Question

Compare the passage below to Orgon’s description of Tartuffe in Act 1.5,11. 30-40.What does this say about Tartuffe’s piety?

Matthew 6:6 “But thou,when thou prayest,enter into thy closet,and when thou hast shut thy door,pray to thy Father which is in secret;and thy Father,which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”

Answer 1

The Matthew passage conveys a downright opposite message to that of Orgon. It means that Tartuffe's piety is a spectacle, a theater show for Orgon and the masses to see. Tartuffe pompously prayed in church before the congregation (and Orgon, of course), kissing the ground all the time, pathetically sighing and demonstrating his piety very loudly.