Roles of Women in Moliere's "Tartuffe"

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Roles of women in Tartuffe
Tartuffe, written in 1664 by Molière supports and challenges traditional gender stereotypes on women. A woman’s perception even in her own home is unappreciated and men have the final word. However, women in Tartuffe are strong, take up challenges and do not give up. The play generally depicts women as bold, strong-willed, loyal as well as quite straightforward with their actions. Independence and intelligence are qualities that are well manifested by Dorine and Elmire. Madame Pernelle and Mariane, even though witty in their own right, aren’t depicted to be as intelligence or as independent as the former pair. Women are insistent on what they believe in and will do everything to show their loyalty to their men. This paper discusses the roles of women in Moliere’s play, Tartuffe, and how Dorine and Elmire display wit, intelligence, and independence.
Elmire is Orgon’s second wife and step mother to Mariane and Damis, Orgon’s first wife children. Dorine is the family housemaid. Dorine, despite being a lowly servant girl, never hesitates to speak out what is on her mind. Dorine is actually the focal point of the play as from the beginning to the end of the play, she is there to point out flaws within the characters in the play. She openly disagrees with Orgon when Orgon tells Mariane to be Tartuffe’s bride and says Tartuffe’s character is all a fraud. “No, don’t believe your father; its all a hoax” (Hampton, 12-14). Dorine also confronts Mariane for accepting her father’s idea of her betrothal to Tartuffe and asks her why she could not reject the idea.
Mariane, who is subservient unlike Dorine, says how great a male parent’s power is. Dorine wants Mariane to learn to lodge up for herself. With the pressure from Orgon, Mariane would have most likely married Tartuffe, if it was not for Dorine’s help. She takes up masculine tendencies and traits to take down Orgon both physically as well as mentally, and in the process save Mariane from a false marriage. She is quite a wise individual who doesn’t look at her social position to feel inferior but rather, uses her mental brilliance to reign superior even over those who seem to be her masters.
She displays clairvoyance as she is not blinded by any of Tartuffe’s shams. She sees him as a fraud and tells the rest of the family. “How he exploits the name of Heaven! It’s shameless.” (Hampton, 5). She does not hesitate to speak against Tartuffe, even though Orgon once tries to strike her over her own words. This level of confidence is unusual for a servant girl as a servant is expected to be submissive, to keep back and talk only when addressed. As a servant girl, her intelligence is seen when she is able to see right through people. She sees Tartuffe for what he is although he tries to hide it from Orgon and Madame Pernelle, Orgon’s mother, who have fallen under his influence. She also sees how what a mistake Orgon would be making by making Mariane get married to Tartuffe and speaks against the marriage as Mariane is unable to talk him out herself.
Dorine lives by her wits. She needs her sassiness to surv...