Word Count: 969
The Theme of Moliere’s Tartuffe: Reason vs. Passion
Jean-Baptitste Poqueli
n Moliere’s Tartuffe, is undoubtedly a satirical comedy. In Moliere’s description of a satire, he w
as very direct as to the function and objectives of one are. The function is to correct men’s vices
, using satire to ridicule them and expose them to public laughter (Moliere, p.14). Although this sa
tire is making fun of many things in the church and organized religion, which is not the only object
ive Moliere had in mind. Tartuffe has many themes that reoccur through out the play. The time peri
od, in which this play was written, was known as the Age of Reason. One of the main ideas and attit
udes during this time was, reason must always control passion. Due to this attitude, one theme that
constantly appears through the play, is the battle between reason and passion.
In Act II, Scene
4, one of the major conflicts between reason and passion is played out. Valere confronts Mariane w
ith the rumors he has heard about her marrying Tartuffe. Throughout this entire confrontation, they
are letting their passions stop them from getting what they truly want, which is each other. Final
ly, Dorine brings about the reason that is needed in their situation. In lines 69-71, Dorine states
,” If you ask me, both of you are as mad as mad can be. Do stop this nonsense, now. I’ve only let
you squabble so long to see where it would get you.” Their passion is so strong; Valere and Marian
e are blind to what the other is wanting. In this situation, Dorine plays the raisoneur, which is t
he person who tends to be reasonable throughout the play.
Cleante is another character that coul
d be considered a raisoneur during the play. There is numerous times where he interjects reason int
o a situation. “Ought not a Christian to forgive, and ought he not to stifle every vengeful thought
? Should you stand by and watch a father make his only son an exile for you sake? Again I tell you
frankly, be advised: the whole town, high and low, is scandalized; this quarrel must be mended, an
d my advice is not to push matter to a further crisis (4. 1. 9-16).” In this scene, Cleante is tryi
ng to talk reason into Tartuffe’s actions. Orgon has just kicked out his son, and made Tartuffe his
sole heir. Although Orgon has acted out on his passion without considering any reason, Cleante is
attempting to show Tartuffe his wrong doings and his hypocrisy. Up to this point, Tartuffe has been
a very reasonable man. His character was not known for acting out his passions. But Moliere adds
a twist to the story when this exact thing, Tartuffe’s passion, is the sole explanation for his down
fall. Slowly his passion for Elmire and greed infest his way of thinking and leads to his defeat.
He let his passions control his reason.
Again in Act V, Scene 2, Cleante comes to the rescue of
young Damis. “What a display of young hotheadedness! Do learn to moderate your fits of rage. In t
his just kingdom, this enlightened age; one does not settle things by violence (5. 2. 10-13).” Dami
s had just learned that Tartuffe had wronged his father, and was running out to end Tartuffe’s life.
But, Cleante being the reasonable person that he was, had to try to overcome Damis’ passion to c
alm him down. A theme this simple can easily be applied to a situation today. Just think how the s
hooting at Columbine High School might have turned out if the two gun men had someone like Cleante t
o stop and try to get them to think reasonably.
Surprising enough Cleante is also the one to po
int out Orgon’s flaw, which is the fact that he makes his decisions based on passion, not reason. H
e points out that he is in no way rational, but instead is constantly jumping between absurd extreme
s (5.1. 35-38). This very flaw in Orgon could have easily led to the demise of his family. It goes
back to one of the main themes of the neoclassical period, moderation. Things had to be done for t
he good of society as a whole, not for you as an individual. To indulge on yourself, could lead to
the downfall of you, your family, or even society. And this is exactly what Orgon accomplished. He
took his own passions and ran with them, not concerned for the well being of others.
This conflic
t between reason and passion that is continuously portrayed in Moliere’s Tartuffe can easily teach a
lesson to anybody who is ready to listen. If people were only willing to think before they react
, just imaging the difference it could make. We are not all as lucky to have a raisoneur around whe
n we need advice, but we have that inner voice, if we would only listen. Passion can drive people t
o do strange things, but we also need it to survive. What would the world be like if reason was the
only thing that guided our actions? Would there be any love, happiness, or even fear? Moderation
is the key. The question of which is superior, reason or passion, clearly is a hard one to answer.
Maybe we should all take Cleante’s advice and attempt to take the middle course; trying to balance
the fine line between reason and passion.
word c
ount theme moliere tartuffe reason passion jean baptitste poquelin moliere tartuffe undoubtedly sati
rical comedy moliere description satire very direct function objectives function correct vices using
satire ridicule them expose them public laughter although this satire making many things church org
anized religion which only objective mind tartuffe many themes that reoccur through play time period
which this play written known reason main ideas attitudes during this time reason must always contr
ol passion attitude theme that constantly appears through play battle between passion scene major co
nflicts between played valere confronts mariane with rumors heard about marrying throughout entire c
onfrontation they letting their passions stop them from getting what they truly want which each othe
r finally dorine brings about that needed their situation lines dorine states both stop nonsense onl
y squabble long where would their strong valere mariane blind what other wanting situation dorine pl
ays raisoneur person tends reasonable throughout cleante another character could considered raisoneu
r during there numerous times where interjects into situation ought christian forgive ought stifle e
very vengeful thought should stand watch father make only exile sake again tell frankly advised whol
e town high scandalized quarrel must mended advice push matter further crisis scene cleante trying t
alk into actions orgon just kicked made sole heir although orgon acted without considering cleante a
ttempting show wrong doings hypocrisy point been very reasonable character known acting passions add
s twist story when exact thing sole explanation downfall slowly elmire greed infest thinking leads d
efeat passions control again scene comes rescue young damis what display young hotheadedness learn m
oderate your fits rage just kingdom enlightened does settle things violence damis just learned wrong
ed father running life being reasonable person overcome damis calm down theme simple easily applied
today think shooting columbine high school might have turned someone like stop think reasonably surp
rising enough also point orgon flaw fact makes decisions based points rational instead constantly ju
mping between absurd extremes very flaw could have easily demise family goes back main themes neocla
ssical period moderation things done good society whole individual indulge yourself could lead downf
all your family even society exactly accomplished took with concerned well being others conflict con
tinuously portrayed easily teach lesson anybody ready listen people were willing think before they r
eact imaging difference make lucky have raisoneur around when need advice inner voice would listen d
rive people strange also need survive would world like thing guided actions there love happiness eve
n fear moderation question superior clearly hard answer maybe should take advice attempt take middle
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