Summary Orgon arrives at the opportune moment and Damis tries to reveal that Tartuffe has been trying to seduce Elmire and is thus filled with treachery. He explains that Elmire was not going to reveal the offense because of her gentility, and Elmire responds that she sees no need of […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act III: Scenes 5-7Summary and Analysis Act III: Scenes 3-4
Summary After Tartuffe inquires about Elmire’s health and pays her some obvious compliments, he then expresses his joy at being alone with her. She tells him that she wants to discuss something confidential with him and he responds by saying that he has long wanted to open his heart to […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act III: Scenes 3-4Summary and Analysis Act III: Scenes 1-2
Summary Orgon’s son Damis is raving because he has just heard of his father’s plan to force Mariane to marry Tartuffe. He tells Dorine that he is determined to expose Tartuffe as a hypocritical scoundrel. Dorine wants Damis to calm down because she has already arranged for Orgon’s wife, Elmire, […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act III: Scenes 1-2Summary and Analysis Act II: Scenes 3-4
Summary After Orgon leaves to recover his composure, Dorine immediately begins to attack Mariane, who did not stand up to her father and openly refuse to marry Tartuffe. Mariane defends herself by saying that she has lived for so long under her father’s strict control that she can’t oppose him […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act II: Scenes 3-4Summary and Analysis Act II: Scenes 1-2
Summary Orgon finds his daughter alone and asks her if she will obey him in all things. Being a dutiful daughter, she tells him it is her pleasure always to please her father. Therefore, Orgon instructs her to say that she finds Tartuffe to be a very worthy man and […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act II: Scenes 1-2Summary and Analysis Act I: Scenes 4-6
Summary When Orgon arrives from the country, he immediately inquires about his household. But he ignores Dorine’s report of his wife’s indisposition and, instead, inquires about the health of Tartuffe. Each time he shows concern for Tartuffe, Dorine tells him more bad news about his wife. Totally unresponsive to his […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act I: Scenes 4-6Summary and Analysis Act I: Scenes 2-3
Summary When Madame Pernelle leaves, Cleante refuses to see her to the door because he has heard enough of her foolish prattle. He cannot understand how Tartuffe has so totally deceived her, but then Dorine points out that her master, Orgon, is even more deceived: One would actually have to […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act I: Scenes 2-3Summary and Analysis Act I: Scene 1
Summary Madame Pernelle is ready to leave her son Orgon’s house because she finds it appalling that no one pays any attention to her. She offers everyone her good advice, and everyone tends to contradict or ignore her. She tells her grandson, Damis, that he is a dunce; her granddaughter, […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act I: Scene 1Character List
Orgon The central character who comes under the influence of the hypocrite Tartuffe. Elmire Orgon’s second wife who represents a reasonable attitude toward life. Damis Orgon’s son and Elmire’s stepson who tries to prove Tartuffe a hypocrite and succeeds only in having himself disinherited. Mariane Orgon’s daughter who is in […]
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Madame Pernelle, visiting her son Orgon’s house, uses the opportunity to criticize all the members of the house and to praise their boarder, Tartuffe, because he is a man of such holiness and zeal. The others present offer objections to Tartuffe, maintaining that he is false and hypocritical, but Madame […]
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