Tartuffe

Tartuffe is a comedic play written by Molière in 1664 and translated by Richard Wilbur. The story centers on a religious hypocrite named Tartuffe who deceives and manipulates a wealthy Parisian family. The head of the household, Orgon, falls under Tartuffe's spell despite warnings from his family members. Tensions rise as Tartuffe gains more control over Orgon's decisions and property. The play moves through misunderstandings, deceptions, and near-disasters as family members attempt to expose Tartuffe's true nature. Characters engage in witty dialogue and clever schemes throughout the five acts. Molière's work examines religious hypocrisy and gullibility while questioning the nature of true piety versus false devotion. The play stands as a critique of social pretense and blind faith, using humor to explore serious themes.

Readers appreciate Wilbur's translation for maintaining the rhyming couplets of Molière's original while keeping the language accessible and natural-sounding in English. Many note that this version works well for both reading and performance. Readers highlight: - Clear, flowing verse that doesn't feel forced - Preservation of the original's humor and wit - Helpful footnotes explaining cultural references Common criticisms: - Some find the rhyming scheme repetitive - A few readers note the formal language can be challenging - Several mention struggling with the French names Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (120+ ratings) From reader reviews: "The rhymes feel natural, not like they're straining to fit" - Goodreads reviewer "Best English version I've encountered for actually staging the play" - Amazon review "Takes a few pages to get used to the verse, but then it flows" - Goodreads reviewer

The School for Wives by Molière A comedy of manners about a controlling guardian who attempts to cultivate the perfect wife through manipulation presents themes of hypocrisy and deception similar to Tartuffe.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde Two men create fictional personas to escape social obligations in this satire of Victorian upper-class marriage and religious morality.

The Way of the World by William Congreve A Restoration comedy featuring complex romantic schemes and social critique exposes the machinations of marriage and inheritance among the aristocracy.

The Misanthrope by Molière A social critic falls in love with a flirtatious young woman, setting up conflicts between honesty and social convention in French high society.

She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith A young woman poses as a maid to win the affections of a man who is only comfortable courting lower-class women, creating a comedy of mistaken identity and social class.

🎭 When "Tartuffe" first premiered in 1664, the Catholic Church was so offended by its portrayal of religious hypocrisy that they succeeded in having the play banned for five years. 📜 Although Richard Wilbur translated the play from French to English in 1963, he maintained Molière's original rhyming couplet structure throughout the entire work, a remarkable feat of literary craftsmanship. 👑 King Louis XIV personally enjoyed the play and supported Molière against his critics, eventually allowing public performances to resume despite fierce opposition from religious authorities. 🎪 The character of Tartuffe was allegedly inspired by a real-life religious fraud who had infiltrated and swindled a wealthy French family known to Molière. ✍️ Wilbur's translation of "Tartuffe" won the Bollingen Poetry Prize and is considered the definitive English version, praised for capturing both the comedy and formal elegance of Molière's original French text.