Religion can be a powerful form of indoctrination. Religion in the case of Orgon and Voltaire’s situations were used to bypass all critical thought and vetting of their respective influencers. Malice and ignorance often lead to the same conclusions, but intention is key. By aligning with their subjects’ belief systems and establishing themselves, Tartuffe and Pangloss respectively, as powers of authority could sway their subordinates. Though Tartuffe and Pangloss both have authority and hidden motives; the overall means and intentions vary in their approaches. From the very beginning of Tartuffe, the reader learns that Tartuffe is held in great religious standing by Orgon’s mother:” Whatever he reproves deserves reproof. He’s out to save …show more content…
Tartuffe, a con artist, knows that if he can give an answer to the ultimate question then he must be of great importance. Tartuffe uses the established hierarchy and ideology of Orgon’s faith to mold himself into an exemplified “holy” individual. Blinded by his own faith Orgon fails to see through the carefully crafted facade. Tartuffe’s holiness resigns Orgon to, “my heart…surrendered to him” (1.5.24) certifying Tartuffe’s influence over Orgon. When questioning Tartuffe, the other characters are questioning Orgon’s faith. Once established an authority figure’s power will be met with confirmation bias. Nothing will convince Orgon of the deception, rather he will rationalize anything he is told. Tartuffe uses Orgon’s faith to manipulate him into evicting Damis who accused Tartuffe of infidelity by a display of faith: “I beg you on bended knee, to pardon him.” (3.6.40-41) This reaffirms Tartuffe’s holiness to Orgon and through this …show more content…
Tartuffe is the embodiment of the seven sins masquerading as the exact opposite. His gluttony is on display in scene four when Dorine informs Orgon of his overconsumption. Tartuffe has blinded Orgon to his nature and made him disregard his wife’s wellbeing. Lust and Envy are most likely his greatest follies, leading to his ultimate downfall. Tartuffe accepts Orgon’s daughter as his bride and lust after his wife. Tartuffe makes no attempt to deny the engagement which was conscripted because of his position to Orgon. Tartuffe under the guise of making sure Elaine stay pure reporting her every movement to Odom uses the opportunity to confesses she is his “peace, my solace, my salvation on you depends my bliss-or desolation.” (3.3.79-80) He demonstrates his pride when attempting to seduce Elmire comforting her concerns by telling her “if Heavens is all that holds you back, don’t worry. I can remove that hindrance in a hurry.” (4.7.95-96) Tartuffe so entranced with getting what he wants, he makes the same mistake as Lucifer, calling for action against Heaven. Tartuffe is the embodiment of sloth, acting indifferent towards others in his pursuits; from Elaine being ill to feigning defense of Damis. Tartuffes’s final stop on the “how damned are you” show culminates with wrath and greed. When he is confronted by Orgon after lusting for his wife, Tartuffe divulges his intentions to acquire all Orgon’s
Page 321 is a conversation between Cleante and Orgon in which Cleante accuses Orgon of defending Tartuffe and saying that anyone who disagrees is in want of reverence. Which I believe means that he thinks that the accusers think that they are better than Tartuffe.
God displays his protective powers in various ways. She is shown to be in despair numerous times. So many things happen that keep chipping away at her spirit. The Indians come and ransack the town, basically burning it to the ground. She is separated from all of her children except for one and even in that moment, her daughter dies in her arms after being wounded by a gunshot. Rowlandson herself is injured and is forced to keep travelling despite her conditions. Chaos seems to surround her at every angle. She is initially given a very miniscule amount of water to sustain her on the trip along with some nuts and crumbs. Rowlandson states that “… still the Lord still upheld me...” and also that “he hurt me one hand, and proceeded to heal me with the other”. She believes that due to her people being unfaithful, the Lord is now punishing them so that they can repent. But her being puritan and a chosen one, instead of being killed off, she is preserved and is allowed to get back in God’s good standing. At one point she even thinks of attempting suicide and ending all the misery but she states that thanks to God, she came back her senses and reason to know that she couldn’t go through with such an act. God was using the Indians as agents to punish the Puritans and in doing so, whenever the opportunity for freedom arrived and for some reason the opportunity was not seen
For example, a protestant minister who was angry with the character Candide’s religious indifference refused to give him food after preaching charity right before. The protestant minister is hypocritical because he tells Candide everyone is welcome to his food, but when Candide does not reject the pope and confirm the protestant teachings he is no longer offered bread. “‘My friend,’ said the orator to him, ‘do you believe the Pope to be Anti-Christ?’ ‘I have not heard it,’ responded Candide; ‘but whether he be, or whether he be not, I want bread.’ ‘Thou dost not deserve to eat,’ said the other.” Candide repeatedly highlights the hypocrisy of the church in this manner. The way the protestant minister would refuse charity to someone who disagrees with him flies in the face of the Church's supposedly charitable mission. The book claims churches that preach love and charity, instead kill over slight differences in
“’ [W]here would Edmund be nowadays? Sitting in a pneumatic chair, with his arm around a girl’s waist, sucking away at his sex-hormone chewing-gum and looking at the feelies. The gods are just. No doubt. But their code of law is dictated, in the last resort, by the people who organize society; Providence takes its cue from me.’
Tartuffe is nothing more than a traveling confidence man who veils his true wickedness with a mask of piety. Orgon and his mother Madame Pernelle are completely taken in by this charade. On the other hand, Cleante, Elmire, and Dorine see Tartuffe for the fake that he really is. Cleante is Orgon's wise brother who speaks elegantly about Tartuffe's hypocrisy. Through Cleante, Moliere most plainly reveals his theme.
In today’s society, we live knowing that hypocrisy has become a fact of life, it can be found in all social circles and even amongst the supposedly most morally upstanding citizens. In Tartuffe by Moliere, we see hypocrisy blatantly in the actions of the titular character and his disregard for the life a holy man would be expected to live. While the world is full of Tartuffes there are also enough Orgons to give them someone to survive off of, and with the presence of con-men and fools to believe them the rest of society is being dragged along unwillingly. Tartuffe and his piousness, or complete lack thereof, create an issue of morality by fooling the most powerful character, Orgon, and creating a puppet from him to ensure an easy stay in his home. I believe that we can see the issues presented within Tartuffe reflected today in many of the scandals that have been brought to light in recent weeks. The character manipulates Orgon with
In Voltaire’s Candide, there is a recurring satirical theme of religious hypocrisy as well as intolerance. Ironically, this comes during the Enlightenment where there was significant religious conflict. On multiple occasions, Voltaire clearly points out and criticizes religious leaders and exhibits their corruption through negative events that occur.
that it is he who should be in charge, not Othello the moor. This creates an
Jean-Baptiste Moliere provided an expose of religious sham. He wrote Tartuffe not to criticize religion but rather to disapprove of hypocrisy. In Tartuffe, Moliere targeted the role of religion hypocrisy so well that the Catholic Church forced the king to ban it. Fortunately, Moliere managed to have it published and produced by 1669. (Puchner – check pages) He wanted to advise audiences through the use of humor, on the importance of moderation and a clear thought process in all areas of life. Although the play was denounced as an outright attack on religion and devout people, a proper reading suggests the opposite. Religion itself wasn’t the problem, but the misuse of religion for personal gain at the expense of innocent people was Moliere’s concern. In the text one of his characters’ Orgon explained, “He used to come into church each day, and humbly kneel nearby, and start to pray. He'd draw the eyes of everybody there, by the deep fervor of his heartfelt prayer; He'd sigh and weep, and sometimes with a sound of rapture he would bend and kiss the ground” (Puchner 22). This particular quote stood out to me because Orgon might have misinterpreted
Orgon, the son of Madame Pernelle and husband of Elmire, was loyal and obsessed over Tartuffe. Tartuffe, the religious hypocrite, was arranged to marry Orgons daughter, Mariane, but he had his eyes on Orgons wife, Elmire, instead. Orgon and Tartuffe pursued life, liberty, and happiness with many strengths and weaknesses and some questionable morals and values.
Before reacting, Orgon immediately approaches Tartuffe to see if what Damis is saying is accurate. He confesses that Damis is telling the truth and that he is nothing but a wicked man. Tartuffe says, “I’ll not defend myself, but take the blame. Believe what you are told, and drive Tartuffe like some base criminal from beneath your roof” (1440). He tells Orgon to trust Damis and to kick him out of his home for committing such a sin. Therefore, he is putting on a fake performance. Tartuffe is trying to manipulate Orgon by using reverse psychology. However, Orgon does the complete opposite. He does not believe Damis and ends up lashing out his anger on him. He says, “Out of my house this minute! Be off with you, And never dare set foot in it again” (1441). Orgon disinherits Damis and forbids him to come back to the house. Finally, Orgon becomes an unfaithful family man and decides to make Tartuffe his only heir which is what Tartuffe has been striving for. Tartuffe’s hypocrisy has officially led him to defraud an entire family out of its morality and happiness in order to achieve his
Throughout the play, many characters can see that Tartuffe is a fraud and that he does not practice what he preaches. He says “I’ve certain pious duties to attend to.” (Molière Act 4, Scene 1, 84). Yet in reality, he’s flirting with Elmire but he does not admit to his actions when Damis exposes him. He says “Yes, my dear son, speak out now: call me the thief/Of sinners, a wretch, a murderer, a thief/ Load me with all the names men most abhor/ I’ll not complain; I’ve earned them all, and more/ I’ll kneel here while you pour them on my head as a just punishment for the life I’ve led.” (Molière Act 3, Scene 4, 29-34). Within these line, Tartuffe pretends to be hurt because Damis accuses him of flirting with Elmire. Of course, Orgon is distracted by his actions and does not believe Damis. Therefore, Tartuffe indirectly does not admit or deny to his mistakes but he takes full responsibility of what Damis thinks he did. So, he apologizes for his unspecified sins which Orgon thinks it is highly impressive of him. Then again, it will take a lot more than the truth to reveal
...traight from the tavern world – survival is more important to him, unlike those of the court world who live by honour, and care not if it leads to their death, but only that they one day may come to be ‘honourable’, whether dead or alive. He closes with the comment that what he has told us is his ‘catechism’. This suggests an idea that his religion is to avoid honour, and ever to question its value.
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,
The play Tartuffe is a comedy written by French playwright Moliere. Most of his plays were meant to critique common behaviors he saw in his society. In Tartuffe, he is criticizing those people who pretend to be very pious and religious, when in fact, they are simply pretending devotion to God to further their own personal desires.