Enlightened Society
Ray’s Presentation: The Enlightenment Part 1
The Rise of the West and Historical Methodology
“The Enlightenment in Europe and the Americas” (3-11)
Tartuffe (12-68)
from A Vindication of the Rights of Women (160-163).
Both of works of literature you’ve tackled this week challenged received notions about society. This week’s discussion will have you examining the these writers’ exploration of these changing times.
Part One: Reason and Tradition
Reflect on how Moliere explores the tension between adherence to tradition and reason in Tartuffe through the characters of Orgon and Cleante. This is an open-ended question — though clearly they most strongly differ in their response to Tartuffe himself. Your post does need to draw specifically from the play to support your analysis — summarize at least one relevant scene which illustrates your interpretation, and include at least one or two specific quotations.
Part Two: Challenging the Role of Women
Reflect on how Mary Wollstonecraft would view the role of women in Tartuffe. Again — the question is open ended, but you need to support your interpretation with specifics from the excerpt we’ve read from A Vindication of the Rights of Women.
Each post should be at least 400 words.
Solution Preview
Enlightened Society
Reason and Tradition
At the time Moliere, a French write wrote the French theoretical comedy, French as well as the entire world was undergoing a very important and significant transition period. Notably, the period was commonly referred to as the period and age of enlightenment since the society was in turmoil and confusion, being split between two ideologies that shaped and defined the society. On one side was the traditional aspect of the society that had existed since way back while on the other side was the new and uprising ideology that was being introduced in the society, which was aimed at transforming the society into a modern society. The traditional society was characterized by the fixed ideology of faith and religion that ruled since way back while the modern society which was being introduced to the people was based on the belief and power of science and intellectual reasoning.
(1,067 words)