Discuss the role of Dorine, Mariane’s lady maid. What kind of servant is she? What role does she play in the action of the drama?
The role of Dorine in the drama is that she is a maid who always looks at things on the positive side and speaks out when things are not going on well in the house of Orgon. From the beginning of the drama, she knew that Tartuffe was a bad person to Orgon, and in other words, Dorine sees things for the good of everyone in the house.
Dorine is also a wise decision-maker, when Orgon decided to give his daughter to Tartuffe as his wife, Dorine knew that was not a good decision he was making so she confronted him about it and make him understand that he was wrong.
In my opinion, Dorine is an older person who has a lot of experience with family duty and making sure that everyone makes the right decision, in addition, Dorine’s role did not just show a lady mid in Orgon house but also shows that she was a mother to everyone.
It’s interesting that you describe Dorine as a maternal figure in the play. I wonder how she compares in this respect to the step-mother (Elmire) or grandmother (Mme. Pernelle), the other mother figures in the play.
In my opinion, it was not about comparison but based on how she was speaking out to Orgon about his decision of giving his daughter to Tartuffe and also pointing out that Tartuffe was not a good man.
I believe Dorine played a role not just as someone who called people on their bluff like Tartuffe but could be compared as a mother figure. For example, on pages 157-163, Oregon talks highly of Tartuffe on how he is such a great person all around but Dorine will interrupt Oregon and shares her displeasure and how he cannot be trusted. When Oregon leaves the room, Mariane is lost for words and asks Dorine “Against my father, what I am to do?” This is where Dorine gives advice to Mariane in a motherly fashion. Dorine explains that if you want out if this marriage, than you will have to tell her father that no one can command a heart. You would expect this statement to come out of Mariane’s mother’s but instead comes from Dorine, which shows an example of what a mother figure is and that means to help your children when is despair. We can also say that in the action part of the drama, Dorine is not scared to voice her opinion. If she feels like no one is listening, she stands up for herself, if Tartuffe does something questionable she will face him.