Abstract This paper presents an examination of the three main characters in Moliere's play "Tartuffe", and how they reflect the traits of one another. It also looks at the dramatic technique of foiling.
From the Paper "Tartuffe works as a complex examination of the hypocritical human condition specifically because of the relationships between the characters in the play. In examining the relationships between these main characters and how these relationships serve the writers greater purpose we can begin to understand the meaning of the play in greater depth. For instance it is apparent that Tartuffe Cleante and Orgon have many similarities between them as characters. At the same time however the differences between them are almost startling ..."
Tags: tartuffe, moliere, cleanteorgon, foil character
Abstract "Tartuffe" narrates the story of how a scoundrel and a hypocrite disguises himself as a pious man of religion. By affecting religious behavior, Tartuffe charms his way into the house and the favors of Orgon, a local rich man. Orgon is unfortunately unable to see through Tartuffe's duplicity, and in the process, almost loses all his possessions to the scoundrel Tartuffe. Only the fortuitous intervention of the king saves Orgon's family from the machinations of the unscrupulous Tartuffe. This paper argues that "Tartuffe" is best read as a satire against the hypocrisy of political and religious authority figures of Moliere's day.
From the Paper "The satire contained in this play made its author a target of 17th century religious authorities. After all, the main audience of this play was the Parisian elite in the late 17th century. This audience would have understood that Tartuffe had an underlying critique of both bad kingship and lying religious leaders (Baker, "Tartuffe as political parable"). The authority figures evidently understood this as well. When Moliere died, he was originally denied burial on consecrated ground. Only through the intervention of the king swayed the Archbishop of Paris's mind, smoothing the playwright's burial in holy ground (Bloom, ?Chronology,? p. 208)."
From the Paper "Tartuffe tries to seduce Orgon's wife, Elmire, and Orgon wants Tartuffe to marry his daughter, Mariane. These desires premise heterosexual love, but one could also argue that they portend that the men unconsciously would like to have sex with each other by proxy. Dorine has conditioned us to think of them as sensualists, in spite of their speeches about religion and piety. The overt heterosexuality of a seduction and a marriage may be a mask for latent homosexual desire. If Tartuffe sleeps with Orgon's wife, he partakes, sexually, of the same experience that Orgon has had."
Abstract This is an argumentative paper regarding the play "Tartuffe" written by Jean-Paul Moliere. The author has taken a unique stance equating the family, and their relationships to the military and its chain of command in the play. The author concentrates on how Orgon, the father in the play, failed as a commanding chief and father.
From the Paper "When Jean-Baptiste Moli"re decided to write the play Tartuffe, he knew full well that this play would contain a story of religious hypocrisy that would be very controversial. But to make his point more clear Moli"re was not attacking religion itself, but rather the hypocrites within it. In this same manner Moli"re made a very strong statement about the structure of the family in his time. Moli"re used the platform of a comedic play about religious hypocrisy to show a common fault of the family structure, a structure not all unlike that of the ranks in the military. He illustrates a conventional dissension among the very ranks of the family structure. He demonstrates how Orgon, the father, fails in his responsibilities as the commanding officer of his own unit/family. But before one can unquestionably state that Orgon failed, a good example of a commanding officer must be given."
Tags: century, orgon, seventeenth, father, family, commander, military, duty, deceit
Abstract Both Voltaire and Moliere concentrated on expanding the period of Enlightenment with the exploration of the human soul through growth and change in literature. The philosophers of the Age of Reason (the Enlightenment) believed that each person has a rational will, which makes it possible to make and carry out plans. Animals, they declared, are slaves of their emotions. When an animal is afraid of something, it tries to escape. When an animal is angry, it fights. However, people can figure out the best course of action when they are afraid, angry, or in trouble. In addition, people can make themselves do the right thing, instead of doing only what may seem easier or more appealing. Both Voltaire and Moliere promoted these concepts and employed them directly within their respective works "Candide" and "Tartuffe". It is the purpose of this paper to examine the primary characters of "Candide" and Orgon separately and together to form a larger concept of who they were and what they represented in their stories.
Abstract This paper examines how Moliere's "Tartuffe" is from 17th century France, during the Enlightenment, or the Age of Reason. It looks at how at the time, people in Paris were interested in enlightenment values such as rationality, moderation and order and how social graces, good manners and how gender roles were strictly enforced during this period. It analyzes how Moliere demonstrates all of these enlightenment values in his play. It evaluates how the main theme of "Tartuffe" is the difference between true religious piety and religious hypocrisy and how morality was also considered to be important during the Enlightenment.
From the Paper "If Cleante represents reason in Tartuffe, then Orgon is the opposite of reason. Although he conforms to society's conventions and he accepts rigid rules of behavior, Orgon is extremely emotional throughout the play. He also fails to perceive that Tartuff is tricking them and thus is not thinking as rationally as Cleante is. In Act I, scene 6, Cleante accuses his brother of being unable to distinguish ?hypocrisy and genuine devoutness.? He tells Orgon that his love of Tartuffe is ?nonsense,? and attempts to enlighten him about Tartuffe's true nature. Yet Cleante knows that his brother's mind is clouded by his emotions. Trying to talk sense into his brother, Cleante is the voice of reason which goes unheard. Orgon believes so intensely in Tartuffe's piety and goodness that he is willing to sacrifice the happiness of his daughter. "
Abstract This paper examines the theme that reason, not emotion or faith, should determine how a person makes decisions. The writer uses examples from Moliere's "Tartuffe" to expand on this concept. It focuses on the characters Cleante, Damis, and the King and portrays them as reasonable people.
From the Paper "During the enlightenment, people began questioning "nature, humanity, and society"(Davis 11). One of the people who publicly questioned these things was Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Moliere. In his play Tartuffe, the male head of the household Orgon, welcomes Tartuffe, who is allegedly a highly religious man, into his home. However, Tartuffe ends up being a fraud. Orgon is at first oblivious to Tartuffe's faults until he almost loses his estate to Tartuffe. Moliere presents the idea that rather than emotion or faith, reason should govern a person's choices."
Abstract Both "Tartuffe" by Jean Baptiste Moliere and "Phaedra" by Jean Racine are plays about passion and the momentary defeat of reason. The paper explores these themes in both plays. It shows that "Tartuffe" is as much a tale of hypocrisy as of passion and a suspension of reason and that "Phaedra" is about a powerful and passionate queen who is mocked by the object of her passion, Hippolytus, her stepson. The paper also uses Saint Thomas of Aquina's "Summa Theologica" for his views on reason.
From the Paper "Although Tartuffe appears to be an extreme case of irascibleness, his hypocrisy must be his perceived "proper" strategy to survive. Reason is entirely absent in his life, which leads to the inference that his life experiences may have completely eliminated its inherent power in Tartuffe. But in Orgon, the loss of reason is temporary and condition by the presence of the light of truth and reason, which his wife Elmire brings back to him. Just as enormously erratic as Tartuffe is Phaedra, whose fear of age and perceived loss of attractiveness, lead her to crave for Hippolytus. She also suffers a blackout of reason. Looking closely, it is a resistance of death in aging that conditions this fear. And Hippolytus? youth, as well as his challenging improbability as a pursuit, makes him seem like the solution to Phaedra's problems with mortality. She has yet to discover that physical life is not the only, or the better, kind of life there is. But she loses the chance and the time to discover the true answer and solution by destroying herself, finding no more reason to live."
Abstract This essay will discuss the play "Tartuffe" by Moliere and seek to describe the text that defines this comedy about aristocratic life in seventeenth century France. This essay will reveal the motivations of Oregon to be in power over everything, as he is preoccupied with control and unwilling to assume responsibility of action, which he takes to get it. By revealing the nature of Orgon's behavior in this play, we can see how he is desperately afraid of insult in his society. 3
Abstract This paper explains that, in "The Rape of the Lock", Pope satirizes the human condition, and, in "Tartuffe", Moli?re satirizes the religious. The author points out that Pope's "The Rape of the Lock", written in the traditional the heroic couplet form, is considered one of best illustrations of what is termed a mock-epic poem. The paper relates that, in "Tartuffe", Moli?re also uses satire to comment on society; through the exaggerated characters of Tartuffe and Orgon, he exposes religion and gullibility.
From the Paper "Pope also takes a shot at male mentality. For instance, men are depicted as shallow as women are. The Baron devises new "strategems" (3:120) to achieve his own ends. After he successfully attains the lock of hair, he exclaims, ?The glorious prize is mine!? (3:162) This scene reveals the lack of character of men who seek only to achieve a prize."
Abstract This paper looks at Jean Baptiste Moliere's play, "Tartuffe, or the Impostor", and how it is an excellent example of a neo-classical drama because Moliere reinforces traditional neo-classic characteristics while demonstrating comic technique. It explains how Moliere follows neo-classical trends, such as focusing on realism, responsibility, and bending one's will to conform to social standards. The play implements all of these elements in a delightful neo-classical comedy that proves ignorance and hypocrisy are no respecters of persons or class.
From the Paper "Neoclassical artists attempted to "bridge the disharmony between people and society by demanding that individuals choose between obligation and desire, responsibility and freedom, subordinating personal wishes to social structures" (Barranger 463). Neoclassical dramatists saw their characters as members of society. In addition, the rebellious individual was often portrayed as presumptuous and, in the case of Tartuffe, absurd. While Tartuffe becomes the anti-hero of the play, Orgon is allowed to keep his belongings because of his previous piousness. Both characters represent the height of hypocrisy through their behavior. In addition, Orgon is pivotal in the play because while he is deceived, he deceives as well."
Demonstrates the general qualities of satire and shows how these manifest in two works of French literature - "Candide" (Voltaire) and "Tartuffe" (Moliere).
Abstract This essay presents an analysis on the topic of satire, focusing on Voltaire's "Candide" and Moliere's "Tartuffe", two works by French authors of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Both works critically present the social customs and the values of their age. Specifically, the paper argues that while Voltaire's "Candide" is concerned with making fun of some of the ideas of the enlightenment, Moliere's "Tartuffe" can largely be seen as a critique of the social customs of the aristocracy or the 'decadence' of the rich or wealthy, so to speak.
From the Paper "As satire demonstrates, humor can be one of the more functional literary devices toward a form of moral or social criticism. By and large, the themes and the narratives which are associated with this genre and style of writing, concern social customs, values or beliefs which are criticized through being satirized."
Abstract Through a comparison and contrast of these works, this paper explains how each one reveals a richly layered analysis of 17 century France, its politics, culture and society.
From the Paper "Moliere's work is greatly respected and vastly studied by contemporary academia, but in the author's time it was frequently shunned and even banned for its elements of harsh criticism against the religious and social status quo. A satirical work, Tartuffe was found so offensive to its audience that it was banned after its seminal presentation (Slater xviii). Not only did Moliere's exposure of the hypocrisy he observed in his environment, but also his discussion of religious wrong-doings gave the French public-not to mention the French bureaucracy-much to criticize."
This paper discusses the use of satire in Jean Baptiste Moliere's play "Tartuffe", Jonathan Swift's essay "A Modest Proposal" and Francois-Marie Voltaire's "Candide".
775 words (approx. 3.1 pages), 0 sources, 2005, $ 27.95
Abstract This paper explains that satire is a device that writers utilize to comment of the state of the human condition. The author points out that the character Orgon, in Jean Baptiste Moliere's play Tartuffe, illustrates man's gullibility; Swift, in his essay "A Modest Proposal", emphasizes how man has become insensitive to his fellow man by proposing a logical argument and Voltaire in "Candide" demonstrates the folly of philosophy. The paper states that each author shows how the readers can learn from their behavior if they stop being serious long enough to lighten up and learn to laugh.
From the Paper "In Voltaire's "Candide", Pangloss becomes the object of satire. He represents the so-called educated individuals that hold themselves in higher regard than everyone else. We are expected to believe that he is a high-minded philosopher. However, as we learn more about him and listen to what he has to say, we have to question just how intelligent he actually is. In fact, he does not seem to have any sense at all. We find out that he has contracted syphilis and through his dialogue, he traces this disease all the way back to Columbus' voyage. The absurdity does not stop there."
Abstract This paper explores the similarities and differences between the fictional character of Tartuffe in Moliere's play of the same name, set in 17th century France, and American President George W. Bush. The paper compares their characters as well as the extremes of enthusiastic political beliefs.
From the Paper "By comparison, many die-hard Republicans felt, and some probably still do feel, the same way about Bush. During the debacle of the presidential election of 2000, even in the face of overwhelming evidence against the fact, these Republicans refused to acknowledge that, according to the numbers, their candidate was not actually winning the election. Even though Al Gore received over 500,000 votes more than Bush, Bush's supporters pulled every trick in the book to get votes re-counted and to get votes thrown out, just to prove that their man, Bush, was the winner. Obviously, they felt that Bush was the only person for President - that there was no question about this."
