Power and Influence in Play Tartuffe Essay Example

Tartuffe provides an interesting view of life in totality. There is an overarching attempt by a clique of people trying to influence the perspective of everyone. The play unearths an underlying tussle and struggles for influence in the house of Orgon. The play is a clear manifestation and narration of almost every day happening in most homes across the world. In accordance with Madame Parnell, Orgon's family is deprived in very many ways. Through the thorough analysis of the play Tartuffe, it will be important to understand the reasons behind the attempt by society to exert influence on others. The analysis and discussion over this play will help the audience to come up with appropriate conclusion s to who is the most powerful character in the play and what makes them as such.

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Tartuffe is a great artist. However, most people in this play perceive him as a conman and a hypocrite. He has been able to influence Orgon to the extent that when he returns back to the country, he is more interested in hearing stories about Tartuffe than his wife. Tartuffe's power of influence is entered that Orgon's family falls out of love with him. In some cases, Orgon feels intimidated and annoyed when his brother in law, Cleante tells him on his face that he has been acting like an idiot over his obsession with stories pertaining to Tartuffe. According to Orgon, Tartuffe is such an admirable personality with so much influence on the society around him. He is at pains to make his family accept that Tartuffe is an influential person with so much positivity around him; however, his attempts fall on empty ears. Cleante does not tire from probing Orgon further. He asks him about the untimely postponement of Marianne's wedding. Marianne is Orgon's daughter, and despises this, Orgon seems less concerned and stops at admitting at the wedding have indeed been postponed. Cleante is rightfully concerned about the power and influence that Tartuffe has had on the house of Orgon; it is been wore that the head of the family, Orgon is less concerned about the way things are panning out.

Orgon's attempt to get his family's thought about Tartuffe does not come out as fruitful as expected. The audience's anticipation is raised at the point when Orgon calls in Marianne, his daughter to get her opinion about Tartuffe. Marianne is clearly surprised and a bit tense. However, the surprised Marianne is unable to speak, but her father explains to her how she is supposed to feel: she is supposed to be fond of Tartuffe, she respects him and would be free to marry him at that point. Orgon tries to have a powerful influence over his family even on their emotional feeling and thought. This play clearly indicates the struggle that most people attempt to have on others. Like Orgon's pushing his daughter to confess her feelings for Tartuffe without considering her independent opinion. The speechless Marianne is rescued by the servant Dorine who boldly comes in and asks Orgon if indeed Marianne is going to marry Tartuffe. Orgon blatantly confirms that indeed Marianne is going to marry Tartuffe, but the servant, Dorine laughs off the idea calling it ridiculous. Dorine's open and reactions annoy Orgon to the extent that he does not talk to Marianne anymore. He calls off the meeting. The place of power, fear, and influence between the master and servant comes to question at this point. It is unclear who has more power over the other, where the daughter fears her father, but the servant neither does nor seems to. The audience is thrown into disarray at this point, over what exactly espouses power and influence.

The discussion of power and influence emerges over the talk between Dorine and Marianne after Orgon leaves. Dorine does not believe how weak and vulnerable Marianne seemed in front of her father. She wonders why she is unable to express herself in disagreements to some of the influences and coercions that her father puts her through. The trail of power and influence takes a new twist when Dorine tones down her criticism of Marianne and agrees to help her instead. In most cases, it would be the opposite, where the daughter of the boss helping a servant. However, in this play, Tartuffe, there is a new twist where servant takes the role of helping the daughter f the house. Upon the entrance of Marianne's fiance, Valera, he shows concern about the bad news concerning their planned wedding. They end up arguing over nothing in specific.

Conclusion

The play takes round and round with every emerging character attempting to have influence over the other person. However, one clear factor that is clear about this play is that real power and influence lies in the silent influence that Tartuffe has on Orgon that seems to have thrown the entire household in confusion and disarray. Tartuffe seems to have the real power and his influence is felt directly by those involved like Marianne, and Orgon and indirectly by such characters as Dorine and Marianne's brother Damis who promises to give Tartuffe knuckle sandwich. Indeed the power of Tartuffe is evident and the perception that Orgon's family has about his trickery and hypocrite whose personal gains he keeps close to his chest.