perficial research of French Theatre during this early period of the reign of King Louis will surface questions about the influence of the Catholic Church. It is in the nature of the Tartuffe Interdiction that one most clearly sees the struggle of power within the Court of King Louis XIV. Through the lens of Molire's struggle to produce Tartuffe the nature of the struggle between the Church and King Louis becomes clearer. The key to understanding the situation lies in an investigation of the Church's motivation to suppress the performance of Tartuffe.The Church felt threatened by Tartuffe in that one of its main characters used a projection of piety to take advantage of a weaker and less secure target. In the play, Tartuffe is taken into the home of Orgon, a man searching for spirituality (or at least a place in heaven). Orgon is so taken by the charms and piety of Tartuffe that he tries to bestow on Tartuffe all his worldly and familial possessions including the hand of his daughter. Tartuffe is able to use the leverage of his religious superiority to manipulate the man and gain his way (for a time).At the time of Tartuffe was written, the Catholic Church of France was adjusting and reacting to the recent loss of Cardinal Mazarin. When Louis XIV created the Council of Ministers, foregoing the help of a religious advisor and de facto Regent, he created a vacuum of power and the Church suddenly found itself forced to fight for a continued position of influence. As the Church took on a more publicly recognizable role in the maneuverings of Palace politics, certain segments of society began to notice growing cracks in the Church's doctrine of divine providence. It became, in some circles, a topic of discussion and conjecture as to the motives of the Churches influence in the France's affairs of State.It was critical for the Catholic Church to allay any question that it might exist for anything other than to live by and preach the...
