Tartuffe Title Analysis

What does the title mean?

The French audience, when hearing the name may have thought of a man with a big nose. The title is understood to be the Hypocrite. The meaning really was fool but the main character of this play has defined the meaning of the word over the centuries. Tartuffe appears to be a religious fool, but is very clever in his tricking of the family. Even though most of the family sees him as false, they do not know how deep his deception is. Also, the father Orgon is played for a fool by Tartuffe.

Who are the main characters in the play? How are the characters related through the plot of the play?

The whole play centers around one family. Even the two main characters who are not members of the family are always with at least one member of the family. Tartuffe is the hypocrite, whom most of the family can see right through. The servant girl Dorine helps Mariane work her way through the trouble that Tartuffe and her father Orgon are creating for her. Orgon is the father who, though not a hypocrite, is a fool. He will not listen to his family. Orgon hurts his wife Elmire, his son Damis; and most of all his daughter Mariane. She must choose to honor her father and marry Tartuffe or try to get her father to see that Valere is her true love.

Protagonist(s)

Mariane, Damis, and Dorine, are all trying to expose Tartuffe

But those playing with morals were not only on stage. Religious costumes in the church were allowing men to publically act with spiritual appearances, while private actions “dishonored” their calling. Molière is making people aware of the danger of hypocrisy, and perhaps warning us not to be the fools who believe