Analysis Of Gender Roles In Molière’s Tartuffe And Voltaire’s Candide

During the Age of Enlightenment, many philosophers and great thinkers alike dwelled on the absurdity of the social norms of the time and criticized them through their literature and other works of art. Authors like Voltaire and Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Molière were considered to be integral component of the Enlightenment age, who stressed the importance of individuality and rationalism over the traditional, dominating ideology of the Catholic church. The purpose of this movement also behaved as a pursuance for equality between genders and to abolish the social construct that conservative gender roles bestowed upon society. It is in Voltaire’s French satire, Candide and in Molière’s French theatrical comedy, Tartuffe, we see the sardonic notions of gender roles through androgynous characterization that juxtaposes French societies, which were full of misogyny and gender based social ranking. Both Tartuffe and Candide showcase how the female characters are the ones capable of reasoning, contrast to their male counterparts, and demonstrate their innate sense of rationality and cleverness, whilst criticizing the irrational patriarchy that attempts to oppose them. 

In Voltaire’s, Candide, his criticism of traditional gender roles through a satirical manner is demonstrated in the way that Voltaire formulates his characters. Throughout Candide, concepts promoting the idea of gender equality are found within character traits that combat the assumptions of traditional gender roles. This is portrayed through female characters, like Cunegonde and the old woman, who are considered to be the most noble and dignified characters, while male characters such as Candide and Pangloss are represented as morally weak and naive. Voltaire’s attentive characterizations help to shatter gender norms during the seventeen hundreds and is evident when the reader is introduced to the protagonist, Candide, who is presented as being effeminate. Throughout the novel, Candide exhibits qualities that are traditionally associated with femininity. He is seen constantly avoiding confrontation, when confronted by the massacring Bulgars, “Candide fled as fast as he could to another village; it belonged to the Bulgars”; and sobs immensely after learning of a Suriname slave’s tragedies, “he shed bitter tears as he looked at this negro and he was still weeping as he entered Surinam” (Voltaire, pg. 386). 

Conversely, Cunegonde is depicted as outspoken, active and more aggressive compared to Candide and is much more open about her physical attraction to opposite than Candide, even though it is expected to be the opposite. This is evidenced by Cunegonde’s commentary on the complexion of her Jewish lover she met in Portugal, “I confess it, and I won’t deny that he was a handsome fellow” (Voltaire, pg. 366). This is also seen in her lustful thoughts towards Candide when he is flogged at the Spanish auto-da-fe. Cunegonde’s first reaction interestingly wasn’t one of remorse or pity, but of sexual attraction. “I saw you stripped for the lash… by the way, your skin is even whiter and more delicate than that of my Bulgar captain” (Voltaire, pg. 366), she finds herself admiring the fine shape of his now exposed, muscular torso. Assigning heavily gendered character traits to the opposite gender and contrasting these traits acts as motif and the relationship between men and women is turned in its head. Voltaire even further exemplifies sexual role reversal when Cunegonde witnesses Pangloss, a philosopher, and the maid Paquette having sexual intercourse in the bushes and uses Pangloss’ techniques in an attempt to seduce Candide. Which is usually thought to be the opposite way around, as traditional gender norms would uphold during that era. This motif isn’t limited to just Candide and Cunegonde, the old woman that Candide and Cunegonde meet on a ship. The old woman is a character that had suffered a great deal during her lifetime, yet she is still optimistic in her attitudes towards life, as she explains, “to fondle the serpent which devours us till it has eaten out our heart”. 

On the contrary, Voltaire portrays Candide as weak and naïve, a depiction that is maintained by Candide’s relentless reference to the false optimism in Pangloss’ philosophy, “best of all possible worlds”. Even after hearing the old woman’s recollection of her unsettling and horrifying past, Candide claims he may only raise a “few objections” to the idea that we live in the best possible of all worlds (50). This understanding of the hardships of life is a lesson shared by many philosophers and Voltaire himself and the characterization that Voltaire presents, undermines the fallacy that men are wiser than women. Though throughout the majority of the novel, women function a certain way due to a society concocted based on the framework of their mistreatment and suppression, it is overcome when the old woman suggests to Candide to purchase a farm. The sheer magnitude of the murders, beatings and sexual assaults that female characters have faced in the novel is not Voltaire simply critiquing French society at the time, he is displaying his disgust at the harassment of women in not just France, but in other cultures mentioned in the novel. Voltaire uses the garden as a metaphor for a society that is based off of labor, which acts as an alternative to birthright and assigned gender roles. Candide’s garden acts as an escape from the horrors that women face in the world, such as rape, forced labor and being objectified by men; It is in the garden that Candide coins the famous saying, “We must cultivate our garden” (Voltaire, 413). Gender becomes irrelevant as long as each member of the newfound community does their job, basing value off of productivity, it aids in overcoming gender stereotypes. “Cunegonde was, to tell the truth remarkably ugly; but became an excellent pastry cook, Paquette took up embroidery; the old women did the laundry” (Voltaire, pg. 413). 

Voltaire’s argument for gender equality offers a solution to the problems that arise from assigned gender roles in the form of Candide’s farm, an early rendition of a Marxist-like community where social standing is designated explicitly via productivity. Candide fits in with the overall Enlightenment model of gender equality; though at times, Candide’s scathing satire provides a preeminent example of an early work used to further the ongoing struggle for gender equality. 

Within Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Molière’s Tartuffe an immense portion of his play sardonically points out the concept of religious hypocrisy, and is intended as a satire to illustrate the misuse of religion through the character, Tartuffe. However, through the development of the plays overall story and its character developments, Molière distinguishes a particular social commentary, pointing out the Enlightenment ideals of rationalization and the hierarchical structure of French society during the sixteen hundreds. Molière demonstrates the Enlightenment belief that females are capable of reason, through the female characters who recognize the hypocrite of the play, Tartuffe, demonstrating their innate judge of character. “So you think he’s a sain. That’s what he wants. But he’s a hypocrite and merely flaunts” (Moliere, 1.1, pg. 148). Their perseverance on revealing to the head of the household, Orgon, that he is being tricked by Tartuffe and their attempts to overthrow the irrational patriarchal authority, allows them to succeed where the men of the family failed in unmasking the truth of Tartuffe’s fraud. These events transpire despite the power wielded by Orgon and the social norms of the time where women exist in absolute subordination to their fathers and husbands. The patriarchal position of power held by men in French society during Molière’s time is illustrated by the attempts of Orgon as he exerts his authority over his household and especially his daughter, Mariane. Orgon insists that his daughter ought to marry Tartuffe, saying “that’s so misguided. Have it be the truth, then. It’s decided” (Moliere, 2.1, p. 157). Orgon’s attempt to marry off Mariane to Tartuffe sets the overall conflict of the play and also displays Orgon’s obliviousness towards Tartuffe’s religious hypocrite persona. Even with constant disapproval by the house maid, Dorine, to not force Mariane into marriage Orgon says, “But here’s the thing, child, I will be obeyed, and this marriage, child, will not be delayed” (Moliere, 2.2, p. 161). Due to Orgon’s folly and failure to recognize Tartuffe’s true nature, the patriarchal authority bestowed upon him causes a great deal of conflict towards female characters, like Mariane, and only reinforces his irrational thought process.

Molière’s critique of patriarchy is similar to Voltaire’s in the way that both used the motif of role reversal to establish the idea that men are not superior to women and that women are shown to act with reason and cleverness by undermining the social construct of male authority. Molière shows how the female members of the house are forced to divert Orgon’s poor judgement and to prevent him from following through with his plan to marry off Mariane and having Tartuffe as the successor to the household. This becomes evident through the protests Dorine, the housemaid, makes as she points out to Orgon that Tartuffe isn’t compatible with Mariane, “And who will blame the fate for failure of this marriage made in hell… there would be war with no hope of detente”. Dorine displays her understanding of human nature and the obvious discomfort the rest of the family feels about Tartuffe, enforcing Molière’s depiction that women are capable of reason and are even more so capable in this scenario. From the beginning of the play, Dorine sees through Tartuffe’s facade and always points out to Orgon that, “A holy man’s domain is not on earth. It seems to me a holy man of merit wouldn’t brag of what he might inherit” (Moliere, 2.2, p. 158). Though Mariane’s character is the image of a typical submissive daughter in French society during the 1600’s, others encourage her to subvert Orgon’s authority over her, “Tell him one cannot love at a father’s whim; that you shall marry for yourself, not him” and, again demonstrating the female capacity for reason, pleads with Mariane to “Let’s think. Alright? Didn’t Valere propose the other night? Do you or don’t you love Valere?” (Moliere, 2.3 pg. 161). Molière’s social commentary of gender roles depicted by the patriarchy showcases how women of society are undervalued and the sheer magnitude of arrogance the patriarchy has is demeaning. 

Another strong and privy female role in the play is Orgon’s wife, Elmire, who uses Tartuffe’s inappropriate advances towards her in order to prevent the marriage of Mariane and Tartuffe. Elmire creates the perfect plan against Tartuffe by giving him an ultimatum saying, “I will show definite discretion. And keep my husband in the dark about these sinful feeling for me that you spout… There is a promised marriage, you will learn… the marriage of Valere and Mariane. This marriage you will openly support” (Moliere, 3.4 p.173). This either results in Tartuffe renouncing his marriage to Mariane or he reveals his hypocrisy. Molière demonstrates Elmire’s cleverness and illuminates the power of female intellect, which should’ve resolved the issue until Damis comes out of hiding and ruins it. “Don’t try to dissuade me, I’ll have my revenge. If you forbade me, I’d still do it” (Moliere, 3.4, pg. 174). This fervent hatred and baseless action made by Damis further proves Molière’s point that men act with an illogical mindset. 

The true unmasking of Tartuffe comes into fruition when Elmire uses Tartuffe’s affection for her against him in order to persuade Orgon that, “I’m not a liar, though I’ve been accused. The time is now and I won’t be refused. You’ll be a witness, and we can top our rants” (Molier, 4.3, pg. 182), and orders him to get under the table and listen in on the exchange she has with Tartuffe. As Elmire makes her advances on Tartuffe, she tricks him into believing that, “my husband’s not upset, it would appear” (Moliere, 4.5, p. 183). As the conversation unfolds, Tartuffe finally reveals to the hidden Orgon of his hypocritical ways, all due to Elmire’s capability to manipulate Tartuffe in a cunning fashion that exemplifies that women use more reason and brilliance to resolve conflicts, compared to their male counterparts. Having Orgon finally come to terms with his obliviousness towards Tartuffe’s deceptive ways, the females have succeeded in breaking down the patriarchal structure that had previously oppressed them. 

Although Tartuffe is revealed to be a hypocrite, the conflict is still not resolved; Orgon had already signed away the deed to the house before the women were able to expose Tartuffe “I’ll make you my heir, my only one… A contract’s what we need to write”. This ignorant and arrogant action carried out by Orgon exemplifies the failure of the irrational authority that Orgon possesses, and due to Orgon’s groundless actions, it leads him to his own downfall. If it wasn’t for Orgon’s lack of awareness, the conflict would’ve been resolved at the time Elmire asked Orgon to hide underneath the table. The way in which Molière resolves the conflict is through a deus ex machina in which the king of France notices that Tartuffe was a past criminal and saw through his deceptive ways. This is interesting to point out because of the way that there was a build up to Elmire tricking Tartuffe, is meant to be the climax and would finally end the play, however due to the gender roles assigned at the time, it was so controversial to have a women act as the hero and was most likely changed to the king acting as the savior to ensure that Molière’s own social status wouldn’t be affected due to French societies barriers on gender. 

Through the works written by Voltaire and Jean-Baptiste Poquelin Molière, it is evident that their social commentary on gender roles during the Enlightenment era showcases how female characters are more rational, contrast to their male counterparts. Demonstrating their innate sense of rationality, judge of character and competence, whilst criticizing and subverting the irrational patriarchy that attempts to oppose them. Through the play Tartuffe and the novel Candide, the reader is presented a motif based on gender role reversal. Giving females a more dominating and logical characterization, while giving men a submissive and weak moral to shatter the social barriers during the sixteen and seventeen hundreds, in order to promote the idea of gender equality and to show the absurdity of patriarchal authority in France.