Tartuffe Analysis

Tartuffe is a lighthearted narrative that easily becomes a tragedy for those easily deceived. The moral acts as a clear warning to the audience on how to avoid the demisable fates of the characters. Tartuffe by Molière warns the audience about their gullibility when it comes to authority figures. Orgon, the head of a prosperous family, takes in poor Tartuffe, a man who purposes to be holy. However, Tartuffe is an imposter. Orgon is the only one fallen under the trickster's spell when the rest of his household see right through the holy man’s actions. Tartuffe, during the play, acquires Orgon’s possessions; the hand of his daughter and eventually the deed to the house. Even that is not enough for the fraud, he attempts to seduce the wife of the home as well. Once Orgon sees through the trickster Tartuffe, it is too late, and Orgon gets …show more content…
Despite the fact, Bill Alexander’s rendition of Molière’s Tartuffe remains faithful to the text and funny. Many of the taglines keep their punch in the English translation. Alexander kept the period costumes and hairstyles, keeping the story told in 17th century France. The main household of Orgon was dressed in the light pastels, the whole home lightened in an airy atmosphere. This maintains the family’s innocent and intentions to stray away from sin. But Tartuffe’s emergence in Act III highlights his displacement in the household. He is a dark figure standing out from the pale background. His long black hair with small hints of white around the cuffs oozes foreboding feelings of an arch villain. His appearance is common in the enemy of many modern-day villains. He can easily be compared to Severus Snape from the Harry Potter Saga or Scar from Disney’s Lion King. The costuming, although traditional priest wear, indicates to the audience that he is the true villain of this play and not as innocent as the other characters describe him