Blog Post #3 - Tartuffe Acts I-III

Moliere’s Tartuffe takes place within Orgon’s house which is located in Paris. When enacted, the scenery on the set never changes because the entirety of the drama exists within one room. The play simply shows the interactions of characters as they interact with one another inside of the house. I think this environment allows for viewers to feel as if they are just observing an average day inside of Orgon’s household.

The naturalness of the setting provides the real actions and emotions of the characters to be portrayed to the audience. It gives off the vibe that no character is acting but that they are real people living their lives in the world of the play.

VALERE
Madam, a piece of news--quite new to me--
Has just come out, and very fine it is.
MARIANE
What piece of news?
VALERE
Your marriage with Tartuffe.
MARIANE
'Tis true my father has this plan in mind.
VALERE
Your father, madam . . .
MARIANE
Yes, he's changed his plans,
And did but now propose it to me.
VALERE
What!
Seriously?
MARIANE
Yes, he was serious,
And openly insisted on the match.
VALERE
And what's your resolution in the matter,
Madam?
MARIANE
I don't know.
VALERE
That's a pretty answer.
You don't know?
MARIANE
No.
VALERE
No?
MARIANE
What do you advise?
VALERE
I? My advice is, marry him, by all means.
MARIANE
That's your advice?
VALERE
Yes.
MARIANE
Do you mean it?
VALERE

Surely.
A splendid choice, and worthy of your acceptance.
MARIANE
Oh, very well, sir! I shall take your counsel.
VALERE
You'll find no trouble taking it, I warrant.
MARIANE
No more than you did giving it, be sure.
VALERE
I gave it, truly, to oblige you, madam.

This scene shows the interaction where Valere bitterly, and sarcastically attacks Mariane for blindly obeying her father instead of following her own desires. I think this scene displays the appropriate amount of their true character. For Mariane, it shows her social unawareness in the way that she is unable to recognize the game that Valere is playing with her. It also displays that she lacks independence because she is willing to marry and accept Tartuffe solely because her father says so. As for Valere, it shows his desire for Mariane through his bitter jealousy.

The scene, or lack thereof, plays an integral role in pulling the true characters out of the actors. The actors are presented in a natural, everyday scene and therefore act in a natural, everyday way. In another setting, the surroundings might produce a more dramatic version of this incident, but because of the very average setting where Moliere wrote this play for, the scene is executed in this way.