True identity is often masked by the personality one wants to portray. This is
especially true of Tartuffe, a character in Moliere’s controversial comedy,
Tartuffe(1664). In the five-act play, Moliere uses the characters to convey the idea of
discernment between religion and false piety.
The setting of the play is in Orgon’s house. Orgon is a man who leads a life of
wealth and happiness. His family consist of Elmire, his wife, daughter Mariane, and son
Damis. Also presiding in the house are Madame Pernelle, Organ’s mother, and
Mariane’s witty maid, Dorine. Tartuffe, the antagonist of the play, appears to be a man
of piety on the surface. However, buried underneath this falsehood lies a religious
hypocrite. With the exception of Madame Pernelle and Orgon, all of the characters see
through Tartuffe’s sham.
In Act I Moliere utilizes Dorine to paint a verbal picture of Orgon’s infatuation
with Tartuffe. In line 9 Dorine states ...