Tartuffe

             Tartuffe's influence on Orgon as pride and radical selfishness, insensitivity, lack of concern for even his own family (opposite of Christian love) Tartuffe as 'evil' aspect of Orgon; house as metaphor for the soul where the devil is invited to dwell
             Tartuffe as the devil, almost supernatural powers of manipulation, ability to seize upon and exploit the weaknesses of others, labor of 'possession' ("This house belongs to me" 346), elusiveness of his character/identity ("He is a man who a man who . . ." 314)
             Cleante as voice of reason and virtue, moderation, forgiveness, reconciliation; Cleante and Tartuffe as opposing sides.
             Flaws in everyone, near-tragedy of self-interest:
             deception, vanity of Elmire, her cooperation with Tartuffe's deception ("I'll tell my husband nothing of what's occurred" 333), active participation in deception ("I'm sorry to have treated you so slyly" 346)
             pride and quarreling of Mariane and Valere, love displaced by pride and stubborness (325)
             pride and spying and violence of Damis (also influence of personal interest in Valere's sister)
             impudence and deceptiveness of Dorine ("pretend to yield to him" 328)
             All characters participate in schemes of deception similar to Tartuffe's own scheming, series of attempts to catch the deceiver by deception, problem of means and ends, "We serve a Prince to whom all sham is hateful" (355); envy of Tartuffe's position as the favorite and heir of Orgon; all out struggle for power and possessions; ironic truth of Tartuffe's critique of the family member's self-absorbed way of life ("he tells you what you're loath to hear/condemns your sins, points out your moral flaws" 309; "these visits, balls, and parties in which you revel" 310); strongbox as symbol of dark secrets/guilt of the self, power of Tartuffe lies in the possession of the box. Ultimate problem is self-deception, lack of self-knowledge as exemplified in Orgon; characters' relation to Tartuffe'...

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Tartuffe. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 19:14, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/16625.html