Tartuffe 2/Phaedra 1

Did any characters develop or undergo a transformation during the course of the play? Who? How? Why? In what ways do the characters reveal the theme of the play? Explain.


In the beginning, despite his families' doubts, Orton stood by Tartuffe and believed that since he was at church numerous times a day he was a trustworthy, God-loving individual. Throughout the beginning of the play, Orton seemed to only care about Tartuffe. In Act I, Scene 4, as Dorine was talking about how Elmire was sick and how she was unable to even eat; all Orton wanted to know was how Tartuffe was. Orton wouldn't and didn't want to believe that Tartuffe was a man willing and full of deception. Despite Damis' truthful accusations of Tartuffe trying to molest with Elmire, Orton would not believe that Tartuffe could do something so deceitful. Even after Tartuffe admitted by saying "Yes, Brother, I'm a wicked man i fear:/ A wretched sinner, all depraved and twisted..." (340). Orton simply asked why would his son try to stain Tartuffe's purity and did not believe him. Only after did Orton hide under the table and hear and see Tartuffe's deceitful actions did he finally believe and realize what the others were saying was true. The transformation Orton saw is that he can see that people although may say they are trustworthy, and honorable, they may be a completely different person who is truly a lying, cunning person. I think Orton's character transformation helps reveal a theme of dishonesty and deceit. This reveals the theme because throughout the play deceit played a major role, because without it there would be no plot. Deceit happened in Tartuffe, when Orton was going to force Mariane to marry Tartuffe, and of course when Tartuffe tried to  force himself onto Elmire.

The Art of Suspense, Anticipation, and Expectation


I believe Moliere delays the entrance of Tartuffe, so the reader can see what everyone else thinks about Tartuffe, and for them to develop their own views on Tartuffe. If Tartuffe would have been introduced in the first scene, the reader would not have been able to make their opinion of him very accurate. It allows the reader to see and hear of the deceitfulness of Tartuffe before actually meeting and seeing it for themselves. From Orton's point of view the reader should see him as a trustworthy man who lives to serve God, but from the rest of the characters they believe he is a lying, untrustworthy person. Delaying Tartuffe's interest in the play, giving the reader different opinions, and allowing the reader to make their on inferences about Tartuffe gives suspense to the story because the reader will then continuously wonder until he enters whether Tartuffe is truly a holy man and Orton's assumptions are correct, or whether Tartuffe is truly a con man. While watching Tartuffe, and skimming the text, I believed Tartuffe would be as the family had explained. As Tartuffe entered the plot he met and exceeded my expectations. He seemed crazier and less holy than the characters explained. The way as soon as Elmire and him were alone, he immediately started to come on to her.

Why does Phaedra treat Hippolytus badly, but then professes his love for him?


I believe Phaedra treats Hippolytus badly because she herself doesn't want to believe that she is truly in love with him. She wants it to just go away, and if she keeps suppressing her emotions then she won't love Hippolytus anymore. If she treats him bad, then she might start to believe that she really does hate him. Also, I think she treats him poorly, so others and himself will not catch on to her infatuation. If people were to catch on, then she her life would become miserable. I'm sure she would be exiled and possibly put to death when Theseus returned from his journey.  In Act I, Scene 3 as Phaedra shudders as she hears Hippolytus' name and Oenone says "That name has made you shudder, as it should" (369). Here she pretends to shutter, because the people she's surrounded by would be appalled by her being in love with Hippolytus. Phaedra all in all hides her love in order to protect herself from being rejected, and because she knows it is wrong.