Monologue text

Tartuffe by Moliere

Information

Tartuffe (Act I, scene II)
Role: Dorina, clever maid exceptionally willing to state her personal opinions
About the play: Tartuffe was first performed in a private production for King Louis XIV of France in 1664. The play pleased the king, but it was banned from public performance because of strong objections by officials of the Catholic church. Moliere protested, revised the play, and was permitted to produce it again in 1667 for the king. Again it was banned. After Moliere's third petition to the king, the ban was lifted in 1669, and the play was performed for the public.
Acting notes: Rhythm and pace are crucial considerations when delivering Moliere's comic lines. His characters generally interacted rapidly. The vocal tempo is usually rapid and precise. It is necessary to check vocabulary carefully. Soliloquies and asides were frequently used. Unusually clear articulation, pronunciation, and effective varied language of Moliere. Complex inflections and vocal variety are absolutely necessary in performing the language of Moliere... / His character and social comedies were rooted in precise, inventive activity, and therefore movement should be selective and rapid in tempo. A highly theatrical, presentational mode should be used.../ Full-scale role analysis is necessary to create these characters... His characters have biographical background, clear attitudes, and temperament... Your approach to these roles must be serious and in no way mocking, detached, or superficial. The wit and comic situations tend to render the characters ludicrous and humorous, although a serious point of view underlies the comic facade... (Excerpts from the book Acting in Person and in Style)
 

Monologue

Dorina: Her case is nothing, though, beside her son's!
To see him, you would say he's ten times worse!
His conduct in our late unpleasantness [1]
Had won him much esteem, and proved his courage
In service of his king; but now he's like
A man besotted, since he's been so taken
With this Tartuffe. He calls him brother, loves him
A hundred times as much as mother, son,
Daughter, and wife. He tells him all his secrets
And lets him guide his acts, and rule his conscience.
He fondles and embraces him; a sweetheart
Could not, I think, be loved more tenderly;
At table he must have the seat of honour,
While with delight our master sees him eat
As much as six men could; we must give up
The choicest tidbits to him; if he belches,
('tis a servant speaking) [2]
Master exclaims: "God bless you!"--Oh, he dotes
Upon him! he's his universe, his hero;
He's lost in constant admiration, quotes him
On all occasions, takes his trifling acts
For wonders, and his words for oracles.
The fellow knows his dupe, and makes the most on't,
He fools him with a hundred masks of virtue,
Gets money from him all the time by canting,
And takes upon himself to carp at us.
Even his silly coxcomb of a lackey
Makes it his business to instruct us too;
He comes with rolling eyes to preach at us,
And throws away our ribbons, rouge, and patches.
The wretch, the other day, tore up a kerchief
That he had found, pressed in the 'Golden Legend',
Calling it a horrid crime for us to mingle
The devil's finery with holy things.

~The above text is an excerpt from Tartuffe by Moliere~
 

[1] Referring to the rebellion called La Fronde, during the minority of Louis XIV.

[2] Moliere's note, inserted in the text of all the old editions. It is a curious illustration of the desire for uniformity and dignity of style in dramatic verse of the seventeenth century, that Moliere feels called on to apologize for a touch of realism like this. Indeed, these lines were even omitted when the play was given.

Books and movies (about Tartuffe)

Amazon.com Homepage

Monologues aStore in Association with Amazon.com

Do you need a monologue? I'm sure you will find what you are looking for at my place. Check this link: http://astore.amazon.com/monologues-20/
 

Related Links (about Tartuffe)

 

Back to my monologues page