A Theme Of Hypocrisy In Tartuffe By Molière
Hypocrisy is a character trait, and to some it 's clear Tartuffe is called a hypocrite right from the start. In Molière's Tartuffe, the central character, a man named Orgon, has been completely brainwashed and taken advantage of by the title character, a manipulative and “holy man”. Tartuffe insinuates himself into Orgon's household; he appeals to Orgon's desire to be a good, upstanding, and pious man by appearing to be the same. Tartuffe’s manipulations are not hard to miss and are evident to everyone in the play except to Orgon, even the reader can clearly see his intentions. Throughout the play Tartuffe portrays his religion to manipulate Orgon, because of his manipulations Orgon is blinded by the truth of Tartuffe’s character. Under the circumstances, in an effort to do a favor he jeopardizes his family and himself.
As one reads through the play the reader will realize that almost every character despises Tartuffe, expect Orgon and his mother Madame Pernelle. In Act I, Scene 1, the reader can see that the mother is defending Tartuffe and making it clear that everyone should respect him. Here is an example of the maid Dorine expressing how she feels about the hypocrite Tartuffe “Surely it is a shame and disgrace / To see this man usurp the master's place – / To see this beggar [. . .] behave / As if the house were his / And we his slaves'. Mostly everyone in the household agrees with what the maid has said. It is clear that in the beginning of the play that not everyone is pleased of Tartuffe’s presence as much as Orgon and his mother.
Orgon, an aging man with a domineering mother, grown children, and a younger wife, is seeking a way to preserve control in his household. Tartuffe fulfills his desire and this is where his manipulations begin, as he sees through Orgon’s eyes and takes advantage right away. Although characters in the play warn him about Tartuffe’s actions and intentions. Orgon denies what they say to him and defends him. In a short essay titled “Relationship between Orgon and Tartuffe” B.Early says “Orgon does not want to believe in Tartuffe’s greed, or think that he is being used by him in any way. Orgon defends Tartuffe when saying, “If you could only know him as I do, you would be his true disciple, too, Act I, Scene 5”. Clearly Orgon is obsessed with Tartuffe and will deny any negative thing about him.
Orgon’s brother in -law Cèlante is the only person in the household that is trying to get everyone to view things with calm and reason. As well as everyone else he dislikes Tartuffe and believes he is using Orgon to get what he wants and is trying to get Orgon to open his eyes and see the truth. In the play Cleante has a short conversation with Orgon and tells him, “He’s a fraud, this man whom you adore”. Orgon responds by defending Tartuffe and telling Cleante that he is lying and that if he only knew him as he did. He also tells him that he should be more like him and follow his steps, which ironically is not the write thing.
The ruler, through his official, gives the last exercise to Orgon. Fraud's plots and Orgon's reaction to them have carried the entire family to the edge of a metaphorical precipice. Orgon himself is prepared to bounce by running, similarly as his companion has done, and his family is there to help him. In any case, the official's appearance with the dandified Tartuffe is just a trick. Truth be told, the lord, clears Orgon of all bad behavior and returns his property. The ruler's activities fill in for instance of how a genuine dad should think about his kids. The outcome is that Orgon is taken back to himself, no longer under the spell of a strict conman, yet came back to the sensible man he had been before Tartuffe's impact.
