Hello everyone in the hive book club. I hope you’re all doing well and enjoying the weather wherever you are. Welcome to my blog.
When people hear of the term “comedy”, what comes to their mind is laughter. A comedy is a literary work that Invokes laughter. I’m sure a large percentage of people here know what comedy is and what it entails, but have you ever heard of the term “Modern Comedy”? I asked a friend of mine who is in the science department what modern comedy is. His reply was just so funny. He said; modern comedy is comedy that has been modernized. Totally wrong!
Unlike comedy, modern comedy does not necessarily invoke laughter. It is more of the combination of comedy and tragedy. It can begin on a sad note and end on a happy note and vice versa.
In this article, I’ll write about a book by the father of modern comedies. Molière, the father of modern comedy, is a French playwright, actor and poet. He is regarded as one of the greatest in the literary world and the father of modern comedy. One of amazing books he published is Tartuffe
Tartuffe is a comedy of manners. Scalars refers to this masterpiece as one of the greatest comedies of manners in the history of literature. Tartuffe is a comedy of manners that intends to expose religious hypocrisy in the society. Tartuffe is also a satirical comedy- a satire is a literary work that points out the ills and shortcomings of the society in an attempt to provide reform and solutions, and that is exactly what Tartuffe by moliere entails. The book is also an eponymous play- a play in which a character in the book is used as the title. Tartuffe was written in 1664 and published in 1669 in France.
Plot
Tartuffe, one of the main characters in the play, is a dubious, fraudulent, and deceptive person. He is a hypocrite, a religious hypocrite who managed to fool an entire family. His “magic tricks” stopped working when more than half of the family discovers who is truly is- a religious hypocrite. However, Orgon (a main character and the master of the house) is blinded by Tartuffe’s deceptive ways. He sees him as a religious, sinless and good man. Oregon’s mother is also blinded by Tartuffe and is unable to see through him.
Tartuffe pretends to be pious and to speak with divinity. Orgon and his mother are deceived so badly that they cannot take a decision without consulting Tartuffe. Things become worse when Orgon announces a marriage between his daughter, Mariane and Tartuffe, knowing fully well that Mariane is deeply involved with another, Valere. Mariane is not happy with her father’s decision, but she decides to obey him because she doesn’t want to disobey him.
Damis, Orgon’s son, tries to reveal Tartuffe evil schemes to his father by telling him he tried to seduce Orgon’s wife, Elmire. Things backfired when Tartuffe denied everything. He calls Damis a “miserable sinner”. Orgon, angry and offended, banishes his son from his house. Orgon sings the papers and gives his possession to Tartuffe.
In an effort to show to Orgon how awful and dangerous Tartuffe really is, Elmire tells Orgon to hide under the table in the room and see for himself the true nature of Tartuffe. Elmire’s plan works out when Tartuffe confesses his love and tries to make sexual advances towards her. Orgon, offended, comes out of hiding and orders Tartuffe out of his house. Tartuffe reminds Orgon that he now owns the house since he has given and signed the papers in his name. Tartuffe then orders Orgon and his family to leave his house.
Words reach the king, who sends an officer to Orgon’s house. Tartuffe was happy when he saw the king’s officer. He thought the officer was there to throw out the family, but instead he arrests Tartuffe. The king was able to see through Tartuffe’s religious hypocrisy.
The play ends on a happy note, Orgon announces the wedding between Mariane and Valere.
My Critics
It is obvious that Molière is indeed the father of modern comedy. This is the first non-African modern comedy I’d read, and I must say, I really enjoyed reading it. Although this is not the best modern comedy I’ve read, I must say it is one of the best. In my opinion, this book gets a 5 out of six stars.
Thanks for reading.