In Moliere’s Tartuffe, the protagonist, Orgon, is the head of his household, which his role also resembles that of a king. The magnitude of his power is the most apparent in Act II when he decides that he want his guest Tartuffe to be allied in the family by marriage, which he tries to control his daughter, Mariane into marrying him. He does not only overlook his daughter’s will but he also overlooks his servants’s opinion and tries to control her as well.
In the Opening of Act II, Orgon is abusing his power by ordering Mariane to marry Tartuffe instead of her fiancé Valere. Orgon is so determined to get these two married that he goes against Mariane’s will and make her lie about her own feelings. He tells her exactly how she should feel while making her say that he is the perfect man for her, “Who is this perfect man in every way, whom in body and soul I find divine and ask you ‘”Please, Father, Make him mine?’”(Norton 157). It is evident that Orgon cares …show more content…
Dorine is not a fan of Tartuffe and she is not afraid to speak her mind about it. Orgon is trying to explain to her that he is humble and that he even gave up his right to property. Dorine disagrees and expresses that it is not a sign of humility since he is constantly bragging about his family and properties, “Even gifts in heaven he won’t mention. To live a good life is his intention” (Norton 158). She also brings up the fact that if one marries a girl to someone whom she doesn’t like, this is the easiest way to make a wife go against her marriage vows “For the loss of honor and good name? The father, who proceeds to pick a good mate” (Norton 159). Orgon refuses to listen to Dorine’s reasonable arguments, so she begins begins to mock him. The mocking lead Orgon to almost smacking her until eventually he decided to leave the room. Throughout this scene, Orgon tried to control Dorine but she was in control of the
In the Opening of Act II, Orgon is abusing his power by ordering Mariane to marry Tartuffe instead of her fiancé Valere. Orgon is so determined to get these two married that he goes against Mariane’s will and make her lie about her own feelings. He tells her exactly how she should feel while making her say that he is the perfect man for her, “Who is this perfect man in every way, whom in body and soul I find divine and ask you ‘”Please, Father, Make him mine?’”(Norton 157). It is evident that Orgon cares …show more content…
Dorine is not a fan of Tartuffe and she is not afraid to speak her mind about it. Orgon is trying to explain to her that he is humble and that he even gave up his right to property. Dorine disagrees and expresses that it is not a sign of humility since he is constantly bragging about his family and properties, “Even gifts in heaven he won’t mention. To live a good life is his intention” (Norton 158). She also brings up the fact that if one marries a girl to someone whom she doesn’t like, this is the easiest way to make a wife go against her marriage vows “For the loss of honor and good name? The father, who proceeds to pick a good mate” (Norton 159). Orgon refuses to listen to Dorine’s reasonable arguments, so she begins begins to mock him. The mocking lead Orgon to almost smacking her until eventually he decided to leave the room. Throughout this scene, Orgon tried to control Dorine but she was in control of the