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

to their father and grandmother Madame Pernelle. Mariane has the most to lose, because of her forced upcoming marriage arranged by her father. She still wants to protect her father and even talks of suicide if she is forced to marry Tartuffe. Damis speaks hard words of truth to his father and is temporarily disowned by him. Dorine serves the family with great dedication in trying to help them trap Tartuffe. Elmire plays along in a seductive trap with family witnesses hidden and waiting. Orgon is the strong-willed, yet unseeing father who cannot see who Tartuffe really is.

Antagonist(s)
I think that Madame Pernelle is an antagonist in the beginning. She is negative and cruel to her family members. She verbally criticizes them and has nothing but good words for Tartuffe, she even encourages them to listen to him and become more like him. Tartuffe is the main antagonist. He is smooth, he is a con man that is really good at using religious appearances and words to take all he can from this family. He is a very convincing imposter to the only one that matters, Orgon.

What do you think are the three most important lines in the play? Why do you think these lines are important to the story? Please list who said the line and where it is at in the play (page number, act/scene, and line number)
Line 1.
Before Tartuffe is exposed in his sexual advances towards Elmire, he tells Dorine to “cover up that bosom,” and he speaks of souls being filled with thoughts of sin. It is foreshadowing the full mind of sin that Tartuffe has, and will shortly be revealed in what he thinks are private moments with Orgon’s wife. All the suspicions of the family, are about to be confirmed. Dorine responds to Tartuffe in Act III, Scene II and says:
“Are you so tender to temptation, then,
And has the flesh such power upon your senses?
I don't know how you get in such a heat;
For my part, I am not so prone to lust,
And I could see you stripped from head to foot,
And all your hide not tempt me in the least.”
He is not physically stripped in front of Dorine but she has stripped away his religious disguise already!
Line 2.
Tartuffe is so self-assured at his skill, as well as success in deceiving Orgon; that he openly plays with truly admitting what he really is. But he says it in such a dramatic way, and with so many skilled words that Orgon sees this as even more proof of Tartuffe’s holiness. Tartuffe is not dedicated to spiritual things as Orgon thinks, Tartuffe even mentions deception; and Orgon still sees only piety. In Act III, Scene VI Tartuffe is open and toying with the truth, when he tells Orgon:
“No, no; you let appearances deceive you;
I'm anything but what I'm thought to be,
Alas! and though all men believe me godly,
The simple truth is, I'm a worthless creature.”
I can see Tartuffe shaking his head no and pointing a finger in his own chest while he claims what he truly is, but as he turns his head away from Orgon; he grins!
Line 3.
After refusing to listen to his family, after disowning his son and announcing that Mariane will be forced into marriage with Tartuffe, after turning over his legal papers that include the deed to his property; Orgon sees and hears the truth. Tartuffe speaks words of secret romance to Elmire. He goes on to call Orgon a dull fool. Orgon can barely remain out of sight due to his anger, and then tells his family in Act IV, Scene VI:
“Nothing more wicked e'er came out of Hell.”
Just one short line. Orgon knows finally that the hypocrite is “abominable.”

How does the play begin? (Exposition)
The way the play begins, if I may play on the word, fooled me! Madame Pernelle is tearing down her family verbally in such a way that I pictured the family as very rich busy bodies, who did not like someone focusing on their lack of morals or manners. Madame Pernelle is criticizing the gossip, the activities in the home, the parties and the company that her grandchildren keep. She praises her son for bringing in such a dedicated religious man into their home. She even declares that Tartuffe may be their salvation. The family protests that Tartuffe is not what she or Orgon think.

Describe the moment that starts the main story. (Inciting Incident)

The clear conflict and division in the family, due to Tartuffe comes in Act I, Scene VI when Dorine tells Madame Pernelle, “ He passes for a saint in your opinion. In fact, he's nothing but a hypocrite.” There is already growing tension. Madame Pernelle has called Dorine a “servant wench,” and Damis has declared that an “open rupture” is coming. But this servant of the family has dared to say to the grandmother what all the family, with the exception of the grandmother and her son, already know. In the same act, Cleante expands on the declaration of Dorine and when speaking to Orgon of religious frauds, says:
“Who reconcile religion with their vices,
Are quick to anger, vengeful, faithless, tricky,
And, to destroy a man, will have the boldness
To call their private grudge the cause of heaven;
All the more dangerous, since in their anger
They use against us weapons men revere,
And since they make the world applaud their passion,
And seek to stab us with a sacred sword.”

Describe one event in the play between the inciting incident and the climax. (Part of the Rising Action)
Damis has tried to remain loyal and keep his disagreement with his father limited. But his “righteous anger” rises up in Act III, Scene IV when speaking to his mother Elmire. Damis has seen the division, pain and chaos in his family; that has been caused by Tartuffe. He sees how his dad is being played for a fool by the religious acting hypocrite. The anger in the words of Demas are motivated by the abuse of religion and his father and he tells Elmire:
“The rascal all too long has ruled my father,
And crossed my sister's love, and mine as well.
The traitor now must be unmasked before him:
And Providence has given me means to do it.”

What is the Climax of the play?
The climax of the play is Act V, Scene VII. Before this it looks like Tartuffe has won, he didn’t fool most of the family; but he fooled the only one that really mattered in Orgon. The father has realized he has been fooled, but is it too late? All of the family is now united against Tartuffe, but it appears that with the papers that Orgon gave him, he has all that he needs to legally defeat the family. The officer has arrived and it seems he is there to evict the entire family. Again, that idea of a twisted grin on Tartuffe’s face comes to mind. He is so certain that this is the final act, and then the officer turns to him and lets him know that it is time to take the man to prison; but it is Tartuffe. The hypocrite asks why and he is verbally dismissed quickly and he says to Orgon:
“Our prince is not a friend to double dealing,
His eyes can read men's inmost hearts, and all
The art of hypocrites cannot deceive him.
His sharp discernment sees things clear and true;
His mind cannot too easily be swayed,
For reason always holds the balance even.
He honours and exalts true piety,
But knows the false, and views it with disgust.”

How does the play end? (Falling action or denouement)
The family is back together and united. Son and daughter still are with their father, and the grandmother knows she was wrong and the grandchildren she criticized were right from the beginning. Tartuffe is in prison and Orgon’s family is still in their home. Orgon is encouraged to go to the wise prince and thank him. Orgon says that they will go and thank him, but also says in Act V, Scene VIII that there is another matter to attend to:
“With wedded happiness reward Valere,
And crown a lover noble and sincere.”
Mariane will wed her true love Valere with the blessing of her father. Truth, family love and romance overcome all.

Describe how you think the Set should appear.
I hope it is okay to picture the set in modern times. I envisioned this as a current story. The main set is a large enclosed sunroom, which is back enough for the entire family. There are plenty of deep green plants, and a water wall. The sunroom looks over the backyard, which is mainly a perfectly kept garden with palm trees, exotic flowers and classic Greek statues. This is where most of the conversations take place. The secondary set is the master bedroom of Elmire and Orgon, which has a setting room of deep rich wood floors, paintings of the romantic era with outdoor scenes of spring days and flowers. This is where the scene with Elmire and Tartuffe takes place. There are closed French doors to the main bedroom, which is actually a painted backdrop behind the glass panels in the French doors. The wardrobe closet has the opening door that Damis hides behind. The climax scene of Act V, Scene VII is back in the sunroom.

What is the Theme or Moral of this play? What does the playwright want us to learn?
Molière in his Preface says, “Especially to the truly devout do I wish to vindicate my play, and I beg them with all my heart not to condemn it before seeing it, to rid themselves of preconceptions, and not aid the cause of men dishonored by their actions.” The church was very oppressive in regards to the theater in his time.

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

it.

How did you feel about this play? Defend your answer with specifics from the play
I think of Tartuffe as the perfect wealth and health preacher of today. He appears so holy, and asks for money while showing pictures of children that his ministry is helping. He tells his followers that they do not have to send their money to his ministry, they have worked so hard, and he is unworthy of their sacrifices. They give, and the more he says he is unworthy; they give even more. He is a great deceiver. He is so bold in confessing his sins, sticking it to the son; while toying with Orgon. In Act III, Scene IV; the skilled hypocrite tells the father:
“Yes, brother, I am wicked, I am guilty,
A miserable sinner, steeped in evil,
The greatest criminal that ever lived.”
I was drawn in by the dancing with the truth of Tartuffe. The blindness of the Orgon turned him into a reckless father who was mean towards his daughter and son. Damis wants to protect his sister, and tries to get his father to see the truth. I admired Damis and his willingness to risk the anger of his father, in order to protect Mariane. In Act III, Scene VI; Orgon explodes in anger and tells his own son to leave and never come back:
“I disinherit you,
And give you, too, my curse into the bargain.”
Anger and drama! I was amazed at the cruelty of the father to people he loved. I kept wondering when Tartuffe would get caught, while laughing at Elmire coughing to get the attention of her family. How reckless can Tartuffe be and still not get caught?! When is he going to be shown for what he is?! He tells Elmire in Act IV, Scene V:
“I'll duly teach you all these secrets, madam;
You only need to let yourself be guided.”
I feel this play could very easily be a modern movie with very little adaptation. As I said when describing the set, I saw this as a current story.