Virtual Reading of 'Tartuffe' by Molière

Introduction

• Presenter Greeting: Presenter welcomed the audience to Week 19 of the Virtual Reading Series by Plague Spring Company at Shakespeare and Company, Minnesota.
• Play Overview: Reading of 'Tartuffe' by Molière, translated by Richard Wilbur.
  • Themes: Love, deception, redemption.

Characters

• Orgon: Easily deceived head of the household and proponent of Tartuffe.
• Tartuffe: The hypocritical and manipulative 'holy' man who deceives Orgon.
• Elmire: Orgon's wife, who attempts to expose Tartuffe's hypocrisy.
• Madame Pernelle: Orgon's mother, insists on Tartuffe's piety.
• Damis: Orgon's son, tries to expose Tartuffe’s true nature.
• Mariane: Orgon's daughter, in love with Valère, dismayed by her father's plans to marry her to Tartuffe.
• Valère: Mariane's suitor.
• Dorine: Mariane's maid, often offers advice and speaks her mind.
• Cleante: Orgon’s brother-in-law, the voice of reason.
• Monsieur Loyal: Bailiff who serves Orgon with eviction papers.
• King's Officer: Restores justice at the end.

Plot Overview

• Opening Scene: Madame Pernelle criticizes the family for not listening to Tartuffe.
• Elmire and Tartuffe: Tartuffe makes advances toward Elmire, exposing his hypocrisy.
• Damis' Discovery and Orgon's Reaction:
  • Damis overhears and exposes Tartuffe's seduction attempt.
  • Orgon refuses to believe Damis and chooses to punish him instead.
  • Orgon decides to marry Mariane to Tartuffe to spite his family.

Elmire's Plan to Expose Tartuffe

• Deception: Elmire and Orgon prepare a trap for Tartuffe to reveal his true nature.
• Under the Table: Orgon hides to witness Tartuffe's advances towards Elmire.
• Revelation: Orgon sees Tartuffe's hypocrisy firsthand, plans to evict him.

Conflict and Climax

• Tartuffe's Retaliation: Tartuffe uses legal ownership of Orgon's property to retaliate.
• Monsieur Loyal: Arrives with eviction papers, revealing Tartuffe's betrayal further.
• Orgon’s Flight: Orgon’s friends advise him to flee, fearing Tartuffe’s influence.

Resolution

• King's Officer Arrival: Announces that the King has seen through Tartuffe’s deceit.
  • Tartuffe is exposed as a criminal known by another name.
  • The King invalidates Tartuffe’s deed and restores Orgon's property.
• Final Scene: Family expresses gratitude and celebrates the upcoming marriage of Mariane and Valère.

Conclusion

• Presenter's Closing: Thanks the audience and invites them to join for the next reading.
• Future Reading: Announce plans for the next session the following Saturday.

Key Themes and Motifs

• Hypocrisy: Tartuffe's false piety and deceptive nature.
• Family and Authority: Conflicts between familial duty and personal desire.
• Justice and Retribution: The eventual exposure of Tartuffe and restoration of order.