Similarities Between Tartuffe And Candide

When reading a work of fiction, one has to be aware of different writing styles that will clue you into the information that the author wants one to pick up on. In the works, Molière 's "Tartuffe" and Voltaire 's "Candide" the themes of appearance vs. reality can be found. I will be discussing this theme which is both obvious and subtle depending on the author. I will be discussing the theme of appearance vs. reality.

In "Tartuffe", the character "Tartuffe" is touted as a holy zealous man that is supposed to be pious. Tartuffe is actually a master con-artist who gains entrée into the household of Orgon by portraying himself as a holy man. Throughout the play Tartuffe first gains permission to marry Orgon 's daughter Marianne, then he proceeds
You 'd have done better to restrain your passion and think before you spoke in such a fashion. It ill becomes a pious man like you... '

Tartuffe: 'I may be pious, but I am human too: With your celestial charms before his eyes, a man has not the power to be wise. I know such words sound strangely coming from me, but I 'm no angel, nor was meant to be ' (Moliére Act III Sc IV).

Tartuffe is trying to gain the affection of Elmire despite the fact that he is betrothed to Marianne. He makes another pass at Elmire again in Act Four. In this scene, Tartuffe is trying to convince Elmire that they can have an affair. Tartuffe uses language and logic that betray that he is not in fact pious at
In Voltaire 's novel, "Candide", there are many examples of appearance vs. reality. The novel begins by describing different philosophical arguments. Candide 's philosophical stance is one that states that everything is the best of all possible worlds.

It can be demonstrated, that things could not be other than they are; for everything has been made to serve a purpose, and so nothing is susceptible to improvement (Voltaire 2).

This ideology is one that can be inherently deceiving. When Candide and his companions arrive in Lisbon, there is a huge earthquake that kills many people and creates a great deal of damage. Candide and Pangloss attempt to help the people injured during the earthquake, during which Pangloss attempt to tell someone that the earthquake was for the best, but he ends up being taken by the inquisition:

'For, all this is for the best; for, if there is a volcano at Lisbon, it cannot be anywhere else; for it is impossible that things should not be where they are; for all is well. ' A little, dark man, a familiar of the Inquisition, who sat beside him, politely took up the conversation, and said ' Apparently, you do not believe in original sin; for, if everything is for the best, there was neither fall nor punishment. ' ... 'Your Excellency will pardon me, ' said Pangloss; 'free-will can exist with absolute necessity; for it was necessary that we should be free; for in short, limited will... '