In the play, Tartuffe by Molière, Molière critiques religion within his society. Religion was, for many, the center aspect of their lives, thus giving churches lots of power. However, Molière exposes the unsurprising consequences of having such a pious society. The play is based on Tartuffe being a hypocrite and schemer. He claims to serve catholic values whilst contradicting them. He uses his so-called devoted belief of catholic values and manipulates others. Creating many conflicts within friends and families when they do not see through Tartuffe’s falsity. In this play, Molière critiques religion and how it is misused within society through hypocrisy and manipulation.
Firstly, Molière critiques how religion is well within reach to be used
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Orgon gave his trust to Tartuffe- soley from the fact that he saw something in common between them, Religion. Tartuffe used him, and it led to Orgon harming his own family. Tartuffe was seducing Orgon’s wife, Elmire, and Elmire’s son, Damis was hiding in the closet during the event. Once Damis emerges from the closet, Orgon enters and is at once confronted by Damis, explaining all that had taken place. Orgon, suspects Damis of trying to exploit Tartuffe’s “trusting name” and becomes enraged to the point where he yells, “Orgon: So! You insult him, and defy your father! A stick! A stick! (To Tartuffe:) No, no—release me, do. (To Damis:) Out of my house this minute! Be off with you, and never dare set foot in it again.” This scene illustrates two of the Seven Deadly Sins. First, lust. Lust appears because Tartuffe was seducing Elmire. This came as no surprise to Damis, as he knew about Tartuffe and his shams. When he called Tartuffe out to Orgon, Orgon committed the second sin, wrath. Infuriated by Damis, and wrapped up in Tartuffe’s manipulation, he disinherited Damis—removed him from his will. While Tartuffe being the conman he is, Orgon’s actions were very uncalled for- as was a devoted catholic believer. Something Tartuffe was