Analysis of The Reasons of Orgon’s Trust in Tartuffe in Molière’s Play

Tartuffe is a French play written by the French writer Molière. Moliere was an actor and playwright in France during the 17th century. He was born in Paris in 1622 and got his first perform for theatre when he studied at the College de Clermont. His father was a furniture maker who worked in the royal palace, but Moliere turned down the opportunity to follow in his footsteps. Tartuffe is one of the most popular works in the history of French literature and written in 1664. The play speaks about piety, hypocrisy and naiveté. Tartuffe was able to deceive Orgon and tried to take advantage of Orgon's naiveté. Orgon was willing to marry his daughter Marianne to Tartuffe, although Mariane loves someone else. Despite the Orgon family's attempts to make him see the truth of Tartuffe, he refused to believe that he had fallen under the tragedy of Tartuffe. Until Orgon saw Tartuffe trying to seduce his wife Elmire, when he saw him hiding under the table after that he expelled Tartuffe out of his house. Tartuffe tried to avenge Orgon by assigning false charges to him to get his house. This essay discusses three reasons of Orgon’s trust in Tartuffe more than anyone in his family.

First reason is the claim of piety, Tartuffe could convince Orgon that he is a good man by going to the church and praying deeply and spiritually and that is very clear when Orgon said that 'He used to come to church every day. He humbly knelt nearby, and began to pray. He was painting everyone's eyes there with deep enthusiasm for his heartfelt friendship. He was sighing and crying, sometimes with a voice from the abduction he bent and accepted the earth.' Tartuffe has been able to deceive Orgon through his prayers that he claims to the people, but it seems that Orgon has forgotten that worship does not need to be shown to people. The worship is heard by the Lord alone and the hypocrites are those who want to be seen by people in the streets, temples and churches. But the believers alone do not repent because they speak to God and pray to Him and do not pay attention to others. Orgon sometimes seems like he is not thinking at all because he did not think there was anything suspicious about Tartuffe’s story. He does not think that it’s strange that a man of God is interested in wealth. He saw that he desperately needed help when he said that 'He lost his fortune, he says himself, because he cared about Paradise alone, and so on the neglect of his interests here was below. I mean getting it out of its current straits and to help him recover his property'. The power of pretence at Tartuffe also made Orgon trust him

He would have bragged to divert Orgon's attention from claims that he had tried to seduce his wife. This is an evidence of the masterful mastery of Tartuffe when he said that 'Dear Son, treat me as treacherous infamous, lost, murderer, thief, speaking, because my sins, beyond faith, can bring this shameful sinner to his knees, in a humble, vain effort to appease'. He made a modest balance of unspecified sins and earned the admiration of Orgon. This is an evidence that Tartuffe has a strong false religious power that requires more than the truth to eliminate.

Second reason is the increasing effect of emotion, Orgon’s emotion was the main target of the tempting Tartuffe’s arguments. Where Tartuffe knew that Orgon feel betray by his family, making a supposed girlfriend attack anyone trying to help him. And their logic would only lead to the departure of Orgon more than about them making him think that Tartuffe is the only man he could trust. He was falling more and more under Tartuffe's emotional control.

Third reason is the deception and tricks, Tartuffe is the master of deception and tricks and all the wickedness of evil is hidden in the robe of piety and ethics. Orgon was fond of Tartuffe because of her strong relationship with virtue and believing that Tartuffe cares and pays attention to his wife as part of his appreciation and respect. He chose to trust Tartuffe to be protector on his family because his wife has most of the doubts. Where Orgon explained to a grandson why he was fond of Tartuffe and told him that 'His interest in my wife is reassuring, she is innocent, but very tempting. Tell me who she sees and what to do. He is more gruesome than ever before. It is my honour that he is very concerned'. But on the other hand this part reflects a miniature image of the whole game because it shows the distance between reality and appearance. The audience knowing that Tartuffe is not vigilant with Elmire for her husband, but because he wants to seduce her.

In conclusion, it is clear to anyone know why Orgon trust Tartuffe because Orgon sees Tartuffe as a pure, innocent and trustworthy spirit for many reasons. Such as a claim to piety and he is a good person by going to the church and praying in the strength and claim of faith and cry in front of people and an advantage to go to the church every day and stand in a place visible to everyone to see him worshiping and this shows the strength of demonstration and the beautiful things false. The growing emotional impact of Orgon, making Tartuffe exploiting his passion for seduction and seductive arguments. The skill of imagination and tricks and hide the evil in the gown of good, for example, accuse the wife of Orgon for her temptations and Orgon thinks he does this respect and appreciation for him. So, Tartuffe could make Orgon trust him and see he is a pure man but in reality he is an evil man.

Cited Work:

1. Molière ‘Tartuffe’. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. 144-171. 4th edition, VOL D, New York & London: www.wwnorton.com. [Accessed 12 Feb. 2019].