Mrs. David Simmons, a woman of the 1600s, once quoted, “Let your dress, your conversation and the whole business of your life be to please your husband and make him happy” (Nabi). Women were considered property of men until the 20th century. They were used mainly for sex to please men or beget children to continue a legacy (Nabi). They never could give their opinions, were forced to believe men were correct, and had to act polite and obedient to men because male dominance was the normality in the 1600s. In Tartuffe, some women are aberrant to the role they are supposed to play during the time of this play, the 1600s. For example, Dorine is a sassy maid who is not afraid to speak her mind by interrupting Orgon, her master, and standing up for
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When sharing her opinion about Tartuffe, Dorine says in Act 1 Scene 1, “You see him as a saint. I’m far less awed;/ In fact, I see right through him. He’s a fraud.” “Saint” has a very positive connotation that recognizes an elevated status or something greater and purer than a human. “Fraud” has a very negative connotation of a wrongful, terrible human, and directly contrasts “saint.” In addition, Dorine claims she can “see right through” Tartuffe. This phrase describes Orgon as transparent. She directly implies to Orgon that she knows Tartuffe better than Orgon does. Dorine’s word choice shows she is not afraid to be blunt and speak her mind about the fact that she an opinion about Tartuffe that Orgon disagrees with Orgon about Tartuffe’s characteristics. In Act 2, Scene 1, Orgon asks Mariane what she thinks of Tartuffe. Mariane responds with “Oh, dear. I’ll say whatever you wish me to.” “Whatever” is such a broad word and indicates she will say anything to please him. “Wish” indicates wanting to please him because he has dominance over her and that she has an obedient personality. In Act 2, Scene 2, Dorine claims Elmire will “make him a cuckold, just wait and see.” Orgon responds with “What language!” “Cuckold” has the strong connotative meaning of cheating and betrayal. A word as harsh as that is very offensive to a man and addresses …show more content…
Dorine is a direct contrast to the normal women’s role because of her interrupting stage directions, vulgar language, and declarative responses. Orgon has control over Mariane, his own daughter, but cannot be demanding to Dorine, his own maid, which supports the fact that he is foolish, since all men were supposed to be controlling and dominant over all women. The reason Moliere chooses to characterize these two female characters direct foils of each other is to show how Orgon acts around both types of female personalities. The contrasting responses Orgon gives show he is foolish for treating his maid with some respect, which is abnormal, versus treating his daughter with no respect, which is very normal for the
When sharing her opinion about Tartuffe, Dorine says in Act 1 Scene 1, “You see him as a saint. I’m far less awed;/ In fact, I see right through him. He’s a fraud.” “Saint” has a very positive connotation that recognizes an elevated status or something greater and purer than a human. “Fraud” has a very negative connotation of a wrongful, terrible human, and directly contrasts “saint.” In addition, Dorine claims she can “see right through” Tartuffe. This phrase describes Orgon as transparent. She directly implies to Orgon that she knows Tartuffe better than Orgon does. Dorine’s word choice shows she is not afraid to be blunt and speak her mind about the fact that she an opinion about Tartuffe that Orgon disagrees with Orgon about Tartuffe’s characteristics. In Act 2, Scene 1, Orgon asks Mariane what she thinks of Tartuffe. Mariane responds with “Oh, dear. I’ll say whatever you wish me to.” “Whatever” is such a broad word and indicates she will say anything to please him. “Wish” indicates wanting to please him because he has dominance over her and that she has an obedient personality. In Act 2, Scene 2, Dorine claims Elmire will “make him a cuckold, just wait and see.” Orgon responds with “What language!” “Cuckold” has the strong connotative meaning of cheating and betrayal. A word as harsh as that is very offensive to a man and addresses …show more content…
Dorine is a direct contrast to the normal women’s role because of her interrupting stage directions, vulgar language, and declarative responses. Orgon has control over Mariane, his own daughter, but cannot be demanding to Dorine, his own maid, which supports the fact that he is foolish, since all men were supposed to be controlling and dominant over all women. The reason Moliere chooses to characterize these two female characters direct foils of each other is to show how Orgon acts around both types of female personalities. The contrasting responses Orgon gives show he is foolish for treating his maid with some respect, which is abnormal, versus treating his daughter with no respect, which is very normal for the