Theme Of Irony In Tartuffe

Orgon is blind not in vision, but he is blind to the two faced ways of Tartuffe. He is blinded by the religious and zeal appearance Tartuffe displays in front of him. Moliere shows his hypocritical ways through the use of Irony. The rest of the family can see through his acting, but Orgon fails to see it. The use of irony throughout the play is shown drastically towards the end when Orgon praises Tartuffe, but simply cannot see that he is an imposter when he shows his real colors. Tartuffe uses irony to steal their wealth and seduce Elmire, Orgon’s wife. In Tartuffe, Moliere uses irony to show how Madame Pernelle and Orgon were so easily deceived by Tartuffe and emphasizes the theme of hypocrisy through Tartuffe’s actions, deceit and lies.

He is a religious hypocrite who makes his way into Orgon’s world and then betrays him. Tartuffe is the focus of everyone’s conversation. It is very obvious at the beginning of the play, that Tartuffe has convinced Madame Pernelle and Orgon that he is a religious, holy, faithful, and humble man. We see the irony when Tartuffe and Elmire are alone and he tries to seduce her. It is evident to the reader and audience. “But it is your beauty that’s so charming, I cannot help myself, I am undone. And i’m no angel, nor could I be one”(Tartuffe 3.3. 100-102). Tartuffe is showing his true character, he is an impostor. He is pretending to be someone that he is not. Orgon, however does not see that Tartuffe is truly not who he says he is.It is not evident to him. Damis tries to tell him the truth of what he has just seen and heard, but Orgon is not having it. “Orgon's desire to retain Tartuffe is a function--a reaction and an invitation--of others' desire to be rid of him, of which Damis’ desire is the most strident, the most like the desire of his father in its imperious violence”(Mckenna). Andrew Mckenna illustrates how Orgon tries to protect Tartuffe from his family. He will stand up to his own family and betray them just to make sure Tartuffe will always be made to look like a saint. Orgon calls out his own son and banishes him for accusing Tartuffe of being a hypocrite.“Traitor! And how dare you even try To tarnish this man’s virtue with a lie”(Tartuffe 3.6.19-20). Tartuffe’s greatest act in the play is shown when he begins to tell Orgon his true demeanor. He tried to take piety on himself by bashing himself so that Orgon would feel bad. “ Yes, my brother, I’m wicked through and through. The most miserable of sinners, I. Filled with iniquity, I should just die. Each moment of my life’s so dirty, soiled, Whatever I come near is quickly spoiled. I’m nothing but a heap of filth and crime. I’d name my sins, but we don’t have the