Moliere intends to use comedy to communicate the everyday immoral activities that grace various societies today. However, Moliere had to convince the king to allow the play to be published. His petitions to the king were mainly to convince him of the role of comedy in the play. Moliere, through the "Preface to Tartuffe," convinces the king of the good of comedy in his writing. According to Moliere, comedy was meant to point out the vices of men to correct them. The society is filled with various atrocities, and the theatre was a significant tool for fighting them.
Moliere is using the play to point out certain vices that are existing in the society. Hypocrisy, Lies, and Deceit, disrespect on marriage commitments, and foolishness of men, among other things. Indeed, comedy was a way of depicting the vices of men in theatre to stop them. The play points out, through the priest, Tartuffe of the hypocrisy that has filled certain religious men. The dishonesty of Tartuffe is a reflection of what happens in societies. Apart from that, comedy plays a role in depicting foolishness in character, Oregon. Falling for the priest’s lies throughout the time, and refusing to listen to the opinions of other people until when it’s almost too late.
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Tartuffe is a significant character in the play, which is depicted as a charlatan and a hypocrite. Whereas he poses as Oregon’s friend and a man of God, Tartuffe tries to seduce Elmire, Oregon’s wife. Tartuffe says to Elmire that “it can be no ordinary satisfaction, madame, to find myself alone with you. ’Tis an opportunity that I have hitherto petitioned Heaven for in vain” (Moliere, 2000). This was in the expression of his desire for her. Oregon, Elmire’s husband, is seen as a gullible man as he embraces Tartuffe over his family and fails to see the deceit until later.
References
Moliere, J. B. (2000). Tartuffe. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
