Reading Notes: Week 3 / Part A - Moliere

            Jean-Baptiste Moliere’s “Tartuffe” was an interesting and entertaining story to read. Each character seemed to play an important role in the development of the story and true colors were constantly becoming noticeable as the story went on. Mariane’s character, at least in the beginning, seems timid and she doesn’t want to disobey her father. The relationship between Mariane and Valere reminds me of Romeo and Juliet, both ready and willing to die for the other, despite what Orgon tries doing (regarding the whole arranged marriage between Mariane and Tartuffe). What baffles me is why Orgon doesn’t want Mariane to be happy being with Valere; instead, Orgon tries arranging a marriage between Mariane and Tartuffe, which makes everyone upset, especially Mariane and Valere. I also thought it ironic that even Dorine was getting upset, even moreso at times than Mariane.

            Another thing I felt baffled about since the beginning of the story is the relationship between Orgon and Tartuffe. Their relationship seems odd and Orgon seems oddly and overly fond of Tartuffe. There were times I thought that perhaps Orgon was in love with Tartuffe, and that maybe they had a secret romance or love affair with each other. And that to misdirect everyone and to keep their secret safe, Orgon plays it off by trying to arrange the marriage between Mariane and Tartuffe. Even in the beginning, “chapter 1.4,” on page 150, when Orgon comes back, he asks how things are and how everyone is, but when Dorine fills him in, all he asks her is, “And Tartuffe?” It’s like he doesn’t care that even his wife is sick, he just asks how Tartuffe is. There doesn’t seem like there’s any sympathy from Orgon about his sick wife.

            I also noticed how the family talks to each other sometimes. It’s a little like, “whoa, where’d that come from? Wasn’t expecting that!” For example, on page 145, Madame Pernelle says, “Behavior such as yours leads straight to hell.” I thought this was funny and very direct. There was a lot of deceitfulness in this story; that between Orgon and Tartuffe and also between Elmire and Tartuffe. Between Orgon and Tartuffe, Tartuffe tries going behind Orgon’s back and tries hitting on Elmire, who tells Tartuffe she is married. Later on, Elmire tries telling Orgon about it but he doesn’t want to believe her. So she has to sort of get his approval and let him know that if he hides, she can be deceitful and get Tartuffe to talk about it, thus bringing out Tartuffe’s real, true self, which is dishonest, disloyal, liar, hypocrite and very deceitful.