Tartuffe is a supposedly impoverished religious guest living in Orgon's Parisian home. He makes a great show of extreme piety, sighing deeply, praying loudly, and dictating strict moral rules for the household. While the older generation views him as a holy man, the younger family members and staff see him as an opportunistic fraud seeking financial and personal gain.

Orgon is the wealthy head of the household who previously served the king with courage. Recently, he has developed a blind obsession with his religious guest, placing the man's needs above his own flesh and blood. He possesses a volatile temper and demands strict obedience from his children, easily resorting to rage when his judgment is questioned.

Elmire is Orgon's wife and the stepmother to his two adult children. She is level-headed and practical, treating her stepchildren with genuine maternal care while managing the household's chaotic atmosphere. She uses her wit and composure to protect her family, often improvising clever solutions to expose bad behavior without resorting to hysteria.

Dorine is the family's sharp-tongued and highly observant maid. She functions as a core member of the family unit, unafraid to speak her mind or challenge the master of the house regarding his foolish decisions. She is deeply invested in the family's happiness, actively organizing plans to save the young lovers from permanent separation.

Cleante is Elmire's brother and the voice of reason within the family. He is calm, rational, and philosophical, consistently trying to mediate conflicts and offer sound advice to those acting foolishly. He understands the clear difference between genuine devotion and performative religion, though his thoughtful lectures often fall on deaf ears.

Damis is Orgon's son. He shares his father's hot temper, frequently wanting to resort to physical confrontation to solve the family's problems. He is fiercely protective of his sister and deeply enraged by the manipulation occurring under their roof, lacking the patience to handle matters quietly or strategically.

Mariane is Orgon's sweet, obedient daughter. Her intense desire to be a dutiful child puts her in a terrible position when her father unexpectedly alters her marriage arrangements. She struggles to stand up for herself and relies heavily on the household staff and family to fix her situation and preserve her true romantic match.

Madame Pernelle is Orgon's stern, judgmental mother. Like her son, she is completely taken in by the performative piety of their houseguest and believes the rest of the household is chaotic and sinful. She insists on strict moral rules and readily dismisses any criticism directed at her favorite religious man.

Valère is the passionate young man betrothed to Mariane. He is deeply in love but possesses a fragile ego, leading him to engage in petty, sarcastic lovers' quarrels when his pride is wounded. He requires outside intervention to stay focused on saving his relationship rather than storming off in dramatic despair.