Blind Faith in Moliere's Tartuffe - Book Report/Review Example

Madame Pernelle refuses to listen to plausible reasons suggested by her family on why Tartuffe would behave the way he does. She is a hypocrite because she advocates avoiding gossip while she gossips about others. She believes that Tartuffe is correct in his exhortations which do not apply to himself. Tartuffe is also a hypocrite in gossiping about the faults of others while exhorting that people should not gossip. Dorine suggests that he is jealous of Elmire. Cleante argues against Tartuffe by saying they should not sacrifice their friends because of her trivial fear of gossip.

Madame Pernelle refuses to open her eyes to these plausible suggestions because she is a hypocrite. Madame Pernelle has placed blind faith in people like Tartuffe and Orante. She thinks that Orante has thoughts of heaven and should be a model to follow. It is ironic how she assumes that she is a mind reader and can vouch for Orante's thoughts. Madame Pernelle is a hypocrite because she does not do the same thing for her family members. She should trust her kin more than strangers and vouch for their good thoughts too.

Instead, Madame Pernelle jumps at hearsay and gossip and makes conclusions on people. She is a hypocrite because she is prejudiced in placing her trust on others. She does not realize her own hypocrisy in trusting in Orante and not trusting in her kin. Dorine suspects that their neighbors have been slandering them. She says;"By others' actions, painted in their colours,They hope to justify their own; they think,In the false hope of some resemblance, eitherTo make their own intrigues seem innocent,Or else to make their neighbours share the blameWhich they are loaded with by everybody.

"(Moliere 10).The neighbors are using the premise that people will put blind faith in their gossip. They are also using the strategy of creating smoke and mirrors to delude blame upon themselves. Dorine says that they are hypocrites in pointing fingers at others while they are themselves guilty. Dorine offers several reasons why Madame Pernelle considers Orante to be virtuous. She says that Orante is a hypocrite