The Foolish Orgon of Moliere's Tartuffe

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The Foolish Orgon of Tartuffe

In Molière's Tartuffe, translated by Richard Wilbur, the central character, a man named Orgon, has been completely brainwashed and taken advantage of by the title character, a lecherous and parasitic "holy man." Tartuffe has made use of one of the oldest scams in human history to insinuate himself into Orgon's household; he appeals to Orgon's desire to be a good, upstanding, and pious man by appearing to be the same. Tartuffe's manipulations are evident to everyone but Orgon, and seem to the reader to be blatantly obvious. His use of religion to manipulate Orgon is consistent throughout the play. In his religious zeal, Orgon is blind to the truth about Tartuffe's character. As a result, Orgon, in a vain attempt to secure religious favor, almost bring himself and his family to ruin.

From the very beginning, it is evident that nearly all of the other characters see through Tartuffe's deceitful veneer of civility and piety. In Act I, Scene 1, Madame Pernelle, Orgon's mother, dominates the conversation, refusing to allow anyone to criticize Tartuffe. Orgon's son Damis is finally able to tell his grandmother, "Good God! Do you expect me to submit / To the tyranny of that carping hypocrite?" (10). His outburst opens the way for others to agree. Dorinne, the maid, adds, "Surely it is a shame and disgrace / To see this man usurp the master's place -- / To see this beggar [. . .] behave / As if the house were his / And we his slaves" (11). Everyone at the table disagrees with Madame Pernelle, who insistence that Tartuffe is a holy man parallels her son's own feelings, which will be shown all too clearly throughout most of the play. It is clear from t...

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