Indulgences and Religious Hypocrisy
The selling of indulgences to promise salvation was a common occurrence during The Middle Ages and the Renaissance. High church officials were profiting from this, showing that even the church was concerned with money, not traditional Christian values like love, sympathy, and giving. Moliere was highly critical of this practice in Tartuffe, demonstrated by Orgon giving his possessions to Tartuffe to get to Heaven. Additionally, Moliere attacked the religious hypocrites during his time, who still exist today.
Tartuffe, the antagonist, is portrayed by Orgon as a deeply pious man who prays loudly in church and has taught Orgon how to behave to get into Heaven. Cléante, the voice of reason in the play, sees through Tartuffe's ruse.
"So those whose hearts are truly pure and lowly
Don't make a flashy show of being holy.
There's a vast difference, so it seems to me,
Between true piety and hypocrisy."
Cléante was correct because Tartuffe used this false appearance of piety to manipulate Orgon and his family, and ultimately end up with the deed to his house. Tartuffe, like many of the people around this time, was obsessed with worldly possessions and his own self-interest. He was quick to condemn others who didn't act a certain way, similar to the church executing non-Christians during the Crusades and many other religious wars. Ultimately, Tartuffe's greedy behavior turned Orgon's family against each other, as they resorted to spying and deceiving others to get what they wanted.
What is right?
Moliere is suggesting that we should abandon selfishness and the obsession with our own personal salvation. Instead, we should be aware of the needs of the people all around us and support them. Additionally, we should be humble, not arrogant and prideful like Tartuffe and Orgon.