Tartuffe by Molière (1664)
The play centers around a wealthy man, Orgon, who has become infatuated with Tartuffe, a conman posing as a pious religious devotee. Orgon's obsession with Tartuffe blinds him to the manipulations and deceit surrounding him, leading him to disregard the concerns of his family and friends, who see Tartuffe for what he truly is. The story begins with Madame Pernelle, Orgon's mother, criticizing the household for not respecting Tartuffe. Orgon, under Tartuffe's influence, plans to marry his daughter Mariane to Tartuffe, despite her love for Valère. Mariane and her maid Dorine conspire to thwart this marriage, while Damis, Orgon's son, is determined to expose Tartuffe's hypocrisy. Damis overhears Tartuffe making advances toward Elmire, Orgon's wife, and attempts to reveal Tartuffe's true nature to his father. However, Orgon refuses to believe Damis, instead siding with Tartuffe. The tension escalates as Orgon becomes increasingly devoted to Tartuffe, even planning to disinherit Damis. Elmire devises a plan to expose Tartuffe by pretending to reciprocate his affections in front of Orgon. When Tartuffe arrives, she successfully lures him into revealing his true intentions. Orgon, hidden under a table, witnesses Tartuffe's advances and is horrified. Just as Orgon confronts Tartuffe, a bailiff arrives with a warrant for Orgon's arrest, as Tartuffe has accused him of treason. However, the bailiff reveals that Tartuffe's deceit has been uncovered by the prince, who sees through Tartuffe's facade. The prince's justice prevails, and Tartuffe is arrested, while Orgon's property is returned to him. In the end, Orgon learns a valuable lesson about discernment and the dangers of blind faith. The play concludes with Orgon reconciling with his family and planning Mariane's marriage to Valère, restoring harmony to the household.
By Molière · First published 1664 · Genre: Comedy, Satire, Drama · 33 chapters · 28,698 words
First lines
CHARACTERS MADAME PERNELLE, mother of Orgon ORGON, husband of Elmire ELMIRE, wife of Orgon DAMIS, son of Orgon MARIANE, daughter of Orgon, in love with Valere CLEANTE, brother-in-law of Orgon TARTUFFE, a hypocrite DORINE, Mariane's maid M. LOYAL, a bailiff A Police Officer FLIPOTTE, Madame Pernelle's servant
MADAME PERNELLE and FLIPOTTE, her servant; ELMIRE, MARIANE, CLEANTE, DAMIS, DORINE
What this Textopian page supports
Tartuffe is listed on Textopian as a play by Molière, dated 1664 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: Molière
- Date: 1664 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Satire, Drama, Farce, Theater
- Length: 28,698 words
- Structure: 33 chapters, 740 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Tartuffe by Molière
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Tartuffe?
- How does this play by Molière fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Admirable Bashville by George Bernard Shaw
- Mercadet by Honore De Balzac
- The School For Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
- The Comic Man by K. Jerome
- Meisterschaft In Three Acts by Mark Twain
- A Blunder by Anton Chekhov
Genres
- Comedy — The play employs humor and satire to critique hypocrisy and religious pretense.
- Satire — It targets societal norms and the behavior of individuals, particularly in the context of religion and morality.
- Drama — The play features serious themes and conflicts among characters, driving the narrative forward.
- Farce — It includes exaggerated situations and characters, contributing to the comedic elements.
Tags
Comedy · Satire · Moralism · Deception · Hypocrisy · Social Commentary · French Literature · 17th Century · Bourgeoisie · Class Satire · Religion · Morality Play
Contents
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE III
- SCENE III
- SCENE III
- SCENE III
- SCENE III
- SCENE IV
- SCENE IV
- SCENE IV
- SCENE IV
- SCENE IV
- SCENE V
- SCENE V
- SCENE V
- SCENE V
- SCENE VI
- SCENE VI
- SCENE VI
- SCENE VI
- SCENE VII
- SCENE VII
- SCENE VII
- SCENE VIII
- SCENE VIII