In the play Tartuffe, by Moliere, utilizes the personality of different characters to create an arena of unique characters. Through each character a new perspective is viewed through their actions and dialogue. In the play, the character developments are different with the individuals. Tartuffe and Orgon experienced a transformation in their devolvement’s as a strong character to a weak-willed and vice versa. Whereas, Elmire and Dorine remain constant strong independent female, against society’s view on women and class. Moliere’s formation of their development provides an insight of human flaws. In Moliere’s play, Tartuffe, creates an arena of diverse characters that experience internal and external issues set by themselves and society. Tartuffe is a character in control of the action and information in the play. His name itself defines as “The Imposter” or “The Hypocrite.” Tartuffe’s character is established in the beginning of the play before he is introduced. In Act 1, Scene1, Dorine calls him a …show more content…
He is a clever and conniving character who can don any prose and become skilled at it. As a religious zealot, he convinces the man of the house, Orgon and Madam Pernelle, that he is devoutly pious. As in the scene between Orgon and Dorine, Orgon is told that his wife, Elmire, “had a bad fever/ And a fierce headache which refused to leave her,” where Orgon responds “Ah. And Tartuffe.” Though his wife is ill, Orgon is concerned by the state of Tartuffe. The conversation did not mention his name, rather Orgon is so entrapped by Tartuffe he is encapsulated by him. Tartuffe skillfully convinced Orgon is deluded by his presence. Though it is obvious to the audience and the reader, Tartuffe is far from humble or religious. His superiority lies in his ability to accurately analyze the weaknesses of
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
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Moliere wrote Tartuffe during the beginning of the Age of Enlightenment. One of the main characteristics of the Age of Enlightenment was a push towards using reason over emotions to make decisions. The leaders of the enlightenment truly believed that the world could be made a better place if people did this. In Tartuffe, when the characters use their emotions to make their decisions they find themselves in undesirable situations. While those who let their emotions rule them find their lives spinning out of control, there are other characters in the play who try to approach them with reason and logic. Out of these characters the lady’s maid Dorine stands out as the voice of reason.
Moliere’s Tartuffe assumed set of social conventions were shaped by all the characters within the play, however the authoritative figure was established depicted by the father, Oregon. Oregon’s character assumed the role of king or lord of his household. He believed that as the head of household, he had the right to rule over his kingdom as he saw fit. His kingdom had to run smoothly in order for it to be effective. No matter how harsh, unfair and painful it was for his, wife daughter or servants.
This was the age of reason. People at this time began to apply rational thoughts to figure out and understand nature and to guide their human existence. In Moliere’s Tartuffe, this ideal is expressed through the character of the king. In the end, Tartuffe has brought an officer of the king back to take Orgon away. However, in Tartuffe’s attempt to get Orgon arrested, the king saw through him and reasoned that Tartuffe was the one to be accused and put to trial.
For example, while the stage interpretation chose to use a more lively character that has the ability to make the audience laugh, the film version made the decision to portray this important character through unusual actions and creepy tones that has the ability to make the viewers feel slightly uncomfortable. However, because both were created with the original Tartuffe written by Molière in mind, they do have resemblance. These similarities include the dark clothing they are wearing. Yet, the most prominent similarity between the two interpretations is the way they have religious aspects to their appearance as well as making their beliefs known through theirs words. For example, in both portrayals, they wear a rosary and carry a bible as well as quote or bring up religious phrases throughout their
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.
Orgon, the master of the house, is convinced Tartuffe is a humble and pious man despite
In Tartuffe, Moliere creates a play that is interesting in so many ways. His comedy reflects a lot on the role of men and women within a family. During this time, it was common for the man to be the head of the household and women to be submissive to the men. Men held the power in the family and made all the decisions. In this play, a man's point of view is the only view that matters. All else do not serve an importance. His lack of trust and awareness for other people's feelings and needs has caused great conflict in his family. The actions taken by Orgon and his family members express how this play views marriage and relations between men and women. It is a extremely different view (in some cases) of marriage today in average American family.
The female characters in Molière’s Tartuffe display feminist behaviors years before the feminist movement emerged historically. Many of their actions, words and behaviors are completely out of character for women of their time. Moliere makes a strong statement with this play by presenting female characters that go against convention. The gender inequality when the Enlightenment began was extreme. The women in this play try to fight against this inequality and in the end it is the patriarch of the family that is fooled by Tartuffe yet most of the female characters remain un-fooled throughout the play. Two of the female characters in this play, Doreen and Elmire play significantly different roles in the home. They have different personalities, different household duties and drastically different social standing. As different as these women are, they both show signs of early feminism. To various degrees they fight for want they believe is right. Dorine speaks her mind openly and does not hold anything back. Elmire is sneakier and uses her sexuality to get what she wants.
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.
Molière’s play “Tartuffe and Oscar Wilde’s play “The Importance of Being Earnest” both demonstrate a comical portrait of hypocrisy. In “Tartuffe”, the main character Tartuffe is seen as a religious hypocrite who takes advantage of Orgon’s wealth and agrees to marry his daughter, Mariane against her wishes. In “The Importance of Being Earnest”, Jack and Algernon both lie about their identity to get the woman of their dreams. The authors use the concept of double personalities in the play to reveal the deceit and lies to represent the theme of hypocrisy. In fact, hypocrisy is not only displayed in the characters but in the play as a whole. Additionally, the plays are both hypocrital in ways that they do not follow the structure of comedy.
Not only does this play hold the theme of hypocrisy, but also along with hypocrisy it has a theme of the importance of having common sense and clear thinking to be able to live in a well-ordered society. Though it was a comical setting, the unraveling of Orgon’s life at Tartuffe’s expense allows the author to show that when an individual ignores common sense and becomes captivated with charming figures, the results are often tragic. Not only do these troubles have a negative impact on Orgon and his family, but also on society, because the dishonesty from one man leads chaos in everyone’s
Imagine the Paris home of Orgon, who meets Tartuffe at church and is completely taken in by him...so much so, that he foolishly not only invites this relative stranger, Tartuffe, to live in his home, but also promises his daughter (Mariane) in marriage to the man, though she has promised her heart to Valère.
Orgon accuses Cleante of being spiritually inadequate. Orgon says, “I smell an atheist! It’s that freethinking...tentimes over, I’ve tried to save your soul from your corrupted mind” (Moliere 153). Cleante states that he is used to this kind of talk from Orgon. He also takes this opportunity to tell Orgon that Tartuffe is not as spiritually sound as he seems. During this scene Orgon strongly defends Tartuffe’s honor. It is easy to ask yourself why Orgon, who seems to be spiritually strong, cannot see through Tartuffe’s façade. Closer analysis tells us that Orgon sees what he wants to see. He may feel that he is intellectually and spiritually above everyone in his household, and constantly looks for someone who is on the same level as him. When he encounters Tartuffe’s feigned religiosity, he is enamored. Because of Orgon’s high platform in society, Tartuffe may believe that if he continues to trick Orgon he will be able to gain a high societal platform as well. Orgon believes this feigned religiosity, and allows Tartuffe to become someone special in his household. All the while, Orgon believes that the people in his family are the ones who are feigning religious aptitude. With a facetious attitude, Orgon tells Cleante that he is most knowledgeable in the world: “Oh, you are the wises man alive, so you know everything there is to know” (Moliere
Tartuffe is a satirical comedic play written by Molière in 1664. It is focused around the family of Orgon and the character of Tartuffe, who has become Orgon’s personal holy man. Before being brought into Orgon’s home, Tartuffe was nothing more than a common beggar who learned how to act pious. Throughout this play, we see Orgon give everything he owns to Tartuffe: his love, his money, his daughter, and even the deed to his house. While everyone else in the household sees Tartuffe for who he really is, Orgon remains blind to it throughout most of the play. Orgon is warned many times by different members of the household, including his own son, yet he only chooses to lash out against those speaking. From early on in the play we as readers are able to recognize that Tartuffe is no more than a hypocrite and Orgon is a blind fool. In the play Tartuffe by Molière there are several different important themes that impact this work,