Deception In Tartuffe Essay

The Power of Deception and Reason in Tartuffe

Jean-Baptiste Molière wrote Tartuffe during the Enlightenment, which was around the 17th century. The Enlightenment was considered the age of reason. Political and social issues were being questioned, and people focused less on religious views. The Enlightenment thinkers believed that people should think for themselves and not believe everything bases on religious teachings. The citizens started to reveal and challenge the abuse of the clergy. This is evident in Tartuffe. The power of deception is seen throughout the play. Some characters used the theme of deception and reason to uncover Tartuffe’s charade. The characters Dorine, Elmire, Damis, and Cleante are able to see through Tartuffe’s hypocrisy;

There were people who were unable to discern between religious truths and false witness; these people could be fooled easily. People started to discover that not all who claimed to be religious were actually righteous. Tartuffe is the master of hypocrisy. According to Ruth Grant, “A hypocrite is a person who pretends to be morally better than he is for the sake of some advantage to himself” (p.67). Similarly, Tartuffe uses religion to purse only his goal and to take advantage of Orgon. He uses the excuse of being a religious man to take advantage of Orgon. Tartuffe uses religion to empower himself over Orgon’s household. It is evident that Tartuffe is envious of Orgon’s lifestyle and wants to steal Orgon’s his wife, daughter, property, and money. David Maskell states,

A director of conscience in 17th-century France was supposed to be a man of piety who would advise on how to live a good Christian life. Molière's Tartuffe, however, is a criminal whose exaggerated pretense of piety has duped Orgon into complete subservience to him” (n.pag). It is evident that Orgon is letting Tartuffe take over the household. Orgon no longer is the one making the decisions. An example of this is portrayed when Dorine states, “Orgon once ruled this house in his right mind. / In the troubled times, he backed the prince, / And that took courage. We haven’t seen it since. / He is intoxicated with Tartuffe “(1.2.10-14). Orgon is such a fool, allowing some stranger dictate how his household should be ruled. “Orgon's behavior is that of a tyrant who does not have the best interests of his family in mind. In fact, he almost brings about the ruination of his family due to his pig-headedness” (Partikian n.pag). It is evident that he chooses Tartuffe over his own family. Dorine expresses this when she states, “And so he worships this imposter who / He calls brother and loves more than one / This charlatan more than daughter, wife, son” (1.2.17-22). When Orgon comes back