Use Of Language Against Orgon example essay topic

justice and Injustice in Tartuffe A theme of the play Tartuffe is justice. Justice, or the lack of justice, can be seen in the relationship between father and son, father and daughter, and guest and host. Laconian philosophy, which focuses on language and the conflict that the male feels due to a disintegration of oneness, can be used to look at injustice as it manifests itself in the male conflict within the play. According to Lacan, a male child experiences conflict with his father, who is associated with language and thus otherness. Once a child enters into the world of language he loses his sense of unity with his mother. In Tartuffe the father, Orgon is in conflict with his son, Damis.

Damis is a rash person who does not think things completely through before choosing a course of action, as seen when he says abruptly, 'I'll go and tell [Tartuffe] off-, I'm out of patience' (3.1. 10). He verbally spars with his father, who is completely infatuated with the behavior of Tartuffe, to see Tartuffe for what he is. After eavesdropping on the conversation between Elmire, the wife of Orgon, and Tartuffe, Damis is convinced that he has the evidence that he needs to convince Orgon of his position, as indicated when he says, 'And now I've proof that can't he disbelieved Proof that was furnished me by Heaven above' (3.4. 24-25).

1 le then goes to destroy his father's view of Tartuffe. Orgon, however, upon hearing that Damis has caught Tartuffe trying to seduce Elmire, immediately takes a defensive stance and instead of believing his own son, claims the accusation is false and defends the stranger saying, 'Ah, you deceitful boy, how dare you try / To stain his purity with so foul a lie?' (3.6. 15-16). He scolds him: 'Be still you monster' (3.6. 37). As the argument continues, Orgon prevents his son from finishing all of his statements except one.

Orgon even says, 'Just one word more, and I'll tear you limb from limb. ' This argument culminates in the unjust disinheritance of Damis, and the complete silencing of the son. This use of language as a means to declare law instead of love can be seen at other points in the play as well. Mariane, the daughter of Orgon, was to marry Valere. However, infatuated with Tartuffe, Orgon decides that Mariane is to marry Tartuffe instead. Not only does this disregard for a child's love interests destroy the hopes of one young couple, but it also hurts the chances of Damis for marriage with Valere's sister.

This shows Orgon's power over the family, as described when Mariane replies to Dorine who questioned her silence, saying 'What good would it do? A father's power is great. ' (2.3. 5). Mariane rarely disputes an order directly. Instead, she plays the obedient daughter and does not speak her mind. In fact, Orgon even seems to control her use of language.

For example, when Mariane is asked what she thinks of Tartuffe, Mariane replies, 'I'll say whatever you wish me to' (2.1. 14). Orgon goes on to tell her to say that she is desirous of having Tartuffe as her wife. When she replies that she cannot say such an untruth, Orgon unjustly declares, 'I am resolved it shall be true, / That it's my wish should be enough for you' (2.1. 25-26), in complete disregard for anyone's feelings except his own. This use of language by Orgon is likely a reflection of Tartuffe's control over him, for Tartuffe uses language for subversive purposes, such as for seduction, deception, stealing. and control.

For example, while trying to seduce Elmire, Tartuffe employs the art of twisting the meanings of words in an attempt to convince Elmire that it is acceptable for her to give into him. For example, in attempt to gain the confidence of Elmire for his own selfish lusts, he says that 'any wrongful act you care to mention / May be redeemed by purity of intention,' (4.5. 105,106), which is an attempt to subvert the highest law, the law of God, thus also demonstrating the conflict between father and son on the spiritual level. The son, the evil Tartuffe, is violating the law of God, the Father. Orgon is also silent at various times, during which times justice is observed.

For instance, the marriage of Mariane is openly disputed by Dorine, the lady's-maid of Mariane. Dorine is ultimately ordered to be silent by Orgon as this argument persists. When Dorine comments to herself about Orgon's orders, Orgon proclaims 'it seems you treat my orders as a joke' (2.2. 112).

This commenting eventually annoys Orgon to the point that he says, 'She makes me sinfully annoyed and nettled. / I can't speak further... ' (2.2. 126-127), symbolizing the disassociation of language with the female figures, for he is not able to silence Dorine. Stomping off, Orgon is not able to persuade Mariane to his way of thinking, and injustice is at least delayed. Orgon is also silent while hiding in order that he might witness the treacherous attempts of the seduction of his wife by the deceptive Tartuffe. At this point, Orgon is under the table, a womb image. which symbolizes the reintegration with their mothers that all males, according to Lacan, are desirous of attaining.

Here, Orgon, is reconciled with this desire and remains silent, even during the plentiful hints of Elmire who attempts to draw him out. Orgon, having seen the true feelings of Tartuffe, reemerges from the womb-like table as a changed man. Speaking about Tartuffe, he says that 'Hell never harbored anything so vicious!' (5.6. 7). Orgon then begins again to use language as law, although for a more just purpose, as seen when he says, 'No more talk from you; / Just leave this household, without more ado' (5.7. 15-16).

This use of language also demonstrates a factor of love and concern for the family of Orgon, as Orgon, the father and thus protector of the family, is now attempting to drive a hypocrite lecher from the household. Tartuffe, almost in reaction to this use of law, just as Orgon's speech was influenced by Tartuffe earlier, then attempts to turn this use of language against Orgon. Tartuffe proclaims, 'No, I'm the master, and you " re the one to go... / And that I've means to expose and punish you... / and make you grieve / That you dared order me to leave' (5.7.

19-25). This use of language is much different from other language used in the play by Tartuffe with Orgon, as before Tartuffe would use loving language and call Orgon by such names as 'brother. ' This language of law is then turned on the user again, this time by the King, who has, off stage, seen that Tartuffe is a hypocrite and employs swift justice by ordering that it is not Orgon who is to be jailed, but Tartuffe. The Officer, speaking about the King, says 'His sovereign reason is not lightly swayed, / And all his judgments are discreetly weighed' (5.7. 51-52), which demonstrates the just character of the King. The King, on a higher level, symbolizes God, as His representative according to the Divine Right of Kings, thus stating that they were chosen by God, which further emphasizes the conflict between a son and his father.

God, the Father, has applied justice to his deceitful son, Tartuffe. Orgon has even acted unjustly to his wife. After returning home from a trip, Orgon inquires about the state of the household. Orgon is then told that 'Your wife. two days ago, had a bad fever, / And a fierce headache which refused to leave her' (1.4. 9- 10), which seems to have no effect on Orgon. Orgon immediately inquires into the health of Tartuffe, which does not even show the basic regard that a husband naturally should show for his wife, whereas Dorine is completely concerned with the health of Elmire.

As Dorine is the female companion of Mariane, they must be approximately near each other in age, and perhaps she even associates just as much with Elmire as does Mariane because Elmire is only stepmother to the children of Orgon. This presents a demonstration of unity with a maternal-figure and a daughter-figure, a unity with a female which Orgon cannot feel because he is alienated by the association he would have felt with his father. Interestingly, Orgon's mother is still alive at the time of this play; his father is apparently deceased. There are other examples of injustice in the play. For example, once Tartuffe has attempted to evict Orgon, Monsieur Loyal arrives to deliver the notice to Orgon. Monsieur Loyal, an old friend of the family, treats Orgon with little more respect than he would an ordinary person, Monsieur Loyal states that he has served the father of Orgon, and thus show that he is of an age greater than that of Orgon.

He also claims that he has 'always held [Orgon's] family most dear,' suggesting that he had at one time a definite closeness to Orgon, at least as much as almost an uncle, thus creating another family paternal figure who uses language for establishing law rather than for love. He offers to give the family the night in the house, but on the condition they leave in the morning. All of this is done out of what Monsieur Loyal believes is an act of justice. He further believes that Orgon would never disobey the just law, as he claims that Orgon is a man who 'Like every worthy citizen, stands in awe / Of justice, and would never obstruct the law' (5.4. 45, 46). This statement also shows that Orgon, as he was seen by a man before the play was to have begun, was at one time a just man before he met Tartuffe.

There is much injustice in the play Tartuffe. This injustice as well as the justice that triumphs often comes through the use of language for the purpose of establishing either law or love. Sometimes a character takes on this language by association with other characters, and other times in reaction to the use of this language by other characters. Regardless of the source, language is a common medium for the expression of justice or its opposite. This language is used by characters as a result of the conflict that a male feels as described by Lacan, which more often that not, results in the expression of injustice. The expression of injustice is language-based because the male, by being exposed to language, is thrust into a world of alienation, and has experienced injustice from his first experience with language.