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Dynamic Characters In Tartuffe

Decent Essays

In Tartuffe Molière uses Alexandrine verse a style of poetic writing that dominated French poetic and play writing for centuries (Gainor 536). Lines with 12 syllables with each syllable containing one vowel or one semi-vowel characterize Alexandrine verse (Nell). Molière used these couplets because they were standard for the time period and formed a rhythmic flow to the line without using the classic iambic pentameter verse. This type of verse is still held in high regard with French poets (Nell). Tartuffe is a farcical satiric comedy of manners defined by the exaggeration of human nature and blissful ending. Generally comedies are characterized by jovial conclusion, obstacles to over come, and amplification of normal behavior. Comedies …show more content…

In his most basic form Tartuffe is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Characters including Dorine and Damis immediately see though his façade, while Orgon and Madame Pernelle take Tartuffe’s actions at face value until they face the deception head on. In the first scene in the play we are presented with two polar opposite impressions of Tartuffe. The holy kind “saint” and the “uncouth street bum.” Madame Pernelle makes her claim of Tartuffe’s goodness by telling Dorine, “He’s a man who should be listened to,” and “His very presents casts the devils out” (Molière 1.1.46, 1.1.160). Dorine quickly challenges this flawless version of Tartuffe by stating, “He’s a disaster” (Molière 1.1.69). In the succeeding acts we receive a much clearer version of Tartuffe and his motives, and it isn’t until Elmire tricks Tartuffe into removing his disguise of goodness that Tartuffe admits to his evil by disclosing, “I’m wicked through and through” (Molière 3.6.2). This plays into the social issues of the time by labeling religious figures as frauds. Throughout the play Molière uses many religious phrases to characterize Tartuffe including “saint”, “holy”, and “hypocrite” (Molière 1.1.73, 1.1.81, 1.1.74). This idea of false religiosity is summed up by Clèante’s simile “Religious passion worn as a facade” (Molière 1.5.128). When Tartuffe was originally …show more content…

Mariane represents the classical ideals that a young woman and daughter should follow, where Dorine challenges the standards for a lower class woman. Dorine’s early interactions with Orgon and Madame Pernelle give us a clear picture of her intentions to defy her place in society. Even through the degrading comments toward her constantly throughout the course of the show Dorine keeps her strength and spunk to combat the “plague” in the house (Molière 2.3.159). Her strength is a direct foil to Mariane’s weakness. When Orgon insists on Mariane’s marriage to Tartuffe, Dorine’s reaction is much stronger than Mariane’s. Mariane quickly succumbs to the idea even though her heart is set on Valère while Dorine confronts Orgon about the situation and calling the idea “prosperous” and “absurd” going as far as voicing to him “your daughter is not meant for this zealot- she’s too innocent” (Molière 2.2.6, 2.2.26-27). While Dorine merely goes along with the charade and says that to be a “proper daughter” she must marry Taruffe, so in order to get out of the marriage she must “kill [her] self” (Molière 2.3.57). This dissimilarity in characterization conveys the changing social structure of that was occurring during the time period that Tartuffe was written. The clash of the classical structure and the emerging middle class is represented perfectly by

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