Power of Women in Moliere's Tartuffe - Essay Example

Orgon’s wife Elmire is also unimpressive but her feeble attitude allows her son Damis to observe Tartuffe carefully while he disingenuously confesses his love for her. Each of the female characters, Elmire, Mariane, and Dorine except Madam Pernelle play a very autonomous role and their strength is in the way they allow the men especially Orgon to believe that Tartuffe is not a nice person. Madame Pernelle however is an old lady who refuses to believe anything said against Tartuffe and her impression is transferred to Orgon who disinherits his own son for accusing Tartuffe of committing such an act as confessing his love for Orgon’s wife.

The subordination of the women is however very disturbing for the readers. A mother like Madam Pernelle is dominating and extremely influential whereas a wife and daughter like Elmire and Mariane are helpless and obedient against their will. Dorine is shown to be a woman of courage and honesty. She promises Mariane that she would help her reveal the true character of Tartuffe and keeps her word till the end. Her role is by far the most dominant in the play. Elmire is able to extract a promise from her stubborn husband Orgon to observe Tartuffe’s actions and intentions towards Elmire.

Organ agrees with his wife and is able to see the real character of Tartuffe for the very first time. It can be also deduced that Madam Pernelle remains unconvinced for as long as her son Orgon is not convinced of the true nature of Tartuffe. Looking at her from this perspective lets her fall in the category of women who are subordinated to men despite the fact that she is an elderly woman of experience. It goes without saying that the comedy reveals the hopeless roles of women in rich households where only the lady’s maid has the power to convince and motivate the execution of a plan by the members of the family who cannot say a word to induce the head of the family.

Orgon receives his price in the form of getting in trouble by inheriting Tartuffe as his future heir. It is only his luck that the police arrests Tartuffe towards the end of the play. It is the collective performance by the women which enables this end to take place.