Tartuffe

“The fellow knows his dupe, and makes the most on’t, he fools him with a hundred masks of virtue.” 

Cleante speaks candidly about Tartuffe’s ability to fool Orgon, essentially setting the stage for the plot that unfolds once those characters appear in the play. The “masks of virtue” portion brings out the idea of hypocrisy, which becomes an essential theme throughout the play. This line, among others, shows Cleante as the voice of clarity and truth. 

“And how about Tartuffe?” 

When Orgon returns home, he repeatedly asks about Tartuffe’s well-being while Dorine tries to tell him his wife has been sick. Comedy ensues when Orgon asks about Tartuffe, Dorine answers with something great about Tartuffe, and Orgon replies with “Poor man!” The absurd extent to which Orgon is devoted to Tartuffe is clearly established in this scene.

“And as I find no kind of hero more to be admired than men of true religion, nothing more noble or beautiful than is the holy zeal of true devoutness; just so I think there’s naught more odious than whited sepulchres of outward unction.”

This quote places Cleante in lecturing mode with Orgon, as he attempts to talk to Orgon about his inability to see Tartuffe for who he is. In fact, this quote is part of a longer monologue that puts Cleante in the role of seer. He paints the picture of the difference between a man of genuine faith and a man with a pristine and ostentatious surface but corrupt underpinnings. Cleante’s monologue highlights the predominant theme of the play.

“I shall do the will of Heaven.” 

When Cleante questions Orgon about whether he plans to keep his word to Valère about marrying his daughter, Orgon responds with the above line. Tartuffe also addresses the “will of heaven” later in the play to justify his actions. As a result, it appears that these characters use faith as an excuse for inappropriate behaviors, and Tartuffe provides a model, however suspicious, for Orgon to follow. 

“But, father, I protest it isn’t true! Why should you make me tell this dreadful lie?”

This line is Mariane’s emotional response to her father, who asks her to tell him that she will have Tartuffe as her husband. Mariane, like others in the house, can longer keep up the charade of agreeing with Orgon about Tartuffe, even if it means disobedience to her father. In his haste to praise the piety of Tartuffe, Orgon breaks commitments to his family and commandments, such as going back on his promise that Mariane could marry Valère. 

“You’ve taken on yourself here in this house a sort of free familiarity.”

Orgon tells Dorine that her sarcastic words against him are not appropriate to her station in the household. Throughout the play, Dorine takes on roles much more familial than just a maid, including problem solver and relationship counselor. In this particular scene, she attempts to remind Orgon how foolish he is because she knows Mariane, the obedient daughter, will not be able to do so. 

“No, you shall be, my faith! Tartuffified.” 

Dorine taunts Mariane for being so obedient to her father and not standing up for what she really desires—to marry Valère. Even when Mariane begs for help, Dorine continues to tease her, though Dorine eventually gives up the game and offers her advice, as is her nature. In this quote, Dorine turns the name “Tartuffe” into an adjective with as many unpleasant connotations as the noun form, suggesting that Mariane will take on the condition or even the disease of Tartuffe upon marriage. The author uses language here to poke fun at the antagonist.

“I? My advice is, marry him, by all means.”

When Mariane asks Valère what she should do about marrying Tartuffe, Valère responds with a statement that contradicts what he truly believes. Throughout the play, characters including Valère, Elmire, and Dorine use sarcasm to express themselves, which can lead to confusion in the play but comedy to the audience, who understands the truth. This line of Valère’s leads to an entire scene in which Valère and Mariane squabble over untrue expressions, with Dorine having to reconcile them so they can focus on the true enemy—Tartuffe.

“May lightning strike me dead this very instant, may I be everywhere proclaimed a scoundrel, if any reverence or power shall stop me, and if I don’t straightaway do something desperate!” 

Damis speaks these words at the top of Act III when he hears from Dorine of Orgon’s intention to marry off Mariane to Tartuffe. As the hotheaded son of a hotheaded father, Damis is often on the verge of explosion. His hyperbolic words feel like they could turn physical at any moment, and here Dorine has to encourage him to tone down his volatile emotions.

“Ah! Before you speak, pray take this handkerchief.”

Tartuffe’s third line of the play has him playing the role of modest man in front of what he perceives to be an indiscreet Dorine. His extreme show of piety extends to his control of the people around him even if he cannot control his own lust, which becomes more intense in the upcoming scene with Elmire. Dorine notes that he is easily tempted, but again Tartuffe blames Dorine, this time for her immodest speech.

“Love for the beauty of eternal things cannot destroy our love for earthly beauty.” 

Tartuffe’s lust for Elmire takes centerstage in this scene. When Elmire does not think the pious Tartuffe could be capable of manly desires, Tartuffe corrects her. The above line is the start of a monologue Tartuffe gives about how his feelings for Elmire developed and how he has begun to rationalize them. This declaration scene is the precipice for the chaos that grows stronger in Act IV, as it finally brings Tartuffe’s true self to the surface. 

“To spare him now would be a mockery; his bigot’s pride has triumphed all too long over my righteous anger, and has caused far too much trouble in our family.” 

After witnessing the lustful exchange between Elmire and Tartuffe, even though he should not have, Damis’s anger is riled up, as it often is in this play. Elmire wants to keep the situation quiet, but Damis feels otherwise, and no one and can stop him. Damis speaks bluntly, and accurately, about how Tartuffe’s presence has upset the family, yet Damis does not yet realize the sting he will soon receive when his father chooses not to believe him and kicks him out of the house.

“Yes, brother, I am wicked, I am guilty, A miserable sinner, steeped in evil.” 

After Damis reveals to Orgon what he has seen transpire between Tartuffe and Elmire, Tartuffe tells the truth about himself to Orgon. This confession would end the play except that Orgon does not take Tartuffe at his word. In fact, Orgon berates his flesh-and-blood son, kicking him out of the house, showing how his obsession with Tartuffe blinds him to reality and the true love of his family. 

“A good true friend, my son-in-law to be, is more to me than son, and wife, and kindred. You will accept my offer, will you not?” 

Orgon not only thinks Tartuffe is innocent of flirting with his wife but goes one step further and gives him his entire estate. In this quote, Orgon continues to make Tartuffe the center of his world, above his family, even after Tartuffe commits to wrongdoing. As Cleante states earlier, Tartuffe knows he has a dupe in Orgon. 

“But after this day’s scandal and affront Heaven does not order me to live with him.” 

When Cleante advises Tartuffe to help Orgon and his son reconcile, Tartuffe uses the excuse of heaven, just as Orgon uses the heaven excuse to justify why he cannot intervene. Tartuffe claims that if Damis returns, then he has to leave the house to avoid a scandal. In choosing to stay, Tartuffe reveals he believes his presence is much more important than Damis’s, which Orgon would confirm to be true.

“Once more, I am astounded at your weakness; I wonder what your unbelief would answer, if I should let you see we’ve told the truth.”

Elmire has had her fill of Orgon’s devotion to Tartuffe at the expense of everyone else. She piques his curiosity with the above quote and eventually convinces him to be a witness to Tartuffe’s betrayal. Elmire’s proposition shows that despite Tartuffe’s hold on Orgon, she still wields some intrigue and power as his wife. 

“Dear me! Don’t go and credit things too lightly. No, let yourself be thoroughly convinced; don’t yield too soon, for fear you’ll be mistaken.” 

This is another example of sarcasm—of characters saying the opposite of what they mean. Here, Elmire seems to encourage Orgon to take his time about Tartuffe’s betrayal, which he witnessed from under the table. In reality, she admonishes him for taking too long—she might have had to sacrifice her actual fidelity as a wife and morality as a woman if she and Tartuffe had remained in that situation much longer.

“This house belongs to me, I’ll have you know.” 

Tartuffe rips off the mask once Orgon reveals that he has heard everything. He no longer plays the pious card but outright states the control he has, thanks to Orgon’s trust in him. Orgon’s devotion to his hero has been shattered. There is no going back to the prior faux relationship they shared. Tartuffe still holds the power at this point, but Orgon is able to see it this time.

“I’m all worked up about that wretched box. More than all else it drives me to despair.” 

Orgon reveals the existence of a secret box at the very end of Act IV and the beginning of Act V. No one else knew of this box—neither the audience nor any characters in the play—until this moment. The mention of it sets a suspenseful tone that leads to a surprise at the end. If the loss of his home isn’t traumatic enough, Orgon talks of a box that might spell trouble for him. At one point, Orgon gave the box he received from an exiled friend to Tartuffe for safe keeping, showing his gullibility under the spell of Tartuffe. Now, Tartuffe wields double power over Orgon and his entire family. 

“No more pious folk for me! I shall abhor them utterly forever, and henceforth treat them worse than any devil.” 

Because of his negative experience with Tartuffe, now Orgon won’t talk to anyone who is of a religious nature. This statement shows the extremeness of Orgon’s behavior, who can easily become enraged. Once again, Cleante has to intervene as counselor and remind him of moderation.

“Their tongues for spitting venom never lack, there’s nothing here below they’ll not attack.” 

Now the tables have turned and Orgon is in the position of having to convince his mother about the truth of Orgon, but she is unable to believe it. Madame Pernelle’s line expresses—in rhyming couplets, a nod to Molière’s original French version—that people will gossip about worthy men out of jealousy. She persistently clings to this belief as Orgon becomes frustrated with her lack of belief in what he has seen with his own eyes. As Dorine points out, Orgon is forced to step inside his family’s shoes, i.e., practice empathy, and see what it’s like to convince a Tartuffe worshipper of the truth.

“I’ll be your guide to seek a place of safety, and stay with you until reach it, sir.” 

Valère arrives to tell Orgon that because Tartuffe revealed the contents of the secret box to the authorities, Orgon will soon be arrested. Valère offers to help Orgon escape in his time of trouble. Given that Orgon broke his promise to Valère about marrying his daughter, this moment shows much strength of character on Valère’s part to put aside his differences and place Orgon’s needs above his own broken heart. 

“So therefore, you must follow me at once, to prison, where you'll find your lodging ready.”

It is with this line that the officer surprises everyone by turning to Tartuffe and telling him, rather than Orgon, that he faces imprisonment. The deus ex machina appears in the form of the officer to let the antagonist suffer and the protagonist obtain a second chance. Tartuffe has been smug about having the upper hand the entire play, and now his power has been deflated.