ACT III SCENE III
Tartuffe.... officially a hypocrite, and clearly a charlatan/sinner in “Holy attire”. He is arranged to marry Marrianne, but when Elmire asks him about it he non-chalantly says that it sounds familiar because it lacks importance to him compared to his feelings for another. Elmire before even starting tells him to be honest and I think that’s exactly what she gets. Either that or some fluffed up form of Lust.
When he professes where his true desires lie, Elmore points out that his declaration is to be expected of normal men, but Tartuffe however is not supposed to be like normal men as he’s supposedly a man of God and saying such things is of the ways of the world —it’s profane. To which he says that he is only a man and that his feelings are true. But here is where it gets sticky: it seems to me that Tartuffe is having a moment of vulnerability, or HES saying anything he can to get the one thing that he truly wants. He seems to pour out his heart proclaiming this grand love and it sounds sincere. He says
“Dishonour the shrine before which they lie. But men like me burn with a discreet fever, And we keep your sweet secrets safe forever”
“In us you will find, if you wish it, my dear, Love without scandal, pleasure without fear.”
It sounds earnest, honest and true. At least, it sounds like he believes it to be true, even if it necessarily isn’t. And when his words don’t speak loud enough his actions start screaming. He feels her up and officially crosses the line from deep rooted, blossoming affection to a briarwood of lust and sexual impulse. This “man of God” has prayed and prayed for the opportunity to have his desires and when they face him he can’t help but fall deeply into his hypocrisy.
I only really question whether or not that moment of vulnerability was authentic or was it just another form of manipulation that, when it didn’t work, forced him to take his love by force.
I commented on Zane’s and Christians posts.
Tartuffe.... officially a hypocrite, and clearly a charlatan/sinner in “Holy attire”. He is arranged to marry Marrianne, but when Elmire asks him about it he non-chalantly says that it sounds familiar because it lacks importance to him compared to his feelings for another. Elmire before even starting tells him to be honest and I think that’s exactly what she gets. Either that or some fluffed up form of Lust.
When he professes where his true desires lie, Elmore points out that his declaration is to be expected of normal men, but Tartuffe however is not supposed to be like normal men as he’s supposedly a man of God and saying such things is of the ways of the world —it’s profane. To which he says that he is only a man and that his feelings are true. But here is where it gets sticky: it seems to me that Tartuffe is having a moment of vulnerability, or HES saying anything he can to get the one thing that he truly wants. He seems to pour out his heart proclaiming this grand love and it sounds sincere. He says
“Dishonour the shrine before which they lie. But men like me burn with a discreet fever, And we keep your sweet secrets safe forever”
“In us you will find, if you wish it, my dear, Love without scandal, pleasure without fear.”
It sounds earnest, honest and true. At least, it sounds like he believes it to be true, even if it necessarily isn’t. And when his words don’t speak loud enough his actions start screaming. He feels her up and officially crosses the line from deep rooted, blossoming affection to a briarwood of lust and sexual impulse. This “man of God” has prayed and prayed for the opportunity to have his desires and when they face him he can’t help but fall deeply into his hypocrisy.
I only really question whether or not that moment of vulnerability was authentic or was it just another form of manipulation that, when it didn’t work, forced him to take his love by force.
I commented on Zane’s and Christians posts.
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