Tartuffe í sögu og samtíð

Abstract

One of the most popular French comedies of all times, Molière’s Tartuffe from 1669, is still remarkably present and being performed in theatres today, 350 years after its premiere at the court of Louis XIV. The story of the hypocrite who fools rich Orgon into leaving him all his belongings is indeed compelling and has reflected social preoccupations ever since Molière’s day. This article retraces the historical background of the comedy and its reception in 17th century France, marked by longstanding tensions between religious groups within the Catholic Church, resulting in the play being banned. The article recounts Molière’s battle to have the ban lifted as well as recent research on the playwright’s revisions of his comedy to that end. In our day, the play’s denunciation of hypocrisy, plain lies and bad faith in general, seems to have direct repercussions, as discussed by theatre directors and actors of the various interpretations of Molière’s masterpiece in European theatres in recent years. Finally, the article retraces the productions of Tartuffe in Iceland, from the first performance of the third and the fourth Acts of the play in 1929 to the National Theatre’s presentation in the spring of 2019.