When Orgon says with approval that he sees that Tartuffe reproves everything, takes extreme care of Orgon's honor, because Tartuffe warns Orgon of the people who cast loving eyes upon the lady, the audience can only laugh at Orgon's pride that Tartuffe more jealous of his wife than her own husband, and the lengths to which Tartuffe carries his pious zeal, accusing himself of sin for the slightest thing imaginable. The audience laughs because when Orgon protests that a mere trifle is enough to shock Tartuffe, the outsider understands that Orgon's lack of a sense of true self-worth is being taken advantage of -- the more he is criticized, and the more he is seen in his own eyes as lacking in relation to Tartuffe, the more Orgon approves of the person who is doing the critiquing! In contrast, Orgon undervalues Dorine the maid, a genuinely good woman of no status, who wishes to protect her wise and moral mistress and is truly clever and full of spirit.
Even Mr. Rao of "Monkey" lacks the extreme self-abasement of Orgon, and thus is not quite as easily deceived by transparent and put-upon appearances. While one might excuse Rao's unwillingness to trust one's daughter's fate to a monkey, Orgon is willing to marry Tartuffe to his young, lovely, and kindly daughter Marianne against her will simply because Tartuffe instructs him to do so. The only reason that Orgon blames the suitors of Orgon's daughter Marianne, and is so jealous of Orgon's wife is that Tartuffe wants to marry the girl to insinuate himself in the family, and to make love to Orgon's wife.
Of course, both plays show that expertise is no guarantee of moral truth. The...
Tartuffe, Swift and Voltaire In his own way, Moliere's Tartuffe represents one aspect of the Enlightenment, if only a negative one, since he is a purely self-interested individual who cares only about advancing his own wealth and status. He is a fraud, a con artist and a hypocrite who puts on a show of religion but is really only interested in stealing Orgon's estate -- and his wife. Orgon is too
Tartuffe "Let's not descend to such indignities. / Leave the poor wretch to his unhappy fate, / And don't say anything to aggravate / His present woes; but rather hope that he / Will soon embrace an honest piety, / And mend his ways, and by a true repentance," states Cleante at the final scene of Moliere's Tartuffe. The fact that Cleante offers forgiveness in a most noble manner reveals that
Tartuffe An Analysis of Hypocrisy in Moliere's Tartuffe No greater example of the religious hypocrite exists in all history than the example of the Philistine. What characterizes the Philistine (and all hypocrites) is something Richard Weaver describes as a barbarian desire to see a thing "as it is" (24). What Weaver implies is that the hypocrite, while making a great show of piety and the possession of virtue, actually lacks the interior
The places they live in and the things that surround them are in varying degrees atmospheric and expressive. In Tartuffe material objects, the props and the house itself, and the places alluded to? Paris and province, heaven and earth, palace and prison? have a particular importance (Hope 44). This does not tie the play to a particular time and place, however, but only shows the importance of locale to the action of
Tartuffe Moliere's Tartuffe is from 17th century France, during the Enlightenment, or the Age of Reason. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, was the ruler of France at this time. People in Paris were interested in Enlightenment values such as rationality, moderation, and order. Also, social graces, good manners, and gender roles were strictly enforced during this period. Moliere demonstrates all of these Enlightenment values in his play. The
It becomes clear that Tartuffe, as he becomes increasingly powerful in the play, considers himself above the others, and because of his "spirituality," he is above the laws of God, too. He tells Elmire, Orgon's wife, "I'll teach you, Ma'am, that Heaven's contradictions, give latitude to men of pure convictions. it's true that Heaven frowns on some dark acts, though with great men, our Lord makes higher pacts" (Moliere, Act
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