Religious Hypocrisy In 'Tartuffe'

Moliere in Tartuffe and Voltaire in Candide write to criticize the religious hypocrisy of the time. Moliere satirizes religion through Tartuffe’s character in his play Tartuffe, performed in 1664. In Voltaire’s Candide there is an emphasis on the exploitation of women and the church. Moliere and Voltaire create these to exaggerate religious fanatics in order to express their anticlericalism. Moliere, in his play Tartuffe, portrays religious hypocrisy through Tartuffe the hypocrite. Early in the play Tartuffe reveals his character when he is observing Dorine and calling to his manservant. “Hand up my hairshirt… with poor wretches there.” (Act III, Scene 2, lines 1-4) Dorine criticizes Tartuffe because humble Christians, do not flaunt their good deeds. Tartuffe, on the other hand, wants everyone to know how much of a “good man” he is. Another example is when Cleante tells Orgon “their virtue is acknowledged; who could doubt it? But you wont near them beat the drum about it” (Act I, Scene 5, line 29-30) Cleante tries to prove to Orgon what a fake Tartuffe is. Orgon, on the other hand, is gullible. In Act II, Scene 2, lines 30-38 Orgon believes that

Candide is full of exaggerations of religious fanatics. In (Chapter 11, page 318 “The Old Woman’s Story”) “I am the daughter of Pope Urban X and the Princess of Palestrina.” This is an example of religious hypocrisy because popes are not supposed to engage in sexual activity. Voltaire is comical of the church and popes behaviors. Another example of hypocrisy in Candide is in (Chapter 3, page 307) “I never heard anyone say so” answered Candide, “but whether he is or not, I have no bread.” “And you don’t deserve to eat any” said another. The orator displeased with Candide’s religious indifference, refuses to give them a meal after he just preached about charity. Voltaire writes Candide to mocks the anticlericalism of the