Tartuffe Essay Research Paper TartuffeTrue identity is

Tartuffe Essay, Research Paper

Tartuffe

True identity is often masked by the personality one wants to portray. This is

especially true of Tartuffe, a character in Moliere?s controversial comedy,

Tartuffe(1664). In the five-act play, Moliere uses the characters to convey the idea of

discernment between religion and false piety.

The setting of the play is in Orgon?s house. Orgon is a man who leads a life of

wealth and happiness. His family consist of Elmire, his wife, daughter Mariane, and son

Damis. Also presiding in the house are Madame Pernelle, Organ?s mother, and

Mariane?s witty maid, Dorine. Tartuffe, the antagonist of the play, appears to be a man

of piety on the surface. However, buried underneath this falsehood lies a religious

hypocrite. With the exception of Madame Pernelle and Orgon, all of the characters see

through Tartuffe?s sham.

In Act I Moliere utilizes Dorine to paint a verbal picture of Orgon?s infatuation

with Tartuffe. In line 9 Dorine states how Orgon is the ?worse deceived? by Tartuffe.

Moliere opens the play by revealing to the audience how gullible Orgon is, He has

become so infatuated with Tartuffe that he ?loves him as his life, [p]referring him to

mother, child or wife(I.ii.14-15).? When Orgon finally arrives on the scene, Moliere uses

his actions to support our preconceived opinion. When Elmire becomes ill, Orgon

neglects her well being. Instead he is overly concerned with Tartuffe?s health. A short

time later, Orgon is further deceived by Tartuffe to withdraw his blessing from Mariane?s

plans to marry Valere. To the family?s dismay, Mariane is promised to be wed Tartuffe.