...Moliere: Tartuffe, Comedy in Five Acts (Originally published 1669), Translated into English Verse by Richard Wilbur (1963) Harcourt Press In Tartuffe, Moliere introduces us to Orgon. Orgon, a wealthy family man, befriends a stranger (Tartuffe) who outwardly appears to be a devout Christian; however the reader soon learns that he is a fraud – an imposter. Orgon trusts him implicitly and places him on a pedestal, putting his needs above those of his own family (who quickly see through the transparent behaviors of Tartuffe.). Orgon is warned by many characters that Tartuffe is lying and manipulating him in an effort to get ahead financially and socially. Orgon turns a blind eye to these warnings, but eventually learns about the betrayal when he eavesdrops on Tartuffe trying to seduce his wife. Unfortunately his plan to evict Tartuffe backfires when Tartuffe reveals secrets that Orgon told him in confidence. However, in the end, Tartuffe’s dishonesty is revealed, he is arrested and Orgon’s home life returns to normal. The main theme of Tartuffe is religious hypocrisy, and the character of Tartuffe most exemplifies this trait. He repeatedly claims to be a true Christian when he actually is a fraud. He purports to be morally superior to others, when in fact he acts immorally (by trying to seduce Orgon’s wife, for example). Orgon’s brother-in-law Cleante is the moral opposite of Tartuffe and tries to be the voice of reason throughout the play. Simply, he feels that...
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...works of writing including Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler and Moliere’s Tartuffe. In Moliere’s Tartuffe, Tartuffe in society is highly thought of because of his religious practices. He projects himself as a man of God, but, is actually a man of religious hypocrisy. Tartuffe’s claim as a religious man is the social mask that Moliere attributes to him in the play. Tartuffe has a very adjacent relationship with a man named Orgon. Orgon is the head of the household for his family including a wife, daughter, and son. Orgon is the only one in the household that has been fooled by the social mask that Tartuffe presents. He is extremely fond of Tartuffe and they build a relationship so strong that he offers his daughter’s hand in marriage to him. At the discovery of the news Orgon’s son Damis becomes very determined to expose Tartuffe for his true hypocrisy. Damis hides in a closet listening to a conversation occurring between Tartuffe and Orgon’s wife Elmire. Tartuffe in the scene removes his social mask and presents himself for who he really his. He begins to confess his love for Elmire and attempts to seduce her. Damis then removes himself from the closest and confronts the conversation. He claims that he is going to expose Tartuffe to his father about his true character. “Ah, now I have the long-awaited chance to punish his deceit and arrogance, and give my father clear and shocking proof of the black character of his dear Tartuffe” (Moliere 133). Orgon enters the room and Damis tells his father...
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...from other productions of Tartuffe. These pictures represented the different costumes, set designs, furniture and decorations that have been used over time. I thought that these would be important for my team members in order for them to have a visual idea of what has been done before, so that we know how to proceed in our own production. It also important to note that since we had changed our production to being set in the 18th Century France, I tried to limit the furniture and decoration examples to what was popular in that time period. Attached are the pictures that I sent out to my team at the beginning in order for them to know how to precede in their own research. In addition to this, I also did a historical research on Tartuffe. On this, I focused on what was happening in France at the time and how the Tartuffe was received. Some of the main things I found out were: * Contrary to what one might think on first reading the play, Moliere did not write Tartuffe in an attempt to highlight any hypocrisy that was going on in the Church at that time. In fact, he was completely surprised with the negative criticism that the Catholic Church had to Tartuffe because he had not intended to target the Church. * Unlike the current 5-Act play that it is, the first play was a 3-Act play that was first produced in 1664. It was performed in front of the King who approved of the play even though he was able to discern that the play was about hypocrisy. However, King Louis XIV later...
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...sarcasm, showing praise but meaning the contrary to demonstrate irony, and asking questions rhetorically. Additionally, the author might understate an issue in order to maneuver the audience towards the true importance of the topic, adversely; exaggeration is used to lower the impact of an issue to its lesser value. Collectively, these techniques are exercised to bring out the human follies and vices in society. In Molière’s Tartuffe and Jonathan Swift’s essay A Modest Proposal, that both obliquely criticize and burlesque human behavior and the perception we have towards others. Through a satirist delivery, these authors offer an insight past the seemingly obvious, and aim to improve this faulty custom of one sidedness rather than eliminating it. Although these pair of literary pieces illustrates satire, it is Molière’s play Tartuffe that generates a more effective delivery. First of all, this prevailing method is most effective due to its meticulous use of comedic language, as it better captures the attention of its readers. Second, Religious hypocrisy was demonstrated through satirist techniques, as a person's good character is made questionable as the play develops into a twisted irony. Finally, if it...
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...Appearance vs. Reality Moliere’s Tartuffe is a play whose message is of religious hypocrisy however; it also deals with disguise and appearance versus reality. Within this play, Moliere created a character, Tartuffe, who claims to be a man of the cloth. In reality, he is a con man. Tartuffe hides behind his so-called piety and uses this mask to conceal what he truly desires; money and power. Moliere makes Tartuffe transparent enough so that the audience (and the rest of the cast) can easily see through his shenanigans. Nevertheless, the protagonist, Orgon, cannot see through the false appearance. One source that I read suggested that Orgon’s blind obedience to Tartuffe is the true moral of the play. He observes that “dupe and deceiver—and which is which?—are seen to be partners in the same enterprise” (as cited in Men and Masks, 1963). It is his opinion that Orgon basically didn’t care if Tartuffe was truly religious, Orgon just liked to revel in the obsequious attention given to him by Tartuffe (Mills, 2011). Moliere toys with us while expounding on this theme of appearance and disguise. At one point in the play, Orgon angrily disinherits his son, Damis because Damis voices his disgust of Tartuffe. Tartuffe makes the pretense of speaking up for Damis by saying to Orgon, “Believe his story; the boy deserves your trust. Why, after all, should you have faith in me? How can you know what I might do, or be? Is it on my good actions that you base your favor? Do you trust...
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...capacity to understand the world around him without blindly following religion. Instead, people were encouraged to apply rational thoughts to understand nature and guide their human existence. Authors used their unique styles to criticize religion by identifying the pious man as a hypocrite. These different styles working toward similar goals can be seen in the very different expressions of the theme of religion versus rationality in Jean-Baptiste Molière’s Tartuffe and Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Man. Jean-Baptiste Molière, generally considered the greatest French comic playwright of all time, was born into wealth, his family being that of the noble court of Louis XIV. Due to his regal upbringing, Molière was afforded access to the best education of his day, studying under the Jesuits at the College of Claremont. Rather than accepting a position in the court of Louis XIV, Molière chose to pursue a life in the theater instead. A great satirist, Molière’s writing often criticized powerful members of society without fear. Tartuffe, often referred to as his greatest work, was first performed before a court including Louis XIV in 1664 to much controversy. While the king enjoyed the play, the clergymeln objected to what they just witnessed as a...
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...The Man Behind the Mask Moliere’s incredible play Tartuffe, examines the differences between a character’s true face and the mask that they hide behind. Most apparent in this play is the mask of Tartuffe himself, who is seen as a holy, religious man in one scene, and in the next as a perverted hypocrite. Although Tartuffe’s mask is probably the easiest to spot among the characters, there is another character that wears quite a mask himself. Orgon, who is the naïve son, husband, father, and brother, wears such a mask that he himself can probably not even see through it. However, his family can see through the mask, whether they know his true intentions or not, I don’t know. I believe that there are several reasons, or options, if you will, that might explain why exactly Orgon wears this horrible mask and falls for the hypocrisies of Tartuffe. Whatever the reason though, his masked character certainly caused a fair amount of disruption and strife for everyone, including himself. Orgon, being the generous man he was, invited an incredibly unholy man by the name of Tartuffe into his home, offering him shelter, food, his daughter, and even his estate. Why though, would such a practical man as Orgon be so blinded by the true nature of Tartuffe? First, I believe that Orgon, who was of good standing, could have sought to improve his social status, by taking in Tartuffe, a holy faker, who, “By the deep fervor of his heartfelt prayer,” would “draw the eyes of everybody,” at the church...
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...Tartuffe, a man who was a vagrant- is a cunning opportunist who postured himself as a man of grandiose piety- imbued with the ability to speak with God , in order to earn Orgon’s trust – the ultimate goal of climbing out the cliffs of poverty. Orgon is a rather complex character, having always tended to his servitude of the king and other significant matters in a rational demeanor- which raises the question of how an intelligent and well respected man such as Orgon deteriorated into a vacuous puppet of Tartuffes manipulation. Almost to the point of being too obvious, it is dubious that Orgon was attached to Tartuffe simply in hopes of obtaining some sort of spiritual nourishment, but rather was a way for Molliere to epitomize the almost absurd amount of control that religious hypocrisy (hypocrites) can have over even the most rational and respected men. During the time that the controversial and banned theatrical comedy (threats of excommunication were made clear to those who attempted to watch the...
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...Literature has long been used to provide a glimpse into history as writers memorialize their view of the world and their surroundings. Often littered with satires, comedy or factual narratives - authors showcase their personal opinions on critical issues within their societies. Voltaire and Moliere’s works on social and religious issues are prime examples of this. With unquestionable tenacity, both authors used their writing to question religious authority and denounce religious hypocrisy at a time in which social power and order was grounded in “sacred” doctrines that determined people’s way of life - both in public and in private. Being cautious to maintain their art a form of entertainment, both Voltaire and Moliere resorted to the use...
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...Thuyen Vo Prof. Bruce Brogdon ENGL 2333 25th, February 15 The Enlightenment in Moliere’s Tartuffe Moliere’s Tartuffe is from 17th century, and profoundly influenced by the Enlightenment or the Age of Reason. Throughout the play, the readers will get a glimpse into the meaning of the play, and more than that, is what Moliere stands for. We easily recognize which characters are the voices of reason or their existences are evidences of the Enlightenment. While Orgon is quiet the opposite of reason, Cleante and Dorine are claim to be the strongest voices of reasons, however, there is one more character that roles an important knot of the play is Elmire. Through Cleante and Elmire, readers see the true ideas and beliefs of the Enlightenment. Orgon is extremely emotional throughout the play; otherwise, Cleante represents the reason so he always keeps his emotions in check. He is the most patient person when he tries to enlighten Orgon. In Act I scene 5, Cleante accuses his brother-in-law of being unable to realize the difference “between true piety and hypocrisy”(46). He also points out his brother-in-law’s love for Tartuffe is nonsense and attempts to explain to him about the true Nature, in which he states, people who “reckless pursues his inclination” are “perverts a lofty aim or noble cause”(46). Regardless how sense he talks to Orgon, his voice is reason just goes unheard. Tartuffe’s main theme is value of moderation and the reason in all things. Cleante is called the...
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...Eng2850 Review sheet Term: Satire: religion hypocrisy, the literary tart of using mockery irony and comedy to ridicule and point out human follies and vices with the hope that will be corrected. The Enlightenment: An intellectual movement develop in Western Europe during the 17 century that emphasis the use of human reason to solve problem and free humanity from superstition and ignorance. Irony: An expression to convey the opposite of meaning. Hegemony: the tyranny of nation or institution over another. Feminist: a doctrine that favor more right for woman in their economic, social, political and private lives. Patriarchy: a form of social organization in which the male in dominate. Sonnet: A poem fourteen lines of iambic pentameter with a definite rhyme scheme. Theodicy: the vindication of all justice and holiness of god to have create a world in which evil exist. Pseudonym: false name use by author. Mulatto: A person mix white and African American descent. Black verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter. Figure of speech: use of non-literal language. Symbols: Stand for something other than the literal meaning. Apostrophe: figure of speech, to address an object or a person as if it were present and could response. Personification: to assign human quality to non-human thing. Oxymoron: two words or phrases of opposite meaning are used together. Metonymy: a word or phrase stands not for itself but something closely related. Synecdoche: A part is used for the whole and vice...
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...Th e T yranny of Gui lt • Pa s c a l B ru c k n e r Translated from the French by s t ev e n r e n da l l The tyranny of Guilt An Essay on Western Masochism • P r i n c e t o n u n i v e r si t y P r e s s Princeton and Oxford english translation copyright © 2010 by Princeton university Press First published as La tyrannie de la pénitence: essai sur le masochisme occidental by Pascal Bruckner, copyright © 2006 by Grasset & Fasquelle Published by Princeton university Press, 41 William street, Princeton, new Jersey 08540 in the united kingdom: Princeton university Press, 6 oxford street, Woodstock, oxfordshire OX20 1TW press.princeton.edu all rights reserved library of congress cataloging-in-Publication data Bruckner, Pascal. [tyrannie de la pénitence. english] The tyranny of guilt: an essay on Western masochism / Pascal Bruckner; translated from the French by steven rendall. p. cm. includes index. isBn 978-0-691-14376-7 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. civilization, Western— 20th century. 2. civilization, Western—21st century. 3. international relations—Moral and ethical aspects. 4. Western countries—Foreign relations. 5. Western countries—intellectual life. 6. Guilt 7. self-hate (Psychology) 8. World politics. i. title. CB245.B7613 2010 909’.09821--dc22 2009032666 British library cataloging-in-Publication data is available cet ouvrage, publié dans le cadre d’un programme d’aide à la publication, bénéficie du soutien du Ministère des affaires étrangères et du service...
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