Andie Morgenlander Both Tartuffe and On Approval display how social rank is a consistent theme within domestic comedy.

The characters of Tartuffe and George are similar because both attempt to use their social stature for their own personal gain. George is trying to woo Helen with the fact that she could be a duchess, while Tartuffe is trying to gain Orgons approval and by extension, his property. Despite the fact they are both trying to gain something, their characters differ due to the fact that George truthfully has his rank as Duke to stand on, while Tartuffe is merely appearing to be this devout religious ascetic. The social order is influential in both of these situations; because decisions are made based on how high or low someone is in stature. Social order is reestablished in both of these circumstances, as both of these characters are forced to realize ranking wont get them what they desire. George and Tartuffe believe that having great stature will result their own personal gain. Its clear even though one is set in the seventeenth century, and one in the twentieth century, that social rank is of the utmost importance. Both of these main characters continually rest on the fact that they have these unique social roles. Even though Georges is truthful and Tartuffes is false, its still something both characters fall back on as motivation. When trying to align himself with Orgon, Tartuffe puts on this front as an honest man, For the discord I have caused, I deeply grieve (p. 1270, line 14) Through his religious ascetic persona, he attempts to spin Orgons perception of him. In a similar way, when George is proposing to Helen, he tries to bribe her with the fact that he is a Duke. Its as if in his mind, his high

social status is reason enough for her to marry him. Both of these men use high social status to try to sway others opinions, for their own personal gain. These two characters have a distinct contrasting quality as well, which is that George actually is a Duke so he has some grounds to stand on, unlike Tartuffe who is neither a pious nor humble man. George bases his entire marriage proposal on the fact that he is a Duke, and he actually thinks this is a reason shell say yes. It shows his ignorance and how despite the fact that he does have this high social rank, it doesnt mean he will just end up with everything he wants. Tartuffe on the other hand, is supporting himself on faulty groundwork because he isnt truly who he is pretending to be. He puts on this front and acts like this highly respectable man to get what he wants, when in fact he is deceitful and manipulative, doing everything he can for himself including lying. Despite both using social status for their own interests, George actually has this stature while Tartuffe is simply putting on an act. Domestic comedy is characterized by its emphasis on the relevance of social order, and this is a theme shared by Tartuffe and by On Approval. George and Tartuffe exemplify this theme by basing much of their action on the high social ranking that they have or in Tartuffes case, seem to have. Throughout the entirety of both of these works, relationships are affected by on social ranking showing that no matter what the time period is, its something that retains relevance. Both show how social classes do not mix, and if they try to then order is disturbed, but by the end of both of these comedies, truth falls into place, as it rightfully should. The truth about Tartuffe comes out, and in On Approval both men end up with the women they are suited to.