Did any characters undergo a transformation during Tartuffe? Who? How? Why? In what ways do the characters reveal the theme of the play?
In the play, Orgon underwent a transformation. In the beginning of the play, Orgon believed that Tartuffe was a man of religion and wanted him to marry his daughter, Mariane. Throughout the play, Orgon seemed to take up for Tartuffe because he believe Tartuffe would never do any wrong, since he was a man who was constantly surrounded by religion. Even after Tartuffe confessed his desire for Orgon’s wife Elmire, Orgon still took Tartuffe’s side believing that he would never do such a thing. Elmire was upset that her husband would not believe what Tartuffe had said to her, so she felt as if she must prove that she was telling the truth. After proving that she was telling the truth, Orgon underwent a major transformation; he went from trusting Tartuffe and believing that he was a man who was based upon religion, from feeling deceived and that Tartuffe was an evil person. Orgon then realized that he should have trusted his wife all along because she was telling the truth, but instead he insisted on believing Tartuffe. Orgon realized that he had been betrayed by someone he thought he could trust, so he was enraged. The characters help reveal the theme of the play because it is Tartuffe’s deceitful ways that helped Orgon become who he was at the end of the play. It also helped Orgon to become closer to his family and realize that they are the ones that will tell the truth, rather than be deceitful. Tartuffe’s mischievous behavior also helped Orgon to become more respectful of his wife, who is truthful. Each character and their actions aided in the play being what it is.
The Art of Suspense, Anticipation, and Expectation
I think that Moliere delays the anticipated entrance of Tartuffe for so that the characters in the play can reveal to the audience what they truly think of Tartuffe. This helps to add suspense to the play because the entrance of Tartuffe is something that audience is anticipating and waiting for. Because the entrance was delayed, the audience is more anxious for it to happen; therefore they are more than likely paying more close attention to the play. By the audience paying more close attention to the play, they can get an understanding of who Tartuffe is by the characters before he is introduced; this allows the audience to at least have some understanding of Tartuffe’s true actions and his deceitful ways before he is even introduced to the audience. Tartuffe added a constant suspense for the audience because the audience was constantly wondering whether he was a man of religion or a man of deceitfulness. I believed that Tartuffe was going to be deceitful and mischievous because of how the characters described him, but I did not know that he was going to be so deceitful. Tartuffe really exceeded by beliefs of him being deceitful when he professed his love to Orgon’s wife. Therefore, all the suspense and aticipation that Tartuffe added to the play, helped the audience understand his true deceitfulness. Tartuffe also met the audience’s negative expectations of him through his mischievous actions.
How does the author create suspense in Phaedra? How does Phaedra’s confession add to the play?
The author creates a sense of suspense in Phaedra in the beginning of the play when Phaedra is sick and seems to be wishing to die; this makes the reader wonder why she is so ready to die or what could be burdening her so. It is then revealed that she is hiding a confession that she believes is burdening her because she says that “Alas, my guilty flame has burnt too long” (370). Oenone questions Phaedra, wondering what could possibly be so bad that she just wishes to die. This also adds a sense of suspense to the play because Phaedra insists that she not reveal what is bothering her, she says to Oenone that she’s already said enough and “Spare me the rest. I die, to keep that horror unconfessed” (370). Although Phaedra does not want to speak of her horror, she eventually tells Oenone. By revealing her confession, it significantly adds to the play. Without her revealing her confession, the play would have had a whole different meaning. Her confession is essential to the play’s plot and if it were taken out the play would not be the same, or it would not make much sense. Her confession also makes the play more interesting; it makes it more interesting by adding an unexpected twist to the story. For example, the readers would not have expected what she confessed, that she felt a desire and longing for Hippolytus, who is her stepson. Her confession leads the rest of the play; therefore, if her confession or longing for Hippolytus were not in the play, the play would have been about something completely different.
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