The spirit of the Age of Enlightenment is embodied in our texts with examples of reason, equality for all and rationality. Tartuffe by Molière and Les Suicides d'amour à Amijima by Chikamatsu Mon' Zaemon both show these characteristics through the characters and plot of each story. The move away from ideals and irrational thoughts that accompany a sole focus on an organized and constructed order is shown in a negative light through the texts we read.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get an original essayIn the play Tartuffe, equality is demonstrated despite social class. Older ideologies were not as open to fairness and equal rights, and yet we see the Enlightenment touching on the worth of every individual. An example of this is shown through the character of Dorine. Dorine comes from the working class and clearly displays the values ​​associated with the Age of Enlightenment. She is Mariane's maid in the play and occupies a somewhat low position in the rankings. Although Dorine is not as high in class as other individuals, she has a mentality of reason and is extremely competent. In fact, Dorine was one of the very first people to understand Tartuffe and his false persona. When speaking to Madame Pernelle, she expresses her opinion of him by saying: “You see him as a saint. I'm much less impressed; In fact, I see clearly in him. He’s a fraud.” Although Orgon didn't believe him personally at first, we know it wasn't due to his social status but his own unhelpful ideals. We can all appreciate the equal rights Dorine has in the play. Dorine is a character treated equally within the family, as if she were part of it. Touching a little more on rationality, Orgon seems to be the least rational and the one from whom we benefit the most. As the Enlightenment showed, rational thinking was the key to going further and progressing. There should no longer be mentalities and spiritual thoughts without logic. If Orgon had only listened to the rational characters in the play, all this mess wouldn't have happened. With logic, reasoning, and rationalization, humans can ensure that what they believe is true. I believe Molière wrote Tartuffe so we can see what happens when reasoning is not applied and its downsides. The Love Suicides is a tragic love story that also shows the pitfalls that come with irrational thinking. Jihei, falls in love with a prostitute and therefore finds himself in a tangled web. Jihei is not someone who thinks about his actions, much like Orgon in Tartuffe. Jihei and her lover, Koharu, decide that the only way for them to be together is through lover suicide. Their irrational philosophy is something the Enlightenment wanted to move away from. Just like in Tartuffe, if Jihei had listened to the rational thoughts of his family and other people in the story, the disastrous events might not have happened. As mentioned, equality was a main point during the Enlightenment. This is shown in The Love Suicides through the characters' roles. Jihei is a paper merchant while Koharu is a prostitute. In the story, we see that their love is not as forbidden as one might think. In this era, equality is demonstrated between people. It was not unacceptable for two different classes to have a relationship. The only downside to this relationship was that it interfered with Jihei's family he currently had...