Examples Of Hypocrisy In Tartuffe

Hypocrisy is the act of claiming to have moral beliefs to which one’s own conduct does not accommodate. As La Rochefoucauld said, “Hypocrisy is the homage which vice pays to virtue.” In other words, it is the form of respect that immoral behavior pays to virtue because it’s the closest way a person can pretend to be righteous and have high moral standards. Even though a hypocrite knows that what he or she is doing is not the truth, they are still able to deceive the people around them. In this case, social interaction is treated as a performance. One’s virtues are one’s own vices in disguise and an individual’s vices are overshadowed by the fake act that they put on. In Molière’s play, the hypocritical character, Tartuffe, uses his hypocrisy

to cover up his vices of lust, disloyalty, and ambition, which leads him to defraud Organ’s family. He is capable of fooling others into thinking that he is a religious and holy individual so that he can get Orgon to make him his heir.
Tartuffe is known to be a hypocrite from the start. He puts on this show and acts as if he is a devoutly pious man. Portraying this false image of himself is his plan in order to conceal his evil schemes and distract others from seeing his vices. This seems to work well when it comes to Madame Pernelle, who is blinded by Tartuffe’s facade. In act 1, scene 1, she is irritated that the whole household is bashing Tartuffe since they think he is a self-righteous hypocrite. In Tartuffe’s defense, Madame Pernelle says, “He practices precisely what he preaches. He’s a fine man and should be listened to. I will not hear him mocked by fools like you” (1411). Madame Pernelle sees him as a man whose behavior corresponds with his beliefs. She believes that everyone should listen to him because his intention is solely to condemn one’s sins and point out their moral flaws. However, Dorine, Elmire, Damis, Mariane, and Cléante can see right through him and recognize that he is a fraud. Tartuffe has Damis utterly frustrated since Orgon is planning to force Marianne to marry Tartuffe. To put this marriage to a stop, Damis and Dorine arrange to expose Tartuffe as a hypocritical scoundrel. His hypocrisy is first revealed while conversing with Dorine and Elmire.
Tartuffe makes his way into the house and observes Dorine throughout his entrance.

Before she could speak, Tartuffe pulls out a handkerchief for her to cover her breasts with. He says, “Cover that bosom, girl. The flesh is weak. And unclean thoughts are difficult to control. Such sights as that can undermine the soul” (1434). In other words, Tartuffe feels that Dorine is too exposed and having to look at her chest will distract him and cause him to have a strong sexual desire. That sexual desire then becomes present once Elmire comes to talk to him. Therefore, Tartuffe is guilty of the vice lust and disloyalty. As Elmire approaches Tartuffe, he instantly lavishes her with blessings and is ecstatic that he has alone time with her. He says, “It floods my heart with bliss to find myself alone with you like this. For just this chance I’ve prayed with all my power. But prayed in vain, until this happy hour” (1435). Tartuffe has been praying to get the chance to be alone with Elmire and now that he has gotten the chance he is experiencing great joy. He uses this alone time as an opportunity to seduce her. His lust has grown too strong which leads him to constantly touch Elmire. He goes from pressing her fingertips, placing his hand on her knee, to stroking her lace collar. Tartuffe then confesses his love for her while using the excuse that even though he is pious, he is still a human being (1437). This proves his disloyalty towards Orgon. Orgon has welcomed Tartuffe into his

home on the premise of his piety, but Tartuffe is not grateful for it. Instead of showing thankfulness, Tartuffe attempts to seduce his wife. However, Orgon is too witless to realize this. Tartuffe has him even more deceived than Madame Pernelle.
Tartuffe has a specific end goal he wants to reach and in order to do so, he controls foolish Orgon so that he can fulfill his wants. This shows that Tartuffe’s predominance lies in the way that he can precisely examine the weaknesses of Orgon and then exploit those defects for his own benefit. Tartuffe’s goal is to get Orgon to make him his only heir. He wants Orgon’s reputation, house, and wife, and uses every means to create Orgon’s downfall to bring about his own success. Therefore, the vice that makes Tartuffe do what he does is ambition since it causes Orgon to fail just so Tartuffe can obtain his selfish desires. Orgon is extremely fascinated with Tartuffe and is obsessed with hearing everything about him. For example, Dorine tries to tell Orgon that Elmire has been sick. She says, “Your wife two days ago, had a bad fever and a fierce headache which refused to leave her” (1416). Orgon not worried at all responds, “Ah. And Tartuffe” (1416). This proves that Orgon only wants to hear news that involves Tartuffe. Tartuffe has Orgon infatuated with him and takes advantage of his gullibility so he can become the successor of Orgon’s high class home. Moreover, after Tartuffe seduces Elmire, Damis tells Orgon in hopes that he will finally believe that he is a hypocrite.
Damis informs Organ that Tartuffe has offered Elmire an adulterous offer.

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

goal.