— Discuss the theme of appearances or masks in Tartuffe? Who wears a mask? For what purpose? How does the issue of appearances vs. reality connect with the central concerns of the play?
— 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? What might Moliere be saying about “class” in this play?
— How is the institution of marriage treated in Tartuffe? What are some of the models or ideals of marriage that are raised by Moliere or his characters?
— Describe the character of Orgon. Why do you think he’s so vulnerable to Tartuffe?
— Moliere wrote Tartuffe in verse, using rhyming couplets throughout the play. How do you explain that stylistic choice? What effects does it create?
— Describe one aspect of the play that seems very modern to you and one that seems very dated or old-fashioned.
Moliere, Tartuffe
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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? What might Moliere be saying about “class” in this play?
Dorine, however, a worker, is seen as something beyond that; she appears to be a defender and voice for Mariane as she looks for what is right. Dorine is very expressive and has no disgrace in standing up, particularly on her viewpoints of Hypocrite. She particularly contends with Orgon continually since he is so difficult and unaware of the most proficient method to focus on his family to improve things. You consider her importance in the contention between Mariane and Valere over information exchanged and knowing about her proposed marriage. Dorine embeds herself as a mediator as she justifies what is going on from the unadulterated gibberish. She fundamentally prevents them from committing an immense error of cutting off their friendship. She may really be the most mindful contrasted with any remaining characters. She can be extremely cheeky and open, particularly towards the Lady, Orgon, and Hypocrite. Dorine is something other than a worker yet can be seen as an individual from the family as all the show unfurls. Without Dorine, I feel Mariane would be very lost and is lucky to have her as a worker.
Describe the character of Orgon. Why do you think he’s so vulnerable to Tartuffe?
Orgon was not just skilled, yet entirely really astute. He was the individual who appeared to think often less about his mom, youngsters, sibling, and spouse and more about Tartuffe as he was the “blessed” man Orgon revered the most. I think he is powerless against Tartuffe as he needs to expand his possibilities of getting into paradise. He desires to improve the family’s picture by getting Tartuffe. He believes that Tartuffe should control the family, as a matter of fact.
Describe the character of Orgon. Why do you think he’s so vulnerable to Tartuffe?
Orgon is Madame Pernelle’s son in Tartuffe. He is successful patriarch of a considerably high social standing. He is the character most influenced by Tartuffe’s deceptions. Orgon was naive in the sense that he so badly wanted to believe that Tartuffe was a truly good person. He is so vulnerable to Tartuffe because he believes his word to be law, and believes Tartuffe is who he says he is. I think he lets himself fall into this delusion because he needs something or someone to believe in.
– Moliere wrote Tartuffe in verse, using rhyming couplets throughout the play. How do you explain that stylistic choice? What effects does it create?
I believe Molière chooses to write the play in rhyming couplets to give the story a more poetic flow. I feel that in comedic writing the use of rhyming helps convey the scene much better, as well in such a fast-paced play, the rhymes almost help the reader remember the lines better and in reading a play it gives it a more dramatic effect that you’d get if you say the play performed. Rhyming helps creates an internal meaning and depicts more emotion in comparison to more prosaic writing styles.
I agree , the servant was there for more than helping around the house. She was like a family member and always stood up to what was right for the family.
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? What might Moliere be saying about “class” in this play?
Dorine, Mariane’s lady maid, was like a mother to Mariane. She was taking care of Mariane and knew everything about Mariane and her relationship with Valère. Also, she was giving her advice on what is wrong and right. Additionally, Dorine supported Mariane by not marrying Tartuffe because it wasn’t Marianne’s decision to marry Tartuffe. Second, her marriage to Tartuffe was her father’s decision. At least she was a loyal person to their family by giving her opinion. “The class” that Moliere will say about this play is that in an earlier age, if your family had wealth and suitable property, they took maids for their children, their wife, and the servant for the house. The maid taking care of the children will become their second mother.
Describe one aspect of the play that seems very modern to you and one that seems very dated or old-fashioned
One of the aspects that looks pretty modern to me is the relationship between children and their parents, especially with their fathers. In our society, we are allowed to show respect to our fathers no matter what they will say; even though we don’t want to hear, we still have to always say yes to their decision. We can see on page 157 when Oregon was talking with her daughter Mariane about the marriage with Tartuffe even though she didn’t want to marry Tartuffe. But she accepted it.
One aspect that seems very old to me is when your dad has to decide to give you in marriage with someone you don’t love, but because of the person’s status and the relationships, they have in contact.
It didn’t come to mind the aspects of what seemed very modern and old fashioned but you did bring up a part of the reading that made it clear how we are supposed to respect our parents even when we don’t agree. Also the arranged marriage is old fashion since its rare for it to occur today.
I agree with the old aspect of the play where the father tells the daughter who to marry, even if she doesn’t want to. Usually today in most places the people get to choose who they want to marry.
The old-fashioned aspect you chose is commonly practiced in Southeast Asia and has the highest rate of arranged marriages. The idea of having an arranged marriage take place is to ensure financial stability and to marry someone who has the same social status as you.
I agree that in the modern world we have to essentially be yes-men to our parents. However, it is being more and more common for kids to break these traditions of having to unwillingly follow our parents, or father in this case. I also agree that your father picking who you marry, regardless of your opinion, is very old fashion and it is thankfully a fading tradition but hopefully it continues as such.
How is the institution of marriage treated in Tartuffe? What are some of the models or ideals of marriage that are raised by Moliere or his characters?
The institution of marriage is seen as a very big and important role in the society they live in. Moliere gives Madame Pernelle a very big voice in the subject of marriage as she criticizes her son’s and his wife’s marriage. Madame Pernelle raises the idea of the wife (in this case Elmire) to be submissive or obedient to her husband (Orgon). She believes that as the mother in law she needs to get more respect from her grandkids and her son’s wife. In addition she doesn’t like the idea of Elmire wasting all of Orgon’s money, instead she expects Elmire to care for Orgon and her kids.
Moliere wrote Tartuffe in verse, using rhyming couplets throughout the play. How do you explain that stylistic choice? What effects does it create?
I haven’t seen a play written in a rhyming format before, but I do think it creates this creative look while reading the play rather than reading a play the traditional way without the rhyming. With this stylistic choice, it gives an amplified effect to the emotion shown by the characters. For example, when Madame Pernelle is seen upset or angry with something or with the other characters, the rhyming in the play shows light to the anger that she is experiencing.
I definitely agree with your response to the first question. Marriage plays a significant role in this text, as it is made the center of many conflicts. This is shows in the conflict of Orgon wanting to give his daughter to Tartuffe in marriage against her will, as well as the issues that Madame Pernelle communicates in her lines. The idea of a disordered household or family unit is what fuels many of the issues in Tartuffe. In addition, the way that Tartuffe somewhat replaces Organ’s wife is very problematic and pathetic.
Marriage definitely sways the play and shows that it is the center of the several conflicts portrayed. How the wife’s role is played in the play is identical to how you stated it. The way Madame Pernelle raises the idea of the wife is to be submissive.
I wonder if it matters that Elmire is Orgon’s second wife. She is not the mother of his children. If we think about how women gain status in the 17th century (and other periods), it seems like women gain legitimacy through marriage, but then gain even higher status/value through procreation.
– 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? What might Moliere be saying about “class” in this play?
Dorine plays the role of the mediator in the play. She’s a maid who is not afraid to speak her mind and speaks honestly no matter whom she is talking to. From the beginning, we read some dialogue between Dorine and Madame Pernelle. Madame Pernelle says, “How would you know? When, clearly, you don’t understand, in fact, how a servant is supposed to act?” She expresses her shock at Dorine’s audacity to talk back to the grandmother of the home. So to the elder people of the house, Dorine is considered disrespectful and audacious. However, people like Mariane know how helpful and good-intentioned Dorine always is. Dorine had helped Mariane mend things with Valere and even came up with a plan to postpone her marriage with Tartuffe. Moliere might be saying how a person’s class shouldn’t be a factor in a person having a voice or how credible they are because sometimes maids like Dorine have better perspectives on matters than the man of the house, Orgon.
– Moliere wrote Tartuffe in verse, using rhyming couplets throughout the play. How do you explain that stylistic choice? What effects does it create?
I believe Moliere chose to write Tartuffe using rhyming couplets so that it has a flow to it, sort of like music. The rhyming couplets made it fun to read, for me. It engages the reader’s attention and having couplets made the content easier to digest. It also gave it the dramatical aspect, like when a character would have something lengthy to say, every rhyming couplet added to the emotion they were conveying.
I agree with you, I think that the rhyming couplets made the play more entertaining. Without the rhyming, the play would become dull and lifeless.
Something that seemed modern was the a smile is a frown turned upside down since everyone our age knows that phrase. Another thing was how the servant was willing to break societal norms or being submissive to her masters. She would yell and scold at Orogon’s daughter and she felt less like a servant then a close friend of the family. She even sassed Orogon himself who is her literal boss. This is something that isn’t even socially acceptable in the modern day, but workers are trying to advocate for themselves more and more with every generation. Something old fashioned was the arranged marriage that Orogon was trying to orchestrate between Tartuffe and his daughter. The modern world has such a big movement for women being able to chose their partners. Often times I forget how for centuries, my partner would have been chosen for me if I was born in another other time or place then the 21st century United States.
Orogon comes off as kind and naive. He fully believed everything that Tartuffe was telling him. During this time period, the word of a pastor such as Tartuffe is seen as the most virtuous since they claim to be the ones closest to god. With the good hearted and naivety as his main traits, Orogon was an ideal target for Tartuffe.
I didn’t think of this but its a good point how Tartuffe deceived Orgon by making him think he had all the right answers that would lead to heaven and Orgon believed it since he was kind since the start that he brought Tartuffe into his home.
I totally agree with you when you about the frown statement. It is funny because while reading the play I didn’t catch it until I came upon your comment. I believe today we know that phrase as turn that frown upside down which is sort of the phrase we read in the play but reversed in a way.
Discuss the theme of appearances or masks in Tartuffe? Who wears a mask? For what purpose? How does the issue of appearances vs. reality connect with the central concerns of the play?
The theme of appearance in Tartuffe is that first impression could be deceiving. This is due to Tartuffe acting differently when Orgon was present and when he was confronted by Orgons family. However, at the end Tartuffe showed his true colors to Orgon which he wasn’t expecting a big betrayal and it was done to get the wealth and authority that Orgon has. This issue of appearance connect to the idea that first impressions could be deceiving because people can act a specific way to get what they want even when they are impulsed by jealousy.
Describe the character of Orgon. Why do you think he’s so vulnerable to Tartuffe?
The character of Orgon is that he is stubborn because at the beginning of the reading he only cared for Tartuffe instead of his wife even though he was made aware that his wife went through sick days. Then, later on his family told him about Tartuffe’s true identity which he didn’t believe in and continued to deny any rumors if he didn’t see it himself with his own eyes. Orgon was vulnerable to Tartuffe because Tartuffe made it appear that he only wanted the best for everyone especially Orgon whom helped him be where he was now in.
Yes, I agree with you on the second question. Instead of believing his family, Orgon didn’t, but he chased his son Damis out of his house instead of knowing the truth because Tartuffe knew he had everything he wanted. So, he played as an innocent. In addition, he was planning everything to be able to take his revenge.
I agree that Tartuffe was always wearing a mask when Orgon was present. Referring back to our class discussion Tartuffe would wear this mask in a way in which he wants Orgon to feel bad for him. Such as the scene where he admits to wanting Elmire but he did it in a dramatic way for Orgon to feel bad for him and not take into consideration that he was actually telling the truth. This was a way for him to mask his true self.
— Describe the character of Orgon. Why do you think he’s so vulnerable to Tartuffe?
Orgon is a character that is quite easily influenced by ideas or people that he considers wiser or from whom he believes he could learn and aspire to become more devout or achieve his religious ideals. He greatly idealizes Tartuffe, leaving aside his family, blinded by everything Tartuffe says or does, creating a very important bond with Orgon. I believe that the relationship between these two characters is toxic, and it is clear throughout the play that Tartuffe wields enormous power over Orgon, driving him to near-fanaticism. But when Orgon discovers the true intentions of the man he trusted, his outlook on life changes somehow.
— 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? What might Moliere be saying about “class” in this play?
Dorine is a person with a strong character. Commonly, servants tend to be quite reserved; they do not give much opinion; they are respectful and faithful to their masters. However, Dorine is not afraid to raise her voice and give her opinion on everything, challenging her superiors without caring what they say. I consider that she is also quite a capable and intelligent character. Thanks to her way of being and her opinion, she gives her reasons why Mariane shouldn’t marry Tartufo and goes against Orgon’s word. I think that Dorine has a very important role in the play, and she impacts different characters both positively and negatively, giving a deeper development to the plot.
I agree that servants tend to be quiet and keep to themselves, so seeing a servant character have a strong voice is a good twist to the story that helped immensely in developing the plot. It seems as if she is more like family in comparison to being a servant.
Describe the character of Orgon. Why do you think he’s so vulnerable to Tartuffe?
Orgon is extremely gullible which makes him so vulnerable to Tartuffe. Orgon blindly trusted Tartuffe because he presented himself as a “holy man” and his emphatic declarations of his devotion to God attracted Orgon in the first place. This allowed Tartuffe to manipulate Orgon for his own benefit.
Moliere wrote Tartuffe in verse, using rhyming couplets throughout the play. How do you explain that stylistic choice? What effects does it create?
Moliere wrote Tartuffe in verse, using rhyming couplets throughout the play to entertain the audience. I think the rhyming gave the play a comedic effect which is quite amusing.
I agree that the rhyming couplets added comedy to the play. Especially when Dorine uses it; her sarcasm with the rhyming really brings out the “sassy maid” that she’s supposed to portray.
I also agree with Moliere using the rhyming couplets to make it entertaining especially in the video it was fun to hear them use it.
The rhyming added to the play completely uplifted it, and it was fun to see her say in the video.
Discuss the theme of appearances or masks in Tartuffe? Who wears a mask? For what purpose? How does the issue of appearances vs. reality connect with the central concerns of the play?
The role of masks in Tartuffe is used as a sense to hide ones true motive or real intentions. We know that Tartuffe is the one wearing the mask. I say this because his whole plan was to deceive orgon and his family. To which he did successfully if the king had not seen through him. He appeared or shown himself to be a man of god that does no wrong. He made orgon and his mother believe that by him being there it would bring them to closer to god. Tartuffe convinced Orgon to give up his wealth since it does not matter after death and it can only make him become sinful.
Moliere wrote Tartuffe in verse, using rhyming couplets throughout the play. How do you explain that stylistic choice? What effects does it create?
I think that the author did this to show that how good Tartuffe was using his words. He didn’t use force to make Orgon give him the deed but only through words was he able to deceive him. I think it was meant to show that Tartuffe is an intelligent person and its used to show how cunning he is.
Yes, you’re right about the second question. Tartuffe was intelligent by using a strategy of how he could get Orgon’s property without fighting or arguing. As the respect that Orgon gave to him.
You brought up a really interesting thought. After reading the play, I wasn’t sure why Moliere decided to give Tartuffe the most poetic lines, but reading your response helped me to realize the importance of Tartuffes words throughout the play. It definitely makes sense that Moliere may have made this stylistic choice to highlight how well spoken and elegant Tartuffe presented himself. It was simply with his words that he was able to convince Orgon of his holiness, even from the first moment they met in the church.
I agree with how you mentioned Tartuffe wearing a mask in the play. He is putting a facade in order to appear as a holy man. He is playing games with Orgon and using the latter’s blindness against him.
This whole thread is really interesting. You are right to suggest that the characters in Tartuffe use language to achieve their goals, rather than action.
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? What might Moliere be saying about “class” in this play?
Dorine plays a vital role in this play, always serving as the voice of reason in the midst of chaos. Rather than being a quiet and submissive, Dorine is very outspoken about her opinion. Her constant involvement in family matters and interactions she has with the other characters makes it clear that she is more than just a household servant, but has rather become a crucial part of this family. During the confrontations she had with Orgon, I was convinced that he would soon throw her out the house or beat her. On the contrary, the way he responded to her disobedience merely resembled the attitude of an annoyed sibling or family member. I believe that much of the comedic aspects of this play were carried out by Dorine, who’s sarcasm and witty responses effectively shed light on the ridicule of this family. I believe that Moliere’s choice to have Dorine act as this voice of reason served to emphasize the idea that social class does not determine a person’s intelligence or value, and that it is often the upperclass who are oblivious and unable to distinguish appearances v. reality.
Describe one aspect of the play that seems very modern to you and one that seems very dated or old-fashioned:
One aspect of this play that seemed very outdated to me was the concept of a girl having to be married off by her father against her will. The idea of having to follow her father’s wishes in order to not loose her virtues and reputation as a woman is definitely not the case nowadays. However, I see how this emphasis on obeying one’s father came from a widespread mentality of the time. A father’s rule over his family was considered equivalent to a king’s rule over his nation of God’s rule over the world. Therefore, following the command’s of one’s father held a much heavier weight than it does today. This is especially revealed when Mariane begs her father to not condemn her to a life with Tartuffe: “I know, father, that I am your creation, that you’re the one who’s given life to me. Why would you now fill it with misery?”(4.3, 11-13) One aspect of this play that I found to be very modern was the relationship that the maid had with the other members of the family. It becomes clear that more than a servant, Dorine is like a second mother to Mariane and Damis. It is common among wealthy families for maids to be in charge of young children. Thus, they grow up with a very strong bond to the woman who actually raised them and turn to them when they face turmoil in their lives. In the same way, we see how Dorine is the first person who Mariane turns to and admits her loves for Valere.
I like how you described Orgon’s annoyed responses to Dorine; they talked as if they were siblings. I too thought that Dorine would be kicked out by the end of the play with how riled up Orgon got with her. However, it was all talk and no action, which was pretty funny because with any other maid at the time, they would’ve been kicked out right away.
Indeed, the concept of the father marrying off his daughter is very outdated. This usually doesn’t happen in the modern world as women have more power and are able to make their own decisions. Additionally, I also agree with your take on Dorine and how she is a very modern aspect of the play. Her ability to speak her mind is not a common trait of a servant at the time.
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? What might Moliere be saying about “class” in this play?
Dorine, Mariane’s lady maid is loud and speaks up for what is wrong, always speaking to her mind. We see how big of an influence she has, during the scene when Dorine was telling Mariane to stand up for herself. When I started reading the interaction with Dorine and her master, I didn’t even realize she was a servant until I looked back to the character description. I think she definitely has respect for her master, but in a way different from how a normal servant would. Throughout the play, Dorine was constantly mocking Orgon, because she doesn’t view him as someone who is worthy, best shown in the scene where Orgon was desperately telling Dorine to shut up but failed, eventually leaving the room. Orgon, who is a noble, a father, a husband, basically abandoned all his duties for Tartuffe. He is someone, who although is a noble, doesn’t have much authority or influence in the household compared to Dorine. In the play, ‘class’ was ridiculed. Which is shown through an incompetent nobleman.
Describe one aspect of the play that seems very modern to you and one that seems very dated or old-fashioned
Something I found really outdated was how marriage was decided for the daughter by the parents. The first marriage that Mariane had was a political marriage where both sides have something to gain from the marriage, be it money or power. It just so happened that Mariane was content with the marriage. The second marriage with Tartuffe, I feel is a bit modern in a sense because it doesn’t really focus on building the family’s power. Still, it was outdated, since the father was the one that made that choice, based on what he felt was right for his daughter. Something I felt really modern, was how much the influence that womans have in the play. The madam, and the maid for example.
I agree that Dorine speaks up for what she sees wrong in the family, but also does it in a respectful way since she is the maid. She is like family to them because of the way she voices their opinions even when she doesn’t need to.
I agree with what you said about the respect between Dorine and Mariane. There could be more that just respect I feel like they don’t have the mentality of Master and servant more like friends on equal footing which is why she is allowed to speak her mind.
How is the institution of marriage treated in Tartuffe? What are some of the models or ideals of marriage that are raised by Moliere or his characters?
The institution of marriage is treated as an economic exchange in Tartuffe. This is seen through the deal that was made between Orgon and Tartuffe after the latter marries Mariane. One of the reasons Orgon wanted to marry off Mariane to Tartuffe was so that Tartuffe would inherit his possessions like his house. Moliere’s portrayal of marriage showcases how much influence and power the father had on his daughter’s future. The final word belonged to Orgon which ended up stabbing him in the back.
Describe one aspect of the play that seems very modern to you and one that seems very dated or old-fashioned.
One aspect of the play that seems very modern to me is the character of Dorine. This is because she is someone who Mariane could rely on and she treated Mariane the same as a parental figure would. Additionally, this is all despite her being a maid which is not a regular portrayal of a servant during this time period. On the other hand, one aspect that seems very old-fashioned is Mariane not having any say in her marriage. She wasn’t able to marry for love the first time because of her father’s interests.
Describe one aspect of the play that seems very modern to you and one that seems very dated or old-fashioned.
One aspect of the play that seems very modern to me is the way in which the maid Dorine always has something to say. For a woman around that time period, she is very outspoken. She does not care who is speaking or what is said if she has something to say she will say it. Especially how she is towards Orgon and does not fear him unlike his daughter Mariane at first does not want to disobey him even though she does not want to marry Tartuffe. I believe this is how Moliere shows feminism within this play, especially in Dorin who is constantly standing up for what she believes is right or fair. One aspect that seems very old-fashioned in the play is the concept of a father arranging a marriage for his daughter, a marriage that the daughter does not want. This is very outdated since it showed that women didn’t have the power not even when it came to marriage. This was shown in the play when Orgon wants his daughter Mariane to marry an older guy Tartuffe, who she did not want to marry.
Describe the character of Orgon. Why do you think he’s so vulnerable to Tartuffe?
The character of Orgon is a very stubborn one. Throughout the beginning and middle of the play, we learn that Orgon only admires the values and beliefs of a hypocrite who is Tartuffe. He is blinded into believing that Tartuffe was some god. I believe he is so vulnerable to Tartuffe since doesn’t want to go to hell. Orgon does anything he is told by Tartuffe until later he realizes that he is only a criminal who acts like a good person.
I agree with you that the only reason Orgon was so vulnerable was that he doesn’t wish to go to hell, and he definitely is a stubborn character. But I think, what made him even more vulnerable, was how egotistical and self-centered Orgon is. I don’t think Orgon really cares what Tartuffe does, as we already mentioned in class that Orgon is really only interested in the appearance of a holy man. No matter was Tartuffe did, if Orgon can convince himself that Tartuffe is still a holy figure then everything is fine. Orgon doesn’t care if his wife got taken advantage of, as long as Tartuffe can still keep up with his appearance.
I agree that Dorine being outspoken is something that’s considered to be modern. Back in the day in my culture specifically, they tried to instill this idea that women should never speak up towards men or for themseleves in general because it’s not lady like / you’re erasing your image of a “respectful woman”
Describe the character of Orgon. Why do you think he is so vulnerable to Tartuffe?
Unlike Tartuffe who is the definition of hypocrisy, Orgon is very different character than him. Orgon is a middle-aged man surrounded by problems typically affects the man at his age. He feels like he is getting old fast and tries to make amends by following a pious and religious life. After meeting Tartuffe in a church, he finds exactly what he was looking for, a religious figure in his life that he can follow unaware of hypocrisy of Tartuffe. Orgon sees Tartuffe as a symbol of pious life and blindly follows him and imparts rules on his family to an extreme.
Describe one aspect of the play that seems very modern to you and one that seems very old-fashioned.
Tartuffe is play that perfectly demonstrates hypocrisy and its consequences. Hypocrisy that is present in the play perfectly aligns with hypocrisy of the modern era in which there is false leaderships not only in church system but also in every major field imaginable where people do not practice in their life what they preach to the world and people getting a false sense of accomplishment while doing it. However, the ability impart strict rules on people who are dear to you without considering their own choices or feelings seems very old-fashioned because in modern times it is far easier to identify a hypocrite with many tools and information available and not fall for false leaderships.
I want to add that hypocrisy is very common in the modern world, and not just in leadership. Some hypocrisy may even have good intentions, for example sometime when parents tell you to do something, that they themselves won’t do. People in power definitely are much more hypocritical, because the amount of power they have gives them a sense that whatever they do is right. What I found interesting was when you talked about “people getting a false sense of accomplishment” from hypocrisy. What sense of accomplishment do they get?
I agree the play clearly demonstrates hypocrisy and its consequences. This is clearly seen in our modern day-to-day lives, by many religious leaders all going back against what they preach and telling others to act when they are not doing it themselves.
Describe the character of Orgon. Why do you think he is so vulnerable to Tartuffe?
Orgon can best be described as someone who’s gullible. He’s easy influenced by the people around him and in this case, that’s Tartuffe. He’s mesmerized by how much of a pious person he is and tries to become that as well in order to feel purposeful , only to realize that Tartuffe was basically living double lives. I feel like he’s so vulnerable towards Tartuffe because of how well he was able to pull up being a so called pious person / being so devoted towards God.
Describe one aspect of the play that seems very modern to you and one that seems very old-fashioned.
Going back to my point in the first question, I feel like that’s an aspect that seems very modern. Now there are many things existing today that can easily cause someone to question their own religion, eventually pulling them away or making it hard to remain religious. One aspect that seems very old fashioned is Orgon controlling who his daughter should marry. In modern day, it’s normalized for people to introduce their parents to someone they genuinely like and finding them on their own. Unfortunately, arranged-forced marriages still exists in other cultures but just not as much in the West.
I agree that Orgon is very influenced by Tartuffe. He created this image of piousness, and Orgon fell for it.
This whole thread is really interesting. You are right to suggest that the characters in Tartuffe use language to achieve their goals, rather than action.
Q1: Describe the character of Orgon. Why do you think he’s so vulnerable to Tartuffe?
A1: Orgon seems to be someone who has this specific goal they hold onto very closely and wants to do all they can to achieve their goal. In “Tartuffe”, it’s being able to get into heaven. That and being extremely gullible made him a perfect target for Tartuffe, who painted a picture of himself being this godly, pious man and Orgon just believing him. Even with his family telling Orgon how horrible this man is, Orgon seems to be in extreme denial, still believing bringing in this supposed poor religious man into his home can guarantee a spot for him in heaven.
Q2: Discuss the theme of appearances or masks in Tartuffe? Who wears a mask? For what purpose? How does the issue of appearances vs. reality connect with the central concerns of the play?
A2: The theme of appearances/masks here is seen through Tartuffe when he shows himself as a poor but devout Christian to Orgon, but behind his back flirts with his wife and indulges in gluttony, making Tartuffe the one in the mask with the intention of securing Orgon’s assets. The issues of appearances vs. reality connect with central concerns of the play because Orgon doesn’t want to believe Tartuffe is really who his family says he is, but only decides to believe them once he had already signed the house over and was insulted for his gullibility.
1. Describe one aspect of the play that seems very modern to you and one that seems very dated or old-fashioned.
– One of the most common issues that people encounter nowadays is the questioning of authority. In a way, the grandchildren and maids don’t just listen to their elders because they are old, they also don’t agree with them. The grandmother is shocked by this because, in a time when elders are regarded as the most important individuals in society, she grew up with the belief that they should be respected.
2. Describe the character of Orgon. Why do you think he’s so vulnerable to Tartuffe?
– Orgon was not only skilled, but also perceptive. As Tartuffe was the “holy” guy Orgon worshipped the most, he was the one who appeared to worry less on his mom, kids, brother, etc . He wants to maximize his chances of entering paradise, which is why I believe he is so susceptible to Tartuffe.
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? What might Moliere be saying about “class” in this play?
The role of Dorine in the play seems to be that of a maid who cares deeply about the family and wants the best for them. She is a motherly figure to Mariane and also her best friend, she stands up for her and encourages her to fight for her own happiness. She also isn’t afraid to stand up not only for herself but also for the family, especially Mariane since she clearly wants her to be happy, and speak her mind as it is in order to get her point across.
Describe the character of Orgon. Why do you think he’s so vulnerable to Tartuffe?
Orgon feels ashamed of the fact that he could make his family “perfect”, so he was willing to give up his job as the head of his household to a complete stranger based on faith and beliefs. So in my opinion he is a coward who does not want the responsibility of making the right choices for his family, which is why he was vulnerable enough to be completely scammed by Tartuffe because Tartuffe seemed to be everything he wasn’t.
Discuss the theme of appearances or masks in Tartuffe? Who wears a mask? For what purpose? How does the issue of appearances vs. reality connect with the central concerns of the play?
The theme of appearances and mask appears in the play through Tartuffe. He makes himself out to seem as a righteous person and is even loved by Orgons mother in the beginning. Orgon himself grows to admire Tartuffe and sees him as trustworthy. However, this was all a facade by Tartuffe to gain Orgons trust. The reality is that Tartuffe wants Orgons wife and his land. Appearance and reality can be very different to someone if they are misled and that is exactly what Tartuffe wanted to do to Orgon. Fortunately Orgon has caring people around him who prevented Tartuffe from succeeding and exposed him for who he really is.
Describe one aspect of the play that seems very modern to you and one that seems very dated or old-fashioned.
It surprised me to see a more just justice system in this play, something that we all know the world lacked and still lacks today. Another surprising “modern” thing to see was the concept of wills and how they had organization to determine who owns the land. An old fashion aspect was their way of marriage. Orgon still needed to bless his daughters lover and also was able to essentially choose who she marries.