Cléante

E499646

Cléante is a voice-of-reason character in Molière’s play "Tartuffe," known for his rationality, moderation, and moral clarity in contrast to the play’s hypocritical figures.

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Statements (37)

Predicate Object
instanceOf fictional character
theatrical character
voice of reason
advocatesFor genuine piety
measured, thoughtful action
tolerance
appearsInWork Tartuffe NERFINISHED
characterType raisonneur
communicatesThrough reasoned argument and measured speech
contrastsWith Tartuffe NERFINISHED
hypocritical characters in Tartuffe
createdBy Molière NERFINISHED
criticizes fanaticism
religious hypocrisy
embodies Enlightenment-style rational discourse
firstPerformanceApproxDate 1664
hasFunctionInPlot counsels Orgon
offers moral and philosophical commentary
provides a rational counterpoint to Tartuffe’s hypocrisy
hasRole voice of reason in the play
hasTrait moderation
moral clarity
rationality
isMaleCharacter true
languageOfWork French
literaryPeriodContext French classical theatre
moralAlignment ethical
nationalityContext French (within the world of the play)
opposes Tartuffe’s manipulation of Orgon
relatedWork Tartuffe, ou l’Imposteur NERFINISHED
represents moderate, balanced judgment
reason
symbolizes critical thinking in the face of deception
moral lucidity
usedAsExampleIn studies of the ‘raisonneur’ character type in French drama
workAuthor Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known as Molière NERFINISHED
workGenre comedy

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

L’Avare character Cléante
Tartuffe mainCharacter Cléante