'Tartuffe'

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at Richard Wilbur Moliere's play, 'Tartuffe'. This paper presents an argument that 'Tartuffe' was Moliere's warning us to be on guard against those that are overzealous about religion, and of those who are overzealous in presenting themselves as pious individuals.

From the Paper:

"Cleante questions Tartuffe by asking, "But if this noble and religious zeal, is quite as perfect as you'd have us feel, How is it that it waited to appear, till you were caught embracing Madame here" (Moliere 260). Moliere accomplishes two objectives by these particular words, first he shows that Tartuffe is only pretending to be a pious individual, that when he is alone, or thinks he is alone, with Orgon's wife he immediately makes a play for her which a truly righteous individual would never do, and secondly he shows that Cleante realizes what is really happening, because he knows how a truly righteous individual would act in that situation, and that Tartuffe is not doing so. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bensoussan, Georges, (2002) Comedie-Francaise "Tartuffe" Films for the Humanities
• Gardner, Elysa (2003) "Musty Moliere Tries to get Fresh" USA Today, 01/10/2003
• Moliere, Tartuffe. "Tartuffe." Comedy = A Critical Anthology. Corrigan, Robert W. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1971. pp. 211-62.

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