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Reason > Religion
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The story of Tartuffe demonstrates the importance and power of reason. Through Tartuffe’s unreasonable actions and the rash actions of Orgon, contrasted with the rational thinking and actions of characters such as Elmire and Damis, the significance of reason is illustrated.
Cleante says to Orgon in Act one, Scene five that “there’s a vast difference, so it seems to me, between true piety and hypocrisy; how do you fail to see it, may I ask? Is not a face quite different from a mask? Cannot sincerity and cunning art, reality and semblance, be told apart?” (1.5.73-78) This passage shows that even before we are introduced to the irrational and unreasonable Tartuffe, the question of reason and importance of reasonability has already been raised. Just the fact that Tartuffe uses religion as a cover up and way to get what he wants is an example how things can go terribly wrong when one does not use reason. He relies simply on the hope that all the members of Orgon’s house will be stupid enough not to discover the truth about him. Fortunately for him, the leader of the house himself is the most irrational and gullible person. However, fortunately for everyone else, those who have some influence over Orgon’s decisions are able to use reason and logic to prove to Orgon that Tartuffe is a fraud using reason as their main weapon of choice. Damis’s reasonability in thinking through the actions of tartuffe and his lies help lead to Tartuffe’s destruction. When Elmire and Damis get Ta...
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