In Moliere's play Tartuffe, we can see several examples of Neo-classical drama conventions being employed very effectively by the author. These conventions follow the return of classical ideas, and served as guidelines from literature to theater, as well as everyday life. Listed below are a few examples of these conventions used by Moliere in Tartuffe.
             Reason and logic are of the highest importance in Neo-classical ideals, and Neo-classicals thought that by using these powers they could understand the universe and even understand God, too. Moliere used stock characters to represent the reasonable or rational thinking needed for common sense to prevail. In Tartuffe, the reason comes from Elmire, Cleante, and Damis. These characters either see through Tartuffe, or expose him for the hypocrite that he is.
             Such is the case with Elmire, Orgon's wife,who meets Tartuffe to beg him to refuse a marriage with her daughter-in-law. Tartuffe, believing they are alone, proposes a love affair to the wife of his benefactor. Orgon's son, Damis, steps from a closet where he has been hiding during the interview, just as Orgon enters the room. Damis exposes Tartuffe for the scoundrel he is. Orgon, however, refuses to believe either his son, Damis, or his wife, Elmire. Instead he disinherits his son and drives him from the house. Orgon is the fool, dupe, or unreasonable stock character, which also is a primary characteristic of Neo-classical literature. This is taken to the extreme in the example of Tartuffe
             Reason and logic implies order or pattern, and the Neo-classicals tried to organize society and their own lives in a highly ordered way. This is also reflected in Moliere's play Tartuffe. The order and pattern come from the three unities of action, place, and time. Plot is the action, so it means that the play has only one plot. The play also takes place in one locale.(Paris.) The rules of unity required that the acti...