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Themes of Moliere's "Tartuffe'" is hypocrisy: both political and religious
Critical works on moliere tartuffe
Themes of Moliere's "Tartuffe'" is hypocrisy: both political and religious
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Tartuffe is one of the most famous comedies written by the French playwright Molière. The play tells the story of a wealthy Frenchman named Orgon who takes in Tartuffe, a man who presents himself to be religious and passionate but actually turns out to be a hypocrite. Despite his family’s warnings, Orgon completely turns his back on his family in order to protect Tartuffe, who betrays him. During that time the play was first written and performed, many people, along with King Louis XIV himself, enjoyed the play. However, to others it was seen as being critical of religion and the church, which then lead to it being banned. In a political sense, Tartuffe serves as both an endorsement and critique of the ideas of absolutism, divine right, and the patriarchal family. The story takes place in France during the mid-1600s. Everyone in the family except for Orgon and his mother Madame Pernelle believe that Tartuffe, a man they took in, is a hypocritical fraud. Orgon privately reveals to his daughter Marianne that he wants her to marry Tartuffe. Marianne’s brother Damis learns of his father’s plans and becomes furious. Tartuffe and Elmire (Orgon’s wife) meet up to talk, and Damis hides to eavesdrop. Astonishingly, Tartuffe begins to admit feelings for Elmire and tries to seduce her. Elmire rejects him and then tries to make a deal with him: if he backs out of the marriage with Marianne, she will not inform Orgon of what happened. Just as Tartuffe agrees to this, Damis comes out of hiding and confronts Tartuffe of his wrongdoing. Orgon then walks into the room, and Damis tells him what happened. However, due to his fondness for Tartuffe, Orgon does not believe him! Orgon then goes as far as to disinherit Damis and make Tartuffe his sole h... ... middle of paper ... ...gracious and forgiving King, the whole family would have lost everything. While Molière satirically criticized and warned against certain aspects of absolutism, divine right, and the patriarchal family, it was also evident that he supported them and did not believe in alternative ways that matters should be handled. He simply recognizes that in order for the kingdom to be conducted under these policies, rulers (both the King and heads of the household) had to be careful and wise in their decision-making to avoid corruption. Molière definitely makes some good points, and even though it was banned for a period of time, Tartuffe remains one of his most famous works. WORKS CITED Cole, Joshua, Judith G. Coffin, Carol Symes, and Robert Stacey. Western Civilizations: Their History & Their Culture. Brief Third ed. Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2012. Print.
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Moliere wrote Tartuffe during the beginning of the Age of Enlightenment. One of the main characteristics of the Age of Enlightenment was a push towards using reason over emotions to make decisions. The leaders of the enlightenment truly believed that the world could be made a better place if people did this. In Tartuffe, when the characters use their emotions to make their decisions they find themselves in undesirable situations. While those who let their emotions rule them find their lives spinning out of control, there are other characters in the play who try to approach them with reason and logic. Out of these characters the lady’s maid Dorine stands out as the voice of reason.
Moliere’s Tartuffe assumed set of social conventions were shaped by all the characters within the play, however the authoritative figure was established depicted by the father, Oregon. Oregon’s character assumed the role of king or lord of his household. He believed that as the head of household, he had the right to rule over his kingdom as he saw fit. His kingdom had to run smoothly in order for it to be effective. No matter how harsh, unfair and painful it was for his, wife daughter or servants. In the social arena there is always a central powerful family, or first family that everyone in the community aspires to be, or in more recent term “keeping up with the Jones”, “or the one with swag”. The title, position and authority was so entrenched in their social community, that it came down to even choosing one’s mate through arranged marriages. We see in Moliere’s Tartuffe, that authoritative power was as precious as gold, in the realms or patriarchal power that was prevalent in the 17th Century, political and economic power, and also religious power (in which Oregon) wanted association
Orgon was swindled by Tartuffe out of all his possessions because he agreed to marry Tartuffe to his daughter, Mariane. In addition to this, Tartuffe also got hold of Orgon’s strongbox that held papers of an enemy of the king that Orgon was hiding. Instead of providing a punishment the king shows mercy for Orgon’s crime in the Gentleman’s soliloquy. The Gentleman tell of how “the King now [chooses] to invalidate the deed of gift that cost you your estate, and finally he pardons your offense in shielding even a friend at his expense” (1935). These were actions that Orgon did incorrectly and therefore “the courage that [Orgon] once displayed against [the King’s] enemies” has now led to the mercy that the king gifts him (1939). The Gentleman finished this praise of Orgon by the king with a characteristic of him that is also meant for flattery. He reminds Orgon that the king “remembers help better than harm” (1944). King Louis XIV would be honored if his subjects remembered this about him even if it was not completely true. Tartuffe captures the king as this type of person and will be remembered this way because this is a timeless and still famous story in
Examining the difference between reality and appearance is strongly manifested in this story. The author has made an impressive account of what is really happening to families whether during the earlier days or the modern times. The story of Tartuffe is a great lesson for every person that people should not be easily deceived by first impressions and the story of the Monkey King showed outspokenness along with truthfulness in intentions.
Orgon, the master of the house, is convinced Tartuffe is a humble and pious man despite
3. Jackson J. Spielvogel. Western Civilization Third Edition, A Brief History volume 1: to 1715. 2005 Belmont CA. Wadsworth Publishing
Irvin, Kyle, Zachary Alexander, Kirk Strawbridge. Our Western World, Volume One: From The Dawn of Civilization-The Early Modern Age. Iowa. Kendall Hunt Publishing, 2013. Print.
Coffin, Judith G., and Robert C. Stacey. "CHAPTER 18 PAGES 668-669." Western Civilizations: Their History & Their Culture. 16TH ed. Vol. 2. New York, NY: W. W. Norton &, 2008. N. pag. Print.
This was the age of reason. People at this time began to apply rational thoughts to figure out and understand nature and to guide their human existence. In Moliere’s Tartuffe, this ideal is expressed through the character of the king. In the end, Tartuffe has brought an officer of the king back to take Orgon away. However, in Tartuffe’s attempt to get Orgon arrested, the king saw through him and reasoned that Tartuffe was the one to be accused and put to trial.
Tartuffe is one of the masterpieces of Molière. This play not just presents a funny image of the hypocrite Tartuffe, but also criticizes the fraudulence and harmfulness of “ecclesiastical noblemen”. Tartuffe is a reflection of hypocrisy of some Catholics at that time. Although the title of this play is Tartuffe, Tartuffe doesn't comes on stage until the ACTIII SCENEII. Instead of introducing the character at the beginning of the play, Molière uses two ACTs to describe how others feel about Tartuffe. In this way, the audience has a basic idea of the characteristics of Tartuffe before the character appears. Through the quarrel in Orgon’s house and the dialogue between Marine and Dorine, the audience can notice what a trouble Tartuffe has caused to Orgon’s family. Also, from these plots, the audience can easily understand that Orgon is deceived by
In the play Tartuffe, by Moliere, utilizes the personality of different characters to create an arena of unique characters. Through each character a new perspective is viewed through their actions and dialogue. In the play, the character developments are different with the individuals. Tartuffe and Orgon experienced a transformation in their devolvement’s as a strong character to a weak-willed and vice versa. Whereas, Elmire and Dorine remain constant strong independent female, against society’s view on women and class. Moliere’s formation of their development provides an insight of human flaws. In Moliere’s play, Tartuffe, creates an arena of diverse characters that experience internal and external issues set by themselves and society.
It is in the duality of Orgon, the believing subject, and Tartuffe, the manipulating hypocrite (or impostor), that Moliere takes his digs at the extremes of enthusiastic belief. Tartuffe plays the role of a man whose greedy actions are cloaked by a mask of overwhelming piety, modesty and religious fervor. Orgon is the head of a household who has taken Tartuffe in. We laugh at Orgon because everyone else (except his mother) knows that Tartuffe is a fake. All of Orgon's relatives warn him of Tartuffe's gluttony and of the false nature of his pious proclamations. When Dorine tries to tell Orgon about Elmire's illness, all Orgon can say is,
In Moliére’s Tartuffe (Moiré 1664), the reader is able to see a great contrast of Extreme and Moderate characters. Extreme characters being those who are seen as over the top, or very passionate people, and the moderate characters having a more calm and subtle approach to ideas. The extreme characters in this case would be Madam Pernelle, Orgon, Tartuffe, and Dorine. The moderate characters are seen as Cleante and Elmire.
Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization. 8th ed. Vol. 1. Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.
He focuses on exposing of the hypocrisy of Tartuffe throughout the story. Orgon has taken Tartuffe in his house, and given him food and shelter. In the family, everyone believes that Tartuffe is a hypocrite and fraud, expected Orgon and his mother; Tartuffe isn’t getting any respect from the other characters, Orgon is wealthy and powerful man, he trusts Tartuffe as holy and righteous man and listens to anything he says in which Orgon looks like fool. He does not even realize that Tartuffe takes advantage of him and manipulates his behavior. The character of Tartuffe contains most essential trait of hypocrisy. Moliere depicts his hypocritical behavior and vice in an exaggerative way, it is effective to criticize and uncover the religious hypocrisy in the society through description of the character