FICTION VERSUS REALITY

Fiction versus Reality

Fiction versus Reality

Introduction

Most people assume that if you can touch an object, taste it, or hit something with it, it must be real, and their knowledge of its reality is based on the direct apprehension of the facts at hand. Fiction, on the other hand, because it is made up by us, is not a fact we can apprehend directly, and is thus either false or unreal. It is arguing that the reverse is true: that our access to reality is based on fiction rather than fact, that we understand something only insofar as we tell ourselves a story about it. By this mean that fiction is inherently more 'true' than fact, and that what we call facts are actually nothing more than good fictions- ones which we deem most reasonable to accept.

Discussion

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, Moli & engrave area's "Tartuffe" and Voltaire's "Candide" the themes of appearance vs. reality can be found. It will be discussing this theme which is both obvious and subtle depending on the author. It 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 entreasure 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 to try and seduce her mother and Orgon's wife Elmire. This is one of the most obvious scenes in which one can see Tartuffe's facetiae being challenged.

Elmire: 'Your declaration is most gallant, Sir, But don't you think it's out of character? 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 all.

Elmire: But how can I consent with your offense to heaven, toward which you feel such reverence?

Tartuffe: If heaven is all that holds you back, don't worry. I can remove that hindrance in a hurry. Nothing of that sort need obstruct our path...

Tartuffe: If you're still troubled, think of things this way: No one shall know our joys, save us alone, and there's ...