Tartuffe Deception Analysis

The Power of Deception and Reason in Tartuffe Tartuffe was written during the enlightenment era, which was around the 17th century by Jean-Baptiste Molière. The Enlightenment era was considered the age of reason. Political and social issues were being questioned. People started to move away from religious views. The enlightenment thinkers believed that each person should think for themselves and not believe everything based on religious beliefs. The citizens started to bring into the light the abuse of the clergy. This is evident in Tartuffe. The power of deception is seen throughout the play. Deception is not always bad. Some characters used the theme of deception and reason to uncover Tartuffe’s mask. The characters Dorine, Elmire, Damis,

Being a maid doesn’t detain her from saying what she thinks. This gets her in trouble most of the time throughout the play, however she is one of the central characters that can see through Tartuffe’s mask. Dorine uses her ability to reason to demonstrate Tartuffe’s hypocrisy. When Orgon and Dorine are discussing Tartuffe’s supposedly holiness she is able to demonstrate how in the wrong Orgon is to believe that. She states, “It seems to me a holy man of merit / Wouldn’t brag of what he might inherit / Even gifts in heaven, he won’t mention. / To live a humble life is his intention. / Yet he wants something back? / That’s just ambition” (2.2.55-59). This makes Orgon really upset. He cannot seem to reason. Dorine also uses deception for good. Ruth Grant states, “Doing the right thing also may require deception, or ethical posturing, or both; some forms of hypocrisy may be perfectly acceptable or even laudable” (p. 2). Dorine uses deception to protect Marianne. When Orgon is telling Marianne that she must marry Orgon, Dorine hides to be able to hear everything they are discussing. According to Liz Brent “One can surmise that Dorine has intentionally hidden herself from view in order to overhear this conversation. Thus, Dorine has employed a means of deception--hiding and eavesdropping--in order to protect the interests of Marianne” (n. pag). Dorine advises Marianne to use deception to buy some time, to avoid having to be

She uses Tartuffe’s lust for her as an advantage. Orgon refuses to believe anyone unless he has physical proof. Elmire uses deception to bring Tartuffe’s downfall and succeeds. Orgon refuses to listen to any of the men, but this time it is woman who uncovers the truth. During this century woman were still considered inferior than men, however Elmire contradicts that. She is able to demonstrate the contrary, that a woman can actual think and be much smarter than a man. She is the one that comes up with the plan to unmask Tartuffe. If it hadn’t been for Elmire, Orgon would have never found out the