Essay Comparing Tartuffe And Candide

During the European period of Enlightenment, Europe was going through a time of intellectual movement that helped ignite the French Revolution. Moliere’s Tartuffe (1669) and Voltaire’s Candide (1759) are two stories both received heavy criticism and censorship because of their ideals against religion. In this time era, it was difficult to write stories and share beliefs that were not in the bible or shared by the king. Both these authors challenged the authorities and questioned the social class system. Tartuffe was a play filled with humorous satire that aimed towards the bourgeois class in France during the 17th century. Moliere aims his story at the hypocrisy of religion. Candide in the 18th century criticized the clergy and social class. …show more content…
He was an imposter who had no morals but “used” religion to trick people into his ways. His actions throughout the play go against common religion stereotypes. In the first scene of the first act of the play, we find that the majority of the characters dislike him and are suspicious. In Act 1, Scene 1, Damis says “Yet I should tolerate this trickster who has become the voice we answer to. And I’m to be as quiet as a mouse about this Tyrant’s power in our house?” (Tartuffe 16) Damis is trying to explain to his mother Madame Pernelle that Tartuffe is dangerous and he is a lying about his …show more content…
He is inconsistent with every character he encounters and misleads them. These scenes produce a comic effect that satirizes the religious hypocrisy in Tartuffe. However, in Moliere’s view Tartuffe is not only a religious hypocrite but also a religious fanatic. Moliere believes that religious fanaticism is unnecessary and fake. Moliere shows his disapproval of religion hypocrisy and fanaticism by using dramatic irony when Orgon praises Tartuffe. Orgon praises to his daughter Dorine that Tartuffe is a great man with religious