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Example research essay topic: Scene 3 Scene 2 - 1,412 words

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Tartuffe, an odious hypocrite posing as a member of the clergy has ingratiated himself with the credulous Orgon and his mother Mme. Pernelle. He is taken into Orgon's home. Both Orgon and his mother believe that Tartuffe's pious example will be good for the other members of the family. But everyone else in the family, including even the outspoken servant Dorine, is perceptive enough to see through the impostor. Despite the protestations of his sensible brother-in-law Cleante and his son Damis, Orgon determines that his daughter Mariane, who is in love with a young man named Valere, shall marry Tartuffe.

When Orgon's wife Elmire seeks out Tartuffe to beg him to refuse Mariane's hand, he attempts to seduce her. Damis, who has overheard, denounces the impostor, but Orgon reacts by banishing his son rather than his guest and by signing over his entire property to Tartuffe. Realizing the futility of reasoning with either Tartuffe or her husband, Elmire devises a way to expose the hypocrite to Orgon. She persuades Orgon to conceal himself under a table while she seduces Tartuffe, and thus witnesses the impostor's advances to her. Orgon's eyes are opened a little too late, for he has already assigned all he owns to Tartuffe.

When Tartuffe realizes his hypocrisy has been discovered, he promptly turns the family out of the house. Then by reporting to the authorities that Orgon possesses a strongbox containing the papers of an exiled friend, Tartuffe contrives to have his former host arrested. But by order of the King, the arresting officer apprehends Tartuffe instead, and the impostor is hauled off to prison for his treacherous behavior toward his well-meaning if too credulous host. The play ends as Damis is reconciled with his father and the wedding of Mariane and Valere is announced.

A hilarious study in evil, this comedy is about an emotionally fractured family being tested further by the ambition of an insidious and calculating house guest. This farce -- heeding the marvelous idiosyncrasies of French manners of the time -- gallops towards its climax leaving an exhausting trail of laughter in its wake. This play illustrates in a comic manner the neoclassical lesson of a man getting into trouble by failing to live by the neoclassical precept of moderation. It is an excellent example of using comedy to laugh people out of their foibles.

In this play it is possible to place most of the characters into two categories: those who embody the neoclassical ideals and those who violate the ideals. Think about how you would label each of the following: Madame Pernelle, Orgon, Elmire, Damis, Mariane, Cleante, Dorine. In scene 1, what is bothering Madame Pernelle? What do we learn about Tartuffe's background in this scene? What is Dorine's analysis of the source of rumors about the family? (lines 103 - 140) What shrewd insight into human nature does she state? In scene 2, Dorine speaks of Orgon's activities in the recent political unrest (lines 9 - 13).

How do these later facts figure into the resolution of the plot? From scene 3, what complicated relationship do we discern among Damis, Mariane, Valere, and Valere's sister? Orgon first appears in scene 4. What is humorous about the questions he puts to Dorine? Cite some examples of sarcasm. In scene 5 how is Racine able to make us see the hypocrisy of Tartuffe while Orgon, our source of information, cannot see it?

In scene 2, look carefully at the various methods Dorine uses to convince Orgon to change his mind about forcing the marriage of Mariane and Tartuffe. In this scene, what excuse does Orgon give for breaking his promise to Valere? In scene 3, what excuse does Mariane give for accepting her father's plan for the marriage? Is Moliere saying something about virtue and moderation? In scene 4, what is the cause of the spat between the lovers? What point is Moliere making here?

What is Dorine's plan at this point in the play? What do we learn about the character of Damis as scene 1 opens? As tartuffe first appears on stage in scene 2, he is speaking of a "hair-shirt" and a "scourge. " What is the significance of these statements? In scene 3, as Tartuffe attempts to seduce Elmire, what arguments does he make to justify his actions toward her? What point is Racine making in having Damis leap from his hiding place, in scene 4, and accuse Tartuffe? In scene 6, Tartuffe confesses, yet Orgon does not believe him guilty.

How is Tartuffe able to accomplish this? Orgon's rash actions in scene 7 can be labeled as comic and tragic. Which is which? Scene 1 shows Tartuffe perhaps at his cleverest. Look carefully at his justification for refusing to mend his quarrel with Damis and for accepting the wealth of Orgon.

In scene 3 what explanation does Orgon give for his failure to believe his own wife when Tartuffe was accused of trying to seduce her. Scene 5, with Orgon under the table and Tartuffe making his advances toward Elmire is the paramount comic scene in this play. What are the elements of humor here? In scene 7, Orgon confronts Tartuffe, saying, "I've long suspected you, and had a feeling/That soon I'd catch you at your double-dealing. " Why is this statement funny? How did Tartuffe convince Orgon to hand over the strong box containing the incriminating papers? What is Orgon's opinion of "pious men" now that he knows Tartuffe's true nature?

What point is Moliere making in this transformation of Orgon? In scene 2, what plan does Damis have for taking care of Tartuffe? What is Cleante's response? In scene 3, Madame Pernelle still believes in Tartuffe. Pick out the most humorous statement in this scene. What finally convinces Madame Pernelle of Tartuffe's villainy?

In scene 6, Orgon is offered the opportunity to escape. There must surely be deep humiliation for him in the escape plan. What is it? On what charge is Orgon to be arrested? In scene 7, as Tartuffe arrives with the Officer, what reason does Tartuffe give for turning Orgon in? In Moliere's comedy, Tartuffe, the central target of his ridicule is Orgon.

Orgon is Moliere's representation of how a man can be so blind in his devotion to a belief that he cannot make accurate judgment as to the sincerity of others who would use that belief to deceive him. This play fits into the concept of comedy because all of the elements of comedy are present. It happens that the title character is the villain rather than the hero and some of the elements are skewed. In Tartuffe, we have the classic comic scenario of two lovers, Valere and Marianne, trying to get together but being thwarted. However, instead of the villain, Tartuffe thwarting them, it is Orgon who gets in the way. Orgon tries to flatter Tartuffe by offering Marianne to be his wife.

The other comic elements such as the unmasking of the villain and the happy ending are also present in Tartuffe. It is in the duality of Orgon, the believing subject, and Tartuffe, the manipulating hypocrite (or impostor), that Moliere takes his digs at the extremes of enthusiastic belief. Tartuffe plays the role of a man whose greedy actions are cloaked by a mask of overwhelming piety, modesty and religious fervor. Orgon is the head of a household who has taken Tartuffe in.

We laugh at Orgon because everyone else (except his mother) knows that Tartuffe is a fake. All of Orgon's relatives warn him of Tartuffe's gluttony and of the false nature of his pious proclamations. When Dorine tries to tell Orgon about Elmire's illness, all Orgon can say is, "Ah. And Tartuffe?" When she tells him of Tartuffe's unconcern and zealous consumption in spite of Elmire's condition, he says, "Poor fellow!" Poor Orgon is so caught up in his own idealistic belief in Tartuffe's saintliness that the reality of Tartuffe's actions goes right over his head. When Damis tells Orgon that he has overheard Tartuffe's advances towards Elmire, Orgon is so outraged that he disinherits Damis and banishes him from the house.

In his obsession, Orgon is mentally deaf and blind. Only when he hides under the table and hears Tartuffe's advances toward Elmire, does reality finally confront Orgon's idealism and Tartuffe is unmasked. Moliere was a moderate and against excess and obsession in all things. In Tartuffe, he has used Orgon as an e...


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