Describe the character of Orgon. Why do you think he’s so vulnerable to Tartuffe?
In Tartuffe, Orgon is heavily devoted to religion and is more concerned for it than his own family. Because of his devotion, he allowed Tartuffe, a sinner who contradicts what the Catholic church praises, to create conflict inside the household. Furthermore, Orgon was so blinded by his “services” to the family that he dismissed what everyone else in his family claimed about Tartuffe being a hypocrite. This belief in Tartuffe being superior to everyone else due to his status is Orgon’s weakness and why he was so easily deceived throughout the story. Another reason for Orgon’s vulnerability could be his selfishness and that he thought supporting a religious figure could make him a suitable candidate for heaven despite being unaware of him being a major hypocrite. In the end, Orgon was the victim of his own personality. He cared so much about his own religious actions that he allowed an imposter to take advantage of him and eventually bring him down by the story’s end.
