The places they live in and the things that surround them are in varying degrees atmospheric and expressive. In Tartuffe material objects, the props and the house itself, and the places alluded to?

Paris and province, heaven and earth, palace and prison?

have a particular importance (Hope 44).

This does not tie the play to a particular time and place, however, but only shows the importance of locale to the action of the play. Members of the audience also belong to different circles in this scheme and recognize their place in the text.

Holding back the physical appearance of Tartuffe in the play allows other players to exaggerate when describing him and to play to the prejudices of the gallery as far as what such a religious man would be like. The play follows a careful structure to achieve its effect, a structure that would be appreciate by the more...
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