Sample Literary Analysis
The sample below is a first draft of a paper that should be considered an advanced draft. I’m indebted to the student who developed the TAP for this essay. As you look at it, you should notice a few things:
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In Moličre’s Tartuffe, translated by Richard Wilbur, the central character, a man named Orgon, has been completely brainwashed and taken advantage of by the title character, a lecherous and parasitic “holy man.” Tartuffe has made use of one of the oldest scams in human history to insinuate himself into Orgon’s household; he appeals to Orgon’s desire to be a good, upstanding, and pious man by appearing to be the same. Tartuffe’s manipulations are evident to everyone but Orgon, and seem to the reader to be blatantly obvious. His use of religion to manipulate Orgon is consistent throughout the play. In his religious zeal, Orgon is blind to the truth about Tartuffe’s character. As a result, Orgon, in a vain attempt to secure religious favor for himself, in fact almost bring himself and his family to ruin.
From the very beginning, it is evident that nearly all of the other characters see through Tartuffe’s deceitful veneer of civility and piety. In Act I, Scene 1, Madame Pernelle, Orgon’s mother, dominates the conversation, refusing to allow anyone to criticize Tartuffe. Orgon’s son Damis is finally able to tell his grandmother, “Good God! Do you expect me to submit / To the tyranny of that carping hypocrite?” (10). His outburst opens the way for others to agree. Dorinne, the maid, adds, “Surely it is a shame and disgrace / To see this man usurp the master’s place -- / To see this beggar [. . .] behave / As if the house were his / And we his slaves” (11). Everyone at the table disagrees with Madame Pernelle, who insistence that Tartuffe is a holy man parallels her son’s own feelings, which will be shown all too clearly throughout most of the play. It is clear from the very beginning of the play that, while Tartuffe is not accepted by most of the family, he continues to live in their midst through Orgon’s patronage and, therefore, already controls the household through Orgon’s power.
The extreme level of Orgon’s devotion to Tartuffe is obvious. At the end of Act I, Scene 2, Dorinne, the maid, remarks on Orgon’s complete infatuation with Tartuffe. She tells Clčante, Orgon’s brother-in-law that “he’s quite loss his senses since he fell / Beneath Tartuffe infatuating spell. / He calls him brother, and loves him as his life, / Preferring him to mother, child, or wife. / In him and him alone will he confide; / He’s made him his confessor and his guide” (18). While this appears to be an exaggeration on Dorinne’s part, it is soon clear that she is correct. Throughout Act I, Scene IV, Dorinne tries repeatedly to tell Orgon about his wife’s illness. He never once expresses concern or sympathy for his own wife Elmire. In contrast, Tartuffe has been eating enough for several men, drinking wine heavily, and sleeping soundly. However, every time Dorinne begins to talk about the fever and headaches, Orgon repeats, “Ah. And Tartuffe?” or “Poor fellow” (20-23). Furthermore, Orgon himself even admits openly that through Tartuffe, his “soul [has] been freed / From earthly loves, and every human tie: / My mother, children, brother, and wife could die, / And I’d not see a single moment’s pain” (25). The blindness Orgon exhibits, therefore, robs him of every human sympathy. The loving husband and father is quite calmly able to anticipate the loss of everyone who has been important to him in the past.
Orgon is ready to sacrifice his own children to his lack of vision. For example, in Marianne’s case, Orgon decides to marry his daughter to Tartuffe, thereby breaking his word over her engagement to Valčre. In presenting this new scenario to his daughter, Orgon completely disregards the fact that, like other members of the family, her father’s friend disgusts Marianne. While Orgon starts his discussion with her in a friendly way by telling Marianne to agree that Tartuffe is “the very worthiest of men, / And that you’re fond of him, and would rejoice / In being his wife [. . .],” he quickly adds “if that should be my choice” (39). Orgon is concerned only about his own power as head of the family. This becomes clear when Marianne balks at his idea. She questions why her father would want her to lie (40), and Orgon replies that he is “resolved it shall be true” (40).
Orgon then uses his paternal power to force his decision. He continues by reminding Mariane that his “wish should be enough” for her and, later, that “It’s a father’s privilege” to choose for his daughter (40). In Act II Scene 2, when Dorinne joins them, Orgon is even more adamant. He reminds Dorinne that he is “master here” (41) and Marianne that she should “trust [her] father’s judgment” (45). Ultimately, he gives her no choice by saying, “In short, dear Daughter, I mean to be obeyed, / And you must bow to the sound choice I’ve made” (51). For Marianne, this takes the decision away from her. She admits in Act II Scene 3 that she does not have the strength to fight him. She tells Dorine “A father’s power is great” (52) and continues by saying, “I’ve bowed so long to Father’s strict control, / I couldn’t oppose him how, to save my soul” (53). Orgon’s power throughout her life has made it impossible for her to make her own decisions now that she is a grown woman.
While Tartuffe has duped Orgon into believing he is a religious man, in Act III, Tartuffe succeeds in duping Orgon yet again when Damis overhears Tartuffe’s overtures to Orgon’s wife Elmire. In response to the supposed attack on his friend, Orgon turns against another child, his only son Damis. Organ means to be obeyed by everyone in the household despite the consequences. He says to Damis, “I’ll spite this household and confound its pride / By giving [Tartuffe] my daughter as his bride” (101), and when Damis objects, Organ decides to hold the wedding immediately saying, “I’ll defy you all, and make it clear / That I’m the one who gives the orders here” (101). In short order, his father ejects Damis from the home. Orgon exclaims, “Out of my house this minute! Be off with you, / And never dare set foot in it again” (101). Then, without further thought, Orgon disinherits Damis, continuing to exclaim, “I disinherit you; an empty purse / Is all you’ll get from me – except my curse!” (102). With Marianne, Organ tries to sound reasonable at first, though his endeavors are in vain. Once his decisions are questioned, all attempts at reason fade in favor of wielding the power he believes he has a right to exercise. He does not seem to recognize that, while his past use of paternal power has resulted in a close-knit family, his current use of that power is anything but sound or reasonable, resulting in the impending break-up of the very family his power is meant to protect.
In addition to damaging his children’s lives, Orgon’s trust in Tartuffe also puts his own life and welfare in jeopardy. Organ give Damis’ place has heir to Tartuffe. Orgon’s actions characterize vengeance rather than concern for his family’s future. He actions form a kind of unknowing conspiracy with Tartuffe’s efforts to gain control and power. Orgon gives Tartuffe more than he could have expected when Orgon says at the end of Act III, “It pleases me to vex them, and for spite / I’d have them see you with [Elmire] day and night. / What’s more, I’m going to drive them to despair / By making you my only son and heir” (106). Tartuffe has found the mother-load! Orgon, in his vengeance will listen to no one, not even his reasonable brother-in-law Clčante, telling him in Act IV, Scene 3, “All you advice is forceful, sound and clever, / I don’t propose to follow it, however” (116). Unfortunately, later in the act, while eavesdropping on Elmire and Tartuffe at Elmire’s insistence, Orgon learns the truth. Tartuffe tells Elmire, “Why worry about that man? Each day he grows / More gullible; one can lead him by the nose. / To find us here would fill him with delight, / And if he saw the worst, he’d doubt his sight” (128). Tartuffe has effectively manipulated Orgon in order to get whatever Tartuffe wants.
When Orgon reveals himself, however, the danger is not over. Orgon refers to a gift he has made to Tartuffe, one that puts Orgon into great danger. Tartuffe threatens Orgon when he says, “This house belongs to me, I’ll have you know” (131). Worst still, Tartuffe reminds Orgon that he as the “means to expose and punish you” (131). This refers to the strongbox he entrusted to Tartuffe (133). The tension builds until this reference is explained in the last act. Orgon tells his whole family that the strongbox is the worst of what has happened. He admits that it has him “utterly upset; / This is the worst of many, many shocks” (137). The box contains papers belonging to a friend who has fled the country (138), and this political situation places the danger squarely on Orgon. It is interesting that, despite the manner in which they have been treated, all of the people Orgon has derided gather around him. Clčante begins to offer reasonable advice that is heeded through the end of the play. Both Damis and Valčre return to help. Also, when Madame Pernelle returns to the home, she provides Orgon with a small taste of the treatment he has meted out to his loved ones. However, ultimately, they stand beside him.
The king, through his officer, provides the final lesson for Orgon. Tartuffe’s machinations and Orgon’s response to them have brought the whole family to the edge of a figurative cliff. Orgon himself is ready to jump by running, just as his friend has done, and his family is there to assist him. However, the officer’s arrival with the dandified Tartuffe is only a ruse. In fact, the king, clears Orgon of all wrongdoing and returns his property (161-162). The king’s actions serve as an example of how a true father should care for his children. The result is that Orgon is brought back to himself, no longer under the spell of a religious conman, but returned to the reasonable man he had been before Tartuffe’s influence.