Lecture on Molière's 'Tartuffe'

Introduction

• Play: Tartuffe
• Author: Molière
• Year: 1664
• Genre: Comedy, Satire, Farce
• Themes: Hypocrisy, Gullibility, Moderation and Reason, True Piety and Humility

Act 1

• Setting: Orgone is away, Madame Parnell visits the family.
• Characters: Orgone, Madame Parnell, Tartuffe, Elmir, Doreen, Orgone's Family.
• Plot:
  • Madame Parnell criticizes everyone but defends Tartuffe.
  • Family sees Tartuffe as hypocritical and overbearing.

Symbolism

• Tartuffe: Represents hypocrisy, particularly in conservative Roman Catholic Church.
  • Devs Movements: Opposed Protestantism, supported Catholic supremacy.
  • Attributes: Ostentatious prayer, almsgiving, hair shirt, and self-scourging.

Act 2

• Plot: Orgone's Decision & Family's Reaction
  • Orgone wants Marianne to marry Tartuffe, not her love Valere.
  • Doreen tries to dissuade Orgone but fails.
  • Doreen plans to delay the wedding and enlists Elmir's help.

Act 3

• Elmir's Strategy Against Tartuffe:
  • Tartuffe arrives and makes inappropriate advances.
  • Elmir offers not to expose Tartuffe in exchange for Marianne and Valere's marriage.
  • Damis overhears and confronts Tartuffe.
  • Orgone refuses to believe Damis and sides with Tartuffe.

Act 4

• Neighborhood Reaction & Continued Deception:
  • Orgone disinherits Damis.
  • Family tries to convince Orgone about Tartuffe, but he remains firm.
  • Elmir gets Orgone to hide and witness Tartuffe's advances.
  • Orgone finally sees Tartuffe's true nature.
  • Tartuffe takes ownership of the house.

Act 5

• Resolution:
  • Tartuffe brings evidence against Orgone to the King.
  • King recognizes Tartuffe as a wanted criminal.
  • Tartuffe is arrested, Orgone’s property is restored.
  • Plans for Marianne and Valere's wedding.

Major Themes

• Hypocrisy:

  • Pretending to be virtuous.
  • Characters like Tartuffe and Laurent are consciously hypocritical.
  • Orgone and his mother are unwittingly hypocritical.

• Gullibility:

  • Easily deceived.
  • Orgone and his mother are prime examples.

• Moderation and Reason:

  • Prized during the Enlightenment.
  • Characters like Cleont advocate for rationality and moderation.
  • Elmir and Doreen emphasize practical and rational behavior.

• True Piety and Humility:

  • True pious behavior contrasts Tartuffe’s false piety.
  • Elmir embodies true piety and humility.

Historical Context

• Initial Performance: 1664 at Versailles for Louis XIV.
• Controversy: Banned due to objections from the Society of the Holy Sacrament.
• Public Performances: Allowed again after Molière’s death in 1669.

Conclusion

• Impact: Critiques of time and place.
• Moral: Importance of questioning motives and manipulations.