The Misanthrope, Tartuffe, and Other Plays (Oxford World's Classics) [Paperback]

Moliï¿1/2re (Author), Maya Slater (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Oxford World's Classics | Publication Date: September 20, 2001

This unique volume brings together four of Moli�re's greatest verse comedies covering the best years of his prolific writing career. Actor, director, and playwright, Moli�re (1622-73) was one of the finest and most influential French dramatists, adept at portraying human foibles and puncturing pomposity. The School for Wives was his first great success; Tartuffe, condemned and banned for five years, his most controversial play. The Misanthrope is his acknowledged masterpiece, and The Clever Women his last, and perhaps best-constructed, verse piece. In addition this collection includes a spirited attack on his enemies and a defense of his theater, in the form of two sparkling short plays, The School for Wives Criticized and The Impromptu at Versailles.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`Both prose and verse translations do full justice to Moliere's wit and ingenuity, and make reading this book a highly enjoyable experience' TLS, 17/08/01

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 8th edition (September 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192833413
• ISBN-13: 978-0192833419
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,297,524 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Tartuffe, May 2, 2011

By 

Aryeh S - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Misanthrope, Tartuffe, and Other Plays (Oxford World's Classics) (Kindle Edition)

"Tartuffe" is a play written by Moliere in 17th Century France. It begins with the family of Orgon, a rich nobleman, who is being deceived by Tartuffe, a fake "Man of God". Tartuffe himself is not actually introduced until in middle of the play, which I think, gives an affect of making the audience wait in anticipation for the main character. Orgon is completely fooled by Tartuffe's ways and will not believe any ill words about him. So much so, that Orgon plans on giving his daughters hand in marriage to Tartuffe, while Tartuffe makes advances on Orgons wife, and Orgon will not believe it. The rest of the family sees right through this bogus Tartuffe, but for most of the play Orgon will not accept it. Finally, Orgons wife is able to set up a trap in which Tartuffe was caught in the act. Tartuffe already had the rights to all of Orgons property signed over to him, through his deceit, but when Tartuffe went to the king, the king saw right through him, and the play ends happily.

The play does end happily, while showing the king in a good light, which was the proper thing to do during that time period. However, because of it's criticism to the Catholic church, the play was actually banned on more than one occasion. The devout people of the Catholic church felt that Tartuffe was showing them in a bad light, because that is what Tartuffe was posing as.

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny !, April 27, 2011

By 

kazou - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Misanthrope, Tartuffe, and Other Plays (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

Tartuffe is a very funny play. Through Tartuffe, Molière exposes and criticizes different aspects of French society around the 17th century. He criticizes the hypocrisy through the main character Tartuffe who uses religious values to get into a family and take advantage of them. He depicts forced marriage through Orgon's daugther Marianne, and the importance of father son relationship through Damis.

I think Dorine and Cléante are memorable characters in the play. Cléante was the perfect man for the "honest man" because he had less emotional connections and less interest in what was going on in the house. He talked out of reason and calmness. Dorine was the voice that said what people really thought. The play ended in by a suspicious intervention by the King. I think maybe Molière may have used the same strategy that Tartuffe used, boosting the King's ego to get him to appreciate his work.

5.0 out of 5 stars tartuffe, April 8, 2011

By 

Ivy - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Misanthrope, Tartuffe, and Other Plays (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

Tartuffe is a famous play written by Moliere in the 17th century, under the reign of Luis XIV. It is about the guy, Tartuffe, who is seemingly a very humble man devoted to the church, but in fact has completely different plans and ideas. He meets Orgon, a rich noble man, at a church, and impresses him so much, that Orgon promises him his daughter's hand as well as the whole household. The rest of the Orgon's family realizes very fast that Tartuffe is a hypocrite, but they cannot oppose Orgon because in that period of time no one was going against the "King" of a family. The only person, who is openly opposing Orgon and trying to convince him that he is wrong about Tartuffe, is Dorine the maid, who brings the fresh air of the working class people of pre-revolutionary France in this noble family with a strict order. Eventually, Orgon finds out that he has been "dragged by the nose" after he witnesses how Tartuffe tried to seduce his wife.
After I read this play I realized why the name Tartuffe became a synonym for hypocrisy. There have always been people who passionately preach something that they don't strongly believe in. The play vividly describes those types of individuals, and shows a paradigm for that kind of behavior.