Hypocrite

Author: Molière (France)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Le Tartuffe (1664-1669) is the highest achievement of Molière's comic art and a classic in the history of world drama. The play tells the story of the religious fraud Tartuffe, who deceives the wealthy merchant Orgon with his feigned piety, becoming a guest in his house. Orgon renounces his daughter's original engagement and wishes to marry Tartuffe, even revoking his son's inheritance rights and leaving all his property to the fraud. His actions are opposed by the entire family, who cleverly expose Tartuffe's true nature, leading Orgon to repent. The fraud reveals his true colors, attempts to frame Orgon, but receives the punishment he deserves. In the process of striving for the premiere of Le Tartuffe, Molière's understanding of the feudal aristocracy deepened. In 1665, he created a five-act comedy titled Don Juan, based on the legendary Spanish nobleman, with the theme of exposing the debauchery, moral corruption, and selfish, evil, and nature of the aristocracy. The play, which only ran for fifteen performances before being banned, was followed by The Misanthrope, which satirized the social customs and hypocrisy of the aristocracy. The play portrays a noble and upright misanthrope, who appears ridiculous in the aristocratic society, allowing Molière to freely criticize the vulgarity, selfishness, flattery, hypocrisy, pretense, and pursuit of fame and profit of the aristocratic society.