Tartuffe: To your thinking, which character is most central so far? In other words, who is this play most about? Why do you think so?

Why should we read literature? Pieter: Without literature there would be no way to learn from our previous mistakes and move forward in a positive direction. Gabrielle: Reading helps us solve things and relate to situations in our everyday lives. Toad: Literature enriches the cultures our world has developed and soothes the soul as music or art does as well. It also helps our American culture to better understand the English language which facilitates a deeper knowledge of all societies around us. Lumin: 1) To experience our (civilization’s) base/structure of the cultural, political, and literal times through art. 2) To be able to express that foundation through philosophical banter at scotch parties with all your professorial friends. Shawn C.: Reading literature can broaden your mind’s vocabulary and help you become a better reader and writer of your own maturing.

Why should we read literature? (cont’d) Darby: Through literature we can better understand social contexts, political contexts, religion, values, etc. It helps to better understand the world and ideas around us. Bret: Literature allows the reader to bring something to the story themselves where forms such as theatre and film fill in some of the things literature would allow one to imagine themselves. Brianna: We should read (and study) literature to become more enlightened and responsible citizens of the world. Noufissa: Literature is like a memory work, we can preserve and transmit the memory of peoples through literature. And the memory is, I think, important for the development of the human species. Jeff M.: Being well read is a good way to trick others into thinking you’re smart. Leslie: I personally want to read literature to find out more about what and who I am in relation to the world and its people now and in the past.

The Enlightenment What is it? When was it? What are its roots?

Enlightenment Defined WHAT it is… (Norton) Enlightenment …the gaining of illumination by means of the power of the human mind. Combined with REASON… “He that thinks reasonably must think morally.” (Dr. Johnson) “Enlightenment” an historical category coined by people who lived during it  A break from the past (obscurity, darkness, ignorance)  replacing it with the “light” of truth

Enlightenment Defined (cont’d) Seven Main Components of Enlightenment Thought: 1.The universe is fundamentally rational 2. Truth can be arrived at thru empirical observation, the use of reason, and systematic doubt 3. Human experience is the foundation of human understanding of truth 4. All human life can be understood in the same way as the natural world

Enlightenment Defined (cont’d) Seven Main Components of Enlightenment Thought (cont’d): 5. Human history is largely a history of progress 6. Human beings can be improved through education 7. Religious doctrines have no place in the understanding of the physical and human worlds

When did the Enlightenment occur? Beginning? 17 th century? End? 21 st century? …hard to say…

What are the roots of the Enlightenment? 1517: Martin Luther nails his 95 theses to the Castle Church door in Wittenburg, Germany “Here I stand, I can do no other”

Religious Divisions in Europe

Thirty Years War Fought primarily in Germany Civilians suffered

Enlightenment - Historical Context Europe reeling from religious wars – Wars of Religion ( ) – Thirty Years War ( ) FRANCE the nominal winner THE CATCH: A stronger monarchy – (liberty for safety)

Louis XIV King of France AKA: Louis the Great The Sun King Portrait of Louis XIVPortrait of Louis XIV, oil on canvas, 1701, Hyacinth Rigaud, The Louvre, Paris, France(age 62)

What’s the significance of Louis XIV’s reign? Ushered in the Age of Absolutism Centralized the national government judicial and legislative systems military tax collection all this created  national bureaucracy ARTS – strong supporter…but for what reason?

Versailles “Theater” of National Government All nobles required to spend time at Versailles Ostentatious pageants, performances, shows of wealth

Moliere Lived A life in the theater Tartuffe – written 1664, first full performance 1669

Moliere’s warning from preface of Love as the Doctor (1665): It is not necessary to warn you that there are lots of things which depend upon the action. One knows well that comedies are made only to be played, and I do not advise the reading of this one except by persons who have eyes to discover in the reading all of the live action of the theater. What I will tell you is that it would be desirable that these sorts of works might always be shown to you with the ornaments that accompany them in a royal performance. You would see them in a much more acceptable state.

Tartuffe Conventions – Stock character types – Comedic structure – Social conventions Dichotomous Thinking in Orgon and his children

Tartuffe: “Hang up my hair shirt.” -An “aid” to piety popular in medieval times -A form of “mortification” -- Orgon to Mariane: “Marry Tartuffe and mortify your flesh.” (Act IV, Scene 3)

Tartuffe: “Put my scourge in place.”

Characters in Tartuffe Most enjoyable (votes) Dorine (17) Tartuffe (4) – “skilled criminal” Orgon (2) – “brain- washedness was amusing” Damis (2) – “never afraid” M. Pernelle (1) Elmire (1) Most maddening/frustrating Orgon (15) Tartuffe (5) M Pernelle (4) Elmire (1) – “didn’t stand up for herself (vs. Tartuffe)” Valere (1) – “so whiny”

Other considerations in Tartuffe: Who is the satire aimed at, Orgon or Tartuffe? “His majesty had a play entitled Tartuffe performed […] although he had found it very diverting, the king perceived so great a resemblance between those whose true devotion set them on the path to heaven and those whose vain exhibition of good works did not prevent them from committing bad ones that his very scrupulous concern for religious matters could not permit this resemblance between vice and virtue…and while not doubting the good intentions of the author [Moliere], he had forbidden it in public and deprived himself of this pleasure, in order that others, less capable than he of making a just discernment, not be abused by it.”

Other considerations in Tartuffe (cont’d): Power of written vs. oral agreements = change from feudalism  absolutism (rise of bureaucracy) The ending: rex ex machina Do Moliere and Tartuffe apply to our lives today?

Fontaine ( ) The Crow and the Fox August 17, 1661 – meets the Sun King at Vaux le Vicomte, Nicolas Fouquet’s palace Flees after Fouquet’s arrest  a different path from Moliere Art at the time = crude self-glorification of the royals