Act
Two: Scene 1
Orgon:
Mariane
Mariane:
Yes, Father!
Orgon:
A word with you; come here.
Mariane:
What are you looking for?
Orgon:
(peering into small closet)
Eavesdroppers,
dear.
I’m
making sure we shan’t be overheard. Someone in there could catch our every
word.
Ah,
good, we’re safe. Now, Mariane, my child,
You’re
a sweet girl who’s tractable and mild,
Whom
I hold dear, and think most highly of.
Mariane:
I’m deeply grateful, Father, for your love.
Orgon:
That’s well said, Daughter; and you can repay me
If,
in all things, you’ll cheerfully obey me.
This is the moment where Orgon has
just arrived back to his home and is telling Mariane of his plans to go back on
his word that she may marry Valere. It is not explicitly stated thus far
whether they live in a castle or magnificent home. The play simply opens with
it saying that it in Orgon’s house in Paris throughout. However, he calls
Mariane to him and peers into a small closet. Therefore, one can assume they
are either in a private bedroom or in a central way for passerby in the house.
I’m going to assume that he calls her into a private room because he is trying
to avoid anyone overhearing their conversation. Initially, this makes me wonder
why they must go into private, as opposed to making his servants leave the
room. It is Orgon’s home, yet he must go into private in order to discuss a
private matter with his daughter. Additionally, why must it be a secret of his
new decision? He is going back on his word, and instead of being confident in
his decision and making it outright refusing anyone’s input, he does it in
private. Then, Dorine easily intrudes and begins disputing his decision. These
are all atypical actions for the head-of-household.
The scene where Tartuffe and Elmire have
an interaction seems to be set up the same way, which makes me feel as though
these scenes are meant to stand out. In the interaction between Tartuffe and
Elmire, Dorine tells Damis to not hide in the closet, which he disobeys. This
is another instance for Dorine where she is stepping out of her place as
Mariane’s lady’s-maid. Dorine has an entire scene where she is arguing with
Orgon, and continuously stepping out of place. During the first three acts
Dorine seems to be the character who contributes the most to the story. She
says what is on her mind, steps out of place by telling her ruler that he is
foolish, and is the master mind of revealing Tartuffe’s true character. Both of
the scenes are attempted to be held in private and involve Tartuffe, just as
his mischievous actions are meant to be kept in secret.
After reading the first three acts, I
think that the point of the play is that the leader always has ultimate rule,
but this does not mean that their decisions are just. Prior to the play, the
introduction talks about the legitimacy of absolute power and the self-delusion
of some authority figures. This can be seen in Orgon’s character because
despite all of the objections from his family and servants he makes the
decision of who Mariane will marry. However, it is those beneath him who
actually have the most knowledge of the situation and in the end showing Orgon
the downfalls of his decisions.
I think this point also fits with the
broad setting of the play because it is set in Paris and written in the 1660s,
being initially banned at first by the Parisian clergy. This outside
information ties in further with the power struggle in the play.
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