpongeBob SquarePants
- Silas Marner - English, George Eliot penname of Mary Ann Evans, character
- Scrooge McDuck - Scottish American, Walt Disney character, named after Ebenezer Scrooge
- Séraphin Poudrier - French Canadian, in the novel Un homme et son péché by Québecois author Claude-Henri Grignon
- Henry F. Potter - American, played by Lionel Barrymore in the film It's a Wonderful Life
- Ebenezer Scrooge - English, Charles Dickens character (erroneously based on the real-life Ebenezer Lennox Scroggie, who was not actually a miser)
- Shylock - Jewish Venetian, William Shakespeare character
- The Lady of Stavoren - Dutch, local legend
[edit] References
 |
This article does not cite its references or sources. Please help improve this article by introducing appropriate citations. (help, get involved!) This article has been tagged since November 2006. |
