The play “Tartuffe”, by Moliere, is a work that was created to show people a flaw in their human nature. There are two characters who portray the main flaw presented in the play. Both Madame Pernelle and Orgon are blinded to the farces of Tartuffe and must be coaxed into believing the truth. The fact that Orgon and Madame Pernelle are too weak to see the truth is an important theme of the play.
The most obvious weakness shared between Orgon and Madame Pernelle is gullibility. The trait of gullibility can be seen as a family trait as suggested in an essay on “Tartuffe” : “His mother shares his capacity for self-delusion even after Tartuffe has been found out (“We cannot always judge by what we see”)” (Weals). Orgon believes because Tartuffe claims to be a man of God he should put everything he has into Tartuffe’s hands. He proves how much he believes this after Damis tells him that Tartuffe was flirting with Elmire. From this accusation Orgon replies to Damis: “I disinherit you; an empty purse / Is all you’ll get from me – except my curse!” (III, vii , 68). Madame Pernelle shows the family trait that she shares with her son when she states: “He’s a fine man, and should be listened to.”(I, i ,44), while speaking of Tartuffe. Although they share this trait throughout the play, Orgon’s eyes are finally opened at the end of the play while his mother is still held by the farce of Tartuffe.
Although Tartuffe is portrayed as the main character of the play, Orgon is the character who should really be paid attention to the most. As suggested in an essay on “Tartuffe” audiences who concentrate on the character who titles the work may miss the author’s point: “…vitriol and spleen vented on one man suggests that Moliere’s satire of Orgon, nevermind Tartuffe, was steeped in truth.” (Smaje). Orgon is the character who represents the weakness in human nature. This weakness is shown throughout the play. Orgon is so willing to entrust everything he has into the care of Tartuffe. He places Tartuffe above the well being of his family. When he returns from his trip and asks Cleante how the household was while he was gone, Cleante tells him that his wife had been very sick. Orgon’s odd response is, “Ah.
Free My Antonia Essays: The Growth of Jim Burden
The Growth of Jim Burden in My Antonia
“The movement from possession to loss, from union to separation, is the deep and central pattern of Jim Burden’s experience in My Antonia.” (Fisher-Wirth) I believe that this quote given by the critic Fisher-Wirth somewhat explains the life of Jim Burden and that although he went through both gains and losses throughout his life; he learned the meaning and purpose of his life with Antonia.
In the beginning of the novel, Jim had a family but was soon abandoned by them do to both of their deaths. He was then on his way to his grandparents house in Nebraska to begin a new and different life. At this point, he began a union with both his grandparents as well as Antonia.
Antonia and Jim became very close friends and went through many childhood experiences together. Their friendship was soon torn apart when Ambrosch and Jake engaged in a quarrel which separated the two families for quite some time. But once again, the families resolve their differences and become close again. (Chapter 1)
When Chapter 2 begins, Jim and his family are separated from Antonia’s because of their new move to town. After this separation, Jim and Antonia were brought together again when Antonia came to work in town. This pattern repeats once again as the result of Jim going off to college. He loses touch with Antonia but then, through Lena, becomes connected to Antonia again. As a result of this, Jim goes back home to visit for a short time and then leaves for New York. Finally, twenty years later, Jim travels back to see Antonia and her new, “enlarged” family. He was glad to see that Antonia was finally happy again and enjoyed meeting all her children as well as her husband.
With Jim’s trip back to Black Hawk, he was able to tie his whole life together. After leaving Antonia’s home, Jim felt that his life had made a circle. He realized that through all his gains and losses, the past that he shared with Antonia was so precious.