Act 3: scene 2
The scene is set immediately after a meeting between Damis and Dorine. Damis is lamenting to Dorine about Orgon’s plan to marry Mariane to Tartuffe. Dorines tried to comfort Damis, reveals to him that Elmire was to meet Tartuffe, and try to convince him against marrying the marriage. Damis hides in the closet and waits for Elmire and Tartuffe arrival.
This scene is the first in which Tartuffe appears in person. He lives up to his illustrated characters in this scene. His entry and arrogance toward Dorine is captivating and one can only wonder if they will be able to hold a conversation. Dorine’s sarcasm pushes him to leave. This creates suspense; audiences are not sure if he will meet Elmire or not. When he hears Elmire is coming to talk him, he changes his mind and decides to stay. This ensures continuity of the play in that he is eager to meet Elmire who he adores.
The waited meeting also, keeps the audience eager to know if Elmire will be able to convince Tartuffe to decline the proposed weeding. If the wedding proceeds then it will make Tartuffe an heir to Orgon’s property. The audiences do not know how if Elmire’s charm will be enough to convince him. Elmire who sees through Tartuffe’s hypocrisy unlike her husband is determined to save Mariane from him.
Dorine exchange with Tartuffe clearly shows there is no love lost between them. He offers her his handkerchief to cover her chest saying it might prove unholy thought. Dorine calls him weak and further insults him saying she would not have any feelings even if he saw him “naked as a beast”. This jeopardizes her work in that she is a maid in the house where Tartuffe is to marry. It also creates curiosity to see if Tartuffe will maintain his pious. Damis, who is hiding in the closet, also is another line to follow. Neither Elmire nor Tartuffe knows he is there. Again, the audiences do not know what they will discuss and how Damis will react considering he has a very quick temper. Tartuffe lustful nature comes out when he tells Dorine to cover her chest. This suggests that it might be one course of his downfall.
Themes in act 3 scene 2
Hypocrisy is present in this scene. This is where a person is pretending to be who is not or claiming to have a certain which is a lie. Tartuffe who is acting like a holy and charitable Christian is a lie. When he says he is going to the prison to share his little money, Dorine rolls her eyes because she sees through his pretence (hoyt-disick). He has a hair shirt, which is associated with religious people. When he loudly orders his hair shirt to be hanged, is, he portrays his ego and hypocrisy.
Reason vs. emotion is another theme identified. Dorine, who has noticed how much Tartuffe adores Elmire, uses it to lay out a plan to trap him. Even with his logic, Tartuffe agrees because of his strong feelings towards Elmire. Damis is hiding in the closest knowing his temper issues. He is angry with his father for proposing Marine, his sister; marriage to Tartuffe and against Dorine reasoning still gets into the closet. He wants to hear the conversation and find something he can use to expose Tartuffe as a fraud. It is this anger that later puts him at odds with his father. The same happens to Tartuffe eventually after professing his feelings to Elmire.
Appearance and beauty has also featured in this scene in some instances. In the play, appearance is both deceiving and attractive. Beauty comes out in terms of both intelligence and physique. Dorine, who is only a maid, is very intelligent irrespective of her position in the society. She is able to see the true nature of Tartuffe .she is willing to help Dorine to cancel her marriage (leon). She has a inner beauty which is missing from many other characters. She comes up with a plan to use Tartuffe’s emotion in her plot. She is able to coordinates and convince with Elmire and Dorine of the plan. Her quick wits are able to tickle Tartuffe proving him showing his true colors when he talks about his charity to prison. Tartuffe on the other hand, carries himself as a religious person, which in reality is a façade. His appearance does not reflect his heart. He is rude to Dorine and treats her as slave. He is also loud and commanding. When he tells her to cover her chest not to provoke unholy promiscuous thought, it is clear he is lustful not holy which contrasts his appearance to his feelings.
Humor in the scene
The scene, in as much is very short, is humorous. From the moment Tartuffe steps on the stage, he brings excitement with him. This is because as the main character, it is the first time he appears on stage. The anticipation of his appearance builds up throughout the first two acts. It ensures audiences are familiar with him even before he makes his grand entrance. His first remarks on stage is addressing his help, Lawrence, to hand him hair shirt least he appears as unreligious. His superiority and arrogance is evidence from the start.
Tartuffe cuts Dorine midsentence to give her his hair shirt to cover her chest is ironical. He does not want to express his physical needs rather, calls them temptations. The way he does is comical, acting very offended and holy. When want to take leave at the end of the scene, Dorine tells him Elmire would want to see in private. He changes his mind so fast betraying his feelings for her. He is reprimanding Dorine yet, is coveting Elmire. She flatters him that he is not able to maintain his facade.
Dorine is not letting Tartuffe get away with anything. She is criticizing him on every point he makes. When he says he s visiting the prison to share his “few coins”, she calls him fake. She is getting to him on a very humorous way when he tells to cover her chest. Her reply puts him on the inferior end. She says she would see him naked and not be tempted one bit. This scene is unique in that Tartuffe meets his equal, a person who can see him for who is and tell him what she thinks.
Dorines refuses to be put down by Tartuffe .This makes a favorite to the audience in that she is able to stand up for herself. Tartuffe, being the villain, gives power to her when he chooses to go instead of facing her. The way he addresses her makes her appear inferior to him. His arrogance towards her calls for support in her defense. This taken a notch higher when he seems to do so because she is a maid. This incites mercy and empathy for her and hatred towards him.
The scene is a highlight is the entry of Tartuffe who has not appeared before. His ego, lust and arrogance are well illustrated from the start. Dorine’s wittiness and intelligence is a brilliant touch to this scene. They are opposite to each, Dorine standing for intelligence, openness, and Tartuffe for hypocrisy and arrogance.
Works cited
hoyt-disick, Gabriel. “tartuffe act 3,scene 2.” litcharts.litcharts llc (2015): 21.
leon, et el. “The Poet and the Prince: Revising Moliere and Tartuffe in the French Revolution”in moliere. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2009.
Sources
Greg Johnson and Thomas Arp, “Tragedy and Comedy” (Textbook Chapter)
Retrieved from: https://www.amazon.com/Greg-Johnson
Molière”, Encyclopedia Britannica
Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Moliere-French-dramatist
“Tartuffe.” Facts on File. 2012-12-06. Retrieved from: <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= DRAM016&SingleRecord=True