Tartuffe Foolishness and Folly Quotes Page 1

Page (1 of 4) Quotes: 1 2 3 4

How we cite the quotes:
Citations follow this format: (Act.Scene.Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue. We used Richard Wilbur's translation.

Quote #1

Madame Pernelle:
"Children, I take my leave much vexed in spirit.
I offer good advice but you won't hear it.
You all break in and chatter on and on.
It's like a madhouse with the keeper gone." (1.1.5)

Madame Pernelle considers Orgon's family to be mad; as we find out, however, they "break in and chatter on and on" in attempt to persuade Madame Pernelle that her ideas are, in fact, crazy.

Quote #2

Madame Pernelle:
"These visits, balls, and parties in which you revel
Are nothing but inventions of the Devil.
[…]
People are driven half-insane
At such affairs, where noise and folly reign
And reputations perish thick and fast.
As a wise preacher said on Sunday last,
Parties are Towers of Babylon, because
The guests all babble on with never a pause;" (1.1.34)

Madame Pernelle's description of "visits, balls, and parties" is similar to the chaos that Tartuffe has brought to Orgon's house.

Quote #3

Cléante:
"My, what a scene she made, and what a din!
And how this man Tartuffe has taken her in!"

Dorine:
"Her son is worse deceived;
His folly must be seen to be believed." (1.2.3-4)

Dorine's claim is a bit hard to swallow, but seeing is believing in this case; Orgon really is worse deceived.

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