Analysis of Jean-Baptiste Molieres Tartuffe Play - Essay Example

Moliere: Tartuffe Jean-Baptiste Moliere’s Tartuffe is a masterpiece that raises different thematic issues. The play was written during The Enlightenment in the late seventeenth century, a period during which thinkers believed in reason as a dependable guide. The main characters include Tartuffe, Orgon, Elmire, Cleante and Dorine. This paper examines the roles of Cleante and Dorine in moving along the plot. Cleante and Dorine are very important characters in the play in the sense that they represent the voice of reason; however, their wisdom does not allow them to have a direct impact in the unfolding of the plot. Even though they both recognize Tartuffe’s mask from the beginning and speak out against it, the truth will only triumph at the very end of the play. In the play, Cleante represents the enlightenment which means an illumination through the power of the human mind. As Orgon’s brother-in law, he introduces reason in discussions and contributes in the comfort and security of his household. He is a learned and wise man who uses his intellectual resources in his everyday life, especially in his arguments. The editor introduces him in these terms: “Throughout the play, Cleante speaks in the voice of wisdom, counseling moderation, common sense, and self-control, calling attention to folly” (Lawal 10). He is the first in the family to understand Tartuffe’s real motives and tries in vain to convince Orgon that his guest is a villain. Like a philosopher, he exercises reason at any occasion he may have. In his attempt to make Orgon understand he states: “There is just one insight I would dare to claim: / I know that true and false are not the same (Tar. I.5.27). He tries his best to make his brother in-law see the true nature of Tartuffe; however, he fails to convince Orgon. Cleante also engages reason honestly and benignly, but not impulsively. His sense of realism, virtue and morality urges him to denounce Tartuffe’s lack of sincerity. He assimilates him to a religious hypocrite taking advantage of Orgon’s hospitality and lack of vision. His commitment and sense of purpose prompt him to keep on conveying his message of truth and sensitize the family about Tartuffe’s hypocrisy; however, his attempts fail to be effective because neither Orgon nor his mother can envision this possibility. As devout Christians, they cannot engage in the thought that somebody from the church may act as a religious hypocrite. What seems to be naivety to readers reflects simply their religious principles. In this instance, reason faces a very serious challenge which is religious belief. Therefore, despite Cleante’s tremendous efforts to explore reason and even to expand it in the family, his message fails to go through as shown below: “ Cleante understands and can enunciate the principles of proper conduct, but his wisdom has no direct effect on the play’s action” (Lawal 11). Cleante’s failure to convince Orgon does not discourage him as he continues to preach the truth. He speaks out to Tartuffe directly when the latter threatens to leave the house if Orgon’s son still lives in there: “your reasoning is badly warped and stretched / and these excuses, Sir, are most far-fetched” (Tar.IV.1. 49). Cleante challenges Tartuffe’s reasoning and reveals his cunning to the world. He allows the reader to comprehend the real motivation behind Tartuffe’s plan through their conversation. Feeling the relevance of Cleante’s arguments, Tartuffe retreats to his room escaping the debate. Tartuffe’s sudden departure puts an end to Cleante’s reasoning and counts as another failure for the philosopher whose message does not go through once again. Cleante’s voice of reason faces another obstacle which prevents him from saving Orgon and hid family. Dorine, Mariane’s maid, embodies the other voice of reason. Though an outsider, because she is a servant belonging to the working class, Dorine lets her voice be heard whenever necessary. Even though she does not possess Cleante’s intellectual resources, her wits help her accomplish her purpose. She is the total opposite of Mariane, who is passive, obedient and blindly obeys her father. Unhappy at Orgon’s decision to force Mariane to marry Tartuffe, Dorine confronts him in her attempt to save her mistress. She courageously challenges Orgon and foregrounds the danger of such a union. She puts together a reasoning and argument in an attempt to make Orgon understand the inconvenience of this marriage. She even threatens and warns him to change his mind: “And he who gives his daughter to a man she hates / must answer for her sins at Heaven’s gates” (Tar. II.2. 31). Convinced of Orgon’s faith, Dorine uses this strategy to scare him and bring him to reflect on the truth behind the warning. However, even though the statement engages his faith, Orgon keeps his decision because he does not question Tartuffe’s faith. He still believes that Tartuffe is the embodiment of faith. Like Cleante, Dorine’s reasoning does not succeed in impacting the plot. Having failed to convince Orgon to cancel the marriage, Dorine turns to Mariane and adopts a different method in her reasoning. She addresses Mariane sarcastically in order to help her understand the seriousness of her situation and lead her to disobey her father. She states: “No, I ask nothing of you. Clearly you want/to be Madame Tartuffe, and I feel bound / not to oppose a wish so very sound” (Tar. II.3. 33). She pretends that Mariane approves of the marriage and that she is happy for her. However, Mariane’s naivety prevents her from comprehending the sarcasm. Dorine’s use of reason is very strong even though it does not prove to help her mistress escape the marriage. However, her efforts deserve to be recognized despite the fact that she fails to reach her goal. Talking about Elmire and Dorine, Lawal asserts: “Both women have a clear sense of right and wrong, although they express it in less resounding terms than does Cleante. Their concrete insistence on facing what is really going on, cutting through all obfuscation, rescues the men from entanglement in their own abstract formulations” (11). The realization of Mariane’s passivity and the concern about the arranged marriage prompt her to use her reason further. Conscious of their love for each other, Dorine manages to help reconcile Mariane and her fiancé, Valere. This reconciliation covers up Mariane’s weakness and motivates her to believe in her future with Valere while Dorine tries to find a way to postpone the marriage. These attempts to help Mariane and prevent the celebration of an arranged marriage that may put her mistress’ life in danger reveal Dorine’s strong character and her ability to think. However, Dorine’s efforts will not lead to the cancelation of the marriage. The illumination of Dorine’s mind does not generate a direct impact on the decision because Moliere wants to prove the strength of religious fanaticism and hypocrisy. Set during The Enlightenment, Moliere’s Tartuffe demonstrates the limits of reason when faced with religious hypocrisy. As the embodiment of reason and wisdom in the play, both Cleante and Dorine fail to convince Orgon of Tartuffe’s villainy. Orgon’s strong belief in the church prevents him from accepting the existence of religious hypocrites who take advantage of people’s faith and betray them. Even Elmire’s plan made of good reason cannot save Orgon from Tartuffe. Moliere’s portrayal of Tartuffe highlights the nature of religious hypocrisy that completely overpowers the use of reason. Lawall, Sarah, ed. The Norton Anthology of Western Literature. 8th ed. Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 2006. Print. 2 vols. Read More