![]() Orgon, then, seems to be a man of extravagant excesses who never steers his course along a rational, middle course, but instead, fluctuates between absurd extremes. In contrast, when he discovers the hypocrisy of Tartuffe, he reverses himself and determines to hate and persecute all pious men. Having once adopted a life of piety, Orgon tries to become the epitome of the pious person and goes to absurd extremes both in his words and deeds. Orgon's religious fanaticism, however, seems more directly correlated to his basic nature, which is characterized by Cléante as being extravagant and uncontrolled in all respects. Many scenes in the play ridicule the type of character who can no longer participate successfully in society and who then retires from society and attacks it. Some critics have suggested that Orgon, having reached middle age, now needs to attach himself to some type of a religious person and Tartuffe is the most readily accessible. The question, therefore, arises as to why he has become such an absurd and ridiculous person. It is indicated that prior to the opening of the play, he was a sane man who was respected by his family and friends. In the past he obviously had served the king honorably and had tended to his estates in a rational and dignified manner. ![]() Whereas Tartuffe is the obvious hypocrite and scoundrel, Orgon is a much more complex character. ![]()
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