Honor In Molière's Play 'Tartuffe'

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In Molière’s play, Tartuffe, there is a sense of honor that the king receives although he is not in the actual play. Often times in the 17th century, when this play was published, the king of the country had to sponsor the plays in order for them to be performed. Tartuffe conforms to this because Molière nearly writes the entire last scene to honor King Louis XIV. This shows that he wanted to flatter the king and therefore achieve his approval. By flattering the king, Molière even achieved overriding Cardinal Chigi, who hated the play. He does this by providing examples of King Louis XIV’s strength, experience and attentiveness. Overall, the king was Molière’s strongest supporter. Molière shows how the play is monetary dependent on the King 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

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