Tartuffe - Socioliogical Relevance

Seventeenth century Europe is known, among many other titles, as the Pre-Enlightenment Era. Before the Enlightenment, Europeans followed tradition, faith and supernatural laws, whereas during the Enlightenment, people followed progress, reason and natural laws. Molière’s Tartuffe is a satire, based on religious hypocrisy. During the seventeenth century, the consensus of the general public was that God was the only explanation or cause of any occurrences, but, in opposition, the eighteenth century presented new ideas of providing proof and moving forward, rather than staying constant to the traditional ways that society had strictly followed for centuries passed. Tartuffe was first performed in 1669, at the fêtes, held at Versailles. Almost immediately after the first performance, the play was censored by the complaints of the dévots. King Louis XIV was radically influenced by the dévots, and despite his strong aversion towards suppressing the play, such influence on his every decisions eventually led to his agreement to subdue the continuation of performing Tartuffe.

The play’s main character, Tartuffe, is a religious hypocrite on which the play’s comedy is based. “Yet Heaven is not averse to compromise; there is a science, lately formulated, whereby one’s conscience may be liberated, and any wrongful act you care to mention may be redeemed by purity of intention” (Molière 126). Out of all of the characters in the play, only two have positive opinions on Tartuffe. Madame Pernelle and Orgon and both blinded by Tartuffe’s supposed strong religious values, which leads to Tartuffe taking advantage of Orgon’s hospitality. To satirize religion in the seventeenth century was offensive and caused the majority of society to look down upon Molière.

The impending changes throughout society during the Enlightenment were essentially predicted through Molière’s Tartuffe. Being the main danger of the play, mocking religion, though not entirely controversial, infuriated the non-secular portion of Europe’s population and showed that not every religious man intends to go good onto others. The ever-important message being conveyed is that not all people are alike. Therefore, one shouldn’t judge people based on past experiences. The plot, all together, is unrealistic, but efficiently presents a vital and comprehendible message.