Book jot from January 2022:

I just finished reading Tartuffe (1664) by Moliere, translated by John Wood and David Coward. It is the first thing I’ve read by him. I’m used to reading theatrical tragedies and a comedy was refreshingly unexpected.

The play revolves around a religious hypocrite and his manipulative influence over a man named Orgon. The rest of the household sees through Tartuffe’s deceit and they all try to convince Orgon of his foolish gullibility.

While writing this, I’m reminded of the feeling I get when reading about some cult or another…how can people fall for such naked manipulation? And then I remember that that is precisely one of the lessons to be learned…that in the right circumstances we’re all capable of being taken in and deceived, especially when such deceptions play on our inner desires, needs, and fears.

“The kind of virtue I want to see is not so prickly.”