Thursday, December 6, 2018

Which two characters converse at the very beginning of act 5 in Tartuffe?

The two characters conversing in the short scene at the opening of act 5 of Moliere's Tartuffe are Orgon (a wealthy gentleman coming to terms with having been deceived and defrauded by the seemingly pious but actually hypocritical imposter), Tartuffe, and Cléante, Orgon's often long-winded brother-in-law.
The conversation concerns the fact that Orgon has given Tartuffe a strong-box which contains incriminating papers that could cause Orgon to be charged with treason for complicity in a crime committed by his friend, Argas.
Cléante is shocked and appalled that Orgon would give the papers to Tartuffe. Cléante scolds Orgon for previously being manipulated by Tartuffe into giving him the deed to his entire estate, which Tartuffe is now using against Orgon to evict him from his own home.
Orgon has clearly been a gullible fool to fall for Tartuffe's tricks, and Cléante reminds him of that fact.

CLÉANTE: It looks to me as if you’re out on a limb.
Trusting him with that box, and offering him
That deed of gift, were actions of a kind
Which scarcely indicate a prudent mind. (5.1.21–24 (Richard Wilbur translation))

Orgon overreacts and vows to persecute all holy men.

ORGON: Enough, by God! I’m through with pious men:
Henceforth I’ll hate the whole false brotherhood,
And persecute them worse than Satan could. (5.1.32–34)

Cléante cautions Orgon against such rash behavior and advises him to learn from his mistakes.

CLÉANTE: You’ve recognized your recent grave mistake
In falling victim to a pious fake;
Now, to correct that error, must you embrace
An even greater error in its place? . . .
Be cautious in bestowing admiration,
And cultivate a sober moderation.
Don’t humor fraud, but also don’t asperse
True piety; the latter fault is worse,
And it is best to err, if err one must,
As you have done, upon the side of trust. (5.1.39–50)

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