Synopsis

The story of Tartuffe takes place entirely within the Pernelle family home. We meet the family at a time of crisis - the father of the house Orgon has allowed Tartuffe, a poor beggar posing as a religious and pious man, into their home. Orgon is infatuated with Tartuffe and has begun to favour him above the rest of his family. The rest of the family see through Tartuffe's hypocritical charade, that is except for the Grandmother, Madame Pernelle who has also turned on her family since Tartuffe has arrived. She is also fooled by his guise and considers him a saint.

Act 1 

The play begins with Madame Pernelle charging into the home, and ridiculing her entire family. She calls her Granddaughter Marianne devious and her Grandson Damis a brat. She accuses their stepmother of being a spendthrift. She states Orgon should ban Cleante from entering their home, because he drinks too much and hangs around with the wrong crowd. She goes on to describe Tartuffe as saintly, much to the disgust of the families maid Dorine who openly disagrees with Madame Pernelle and gets hit on the bum with her stick as punishment. Madame then leaves, taking Flipote, her maid with her. 

Elmire quickly leaves the room when she realises her husband has returned from the country. Damis decides to leave too but not before asking Cleante to put in a word with his father about his marriage. His sister is promised to marry Valere's sister, but since Tartuffe has been in the picture Orgon has been stalling the wedding. This is a big problem for Damis as he is in love with Valere's Sister (who we never meet) and if Valere doesn't marry Marianne, Damis doesn't get to Marry Valere's sister. 

Orgon comes into the room and asks about what's happened since he's been away, Dorine tells him all about how ill his wife Elmire has been, and that she had to be purged and bled. But Orgon only cares about Tartuffe's welfare, despite the fact that he fine. Dorine leaves in a mood. Cleante tells Orgon how stupid he is being and they get into a big fight. But then Cleante enquires about the marriage of his daughter, Orgon is vacant and won't answer him. The act ends with Cleante realising Marianne and Valere's marriage is at risk.

Act 2 

We find Marianne alone in a room, when Orgon comes rushing in asking to have a private word with her. He checks for spies and then begins. He asks her what she thinks of Tartuffe but tells her she must give the right reply, meaning she has to like him. Then he tells her he wants her to marry Tartuffe. At this point Dorine jumps out from behind a ladder, scaring him. He accusing her of spying and she tells him how ridiculous it is to marry Marianne to Tartuffe, as he is poor and far too old for her. Marianne is just crying in the corner. They argue about it and it almost gets violent with Orgon attempting to smash a picture frame over Dorine's head, lucky she jumps out of the way and it catches the ladder instead. Dorine runs out of the room. Orgon decides to leave as well. Dorine comes back and shouts at Marianne for not standing up to herself. Eventually Dorine decides to help Marianne stop this marriage, when Valere enters.

Valere is upset as he is heard, from Cleante, about the plan for Marianne to marry Tartuffe. They end up quarrelling and he tells her to go ahead and marry him and storms out. At which point Dorine steps in and drags him back into the room and forces them to hold hands, 'if only you knew how deep in love you are' she says to them. Calming the situation, they begin to plot ideas for how to stop the wedding. They decide to play along, Dorine then tells them its not a good idea for Orgon to see Valere with Marianne and shoos him away. 

Act 3

The scene starts with a raging Damis stating that he will stop the marriage, Dorine tries to calm him down and tells him that her and Elmire already have a plan. Dorine is convinced that Tartuffe fancies Elmire, so thinks if Elmire can get him to admit this, she will have hold over him and can blackmail him into not marrying Marianne. Damis insists on overhearing the conversation so he hides under the ladder. Tartuffe enters, this is the first time we have seen him, with his servant Laurent. Laurent leaves on Tartuffe's orders. Dorine asks to have word with Tartuffe, he tells her to cover breasts and hands her a handkerchief from his boxers. She tells him she could see him naked and have no desire to sin. He is about to leave when she tells him Elmire would like a word with him. He suddenly is very excited to speak with her. Dorine talks to the audience and says 'Well he's changed his pious tune, he loves her then so now we know. I said as much an hour ago and I was right'. Elmire enters, Dorine leaves. 

Elmire is greeted by Tartuffe wishing her 'good health of body and of mind'. She tells him she is now feeling better and he thinks he saved her through prayer. He confesses he gets jealous when she has male visitors and proposes they have an affair. He tells her it's okay because nobody will find out. She then threatens to tell her husband what he's said unless he promises to help promote Valere and Marianne's wedding. At which point Damis bursts out from the ladder scaring them both. He tells Elmire he refuses to keep quiet and compromise with Tartuffe and that he wants to tell his father everything. Orgon enters, Damis tells him that 'Tartuffe just tried to bed your wife'. Elmire is calm, and tells Damis it wasn't worth telling him and leaves. Orgon sees Tartuffe on the floor, praying on his knees. Orgon decides that Damis is lying and tells him to get out of his house and that he is cutting him off financially. Damis runs out crying. 

Tartuffe starts crying and begging forgiveness, the audience can see that its an act. Tartuffe says that if he's to stay in his house he must not see Elmire, in order to stop people making more rumours. Orgon tells him he should spend as much time with her as possible, he then says he is going to make Tartuffe is sole heir.

Act 4

We begin act 4 with a confrontation between Cleante and Tartuffe. Cleante tells Tartuffe he is in the wrong and he should leave the house and let Damis come back and have his inheritance. Tartuffe excuses himself from the conversation by saying he has to go and pray. As soon as he leaves Dorine, Elmire and Marianne enter, they are panicked as Marianne's health has taken a turn for the worst, Dorine tells Cleante the marriage contract is to be signed tonight. At which point Orgon comes in with the contract, he's excited, Marianne begs him to let her off. She bargains with him, tells him to do whatever he likes just not to make her marry him, she even proposes to become a nun. Orgon shuts down hers and everybody else's rebuttals. Elmire manages to persuade him to let her set a trap, to let him see the truth about Tartuffe. He finally agrees, so Elmire sends Dorine to fetch Tartuffe. She clears everybody, except Orgon out of the room. She tells Orgon to hide under the table. 

With Orgon under the table, Tartuffe enters. Elmire flirts with him until he convinced she is truly in love with him. He attempts to undress her, while Elmire hits her hand against the table in an attempt to get Orgon to come out, now Tartuffe has admitted his true feelings. Tartuffe lifts her onto the table, and is about to have sex with her but Orgon decides to emerge. He chases Tartuffe and tells him to leave his house, but Tartuffe refuses. He says 'Why leave this house house? When it belongs to me!'. He goes off whistling. Orgon panics when he realises how stupid he has been, a confused Elmire tries to make sense of things, Orgon runs off looking for the deed of gift.

Act 5

We meet a worried Orgon rushing about the space, Cleante enters and asks him about what's happened. Orgon informs Cleante that an old friend of his gave him some documents with incriminating evidence on them before his exile. This and the deed of gift he have to Tartuffe. He says he gave Tartuffe the documents as a sort of alibi.

Madame Pernelle enters, still refusing to believe Tartuffe has fallen from Grace. She and Orgon argue over it, until they are interrupted by a knock on the door. It's Monsieur Loyal, and he's been sent by Tartuffe, to tell the family to get out of house the next morning and to take all the contents of the house with them. He leaves, Madame Pernelle finally excepts the truth. Valere enters, he tells Orgon that one of his powerful friends at court has informed him that Tartuffe has given the evidence to the king and there is a warrant for Orgon's arrest. Valere gives him some money and tells him he will help him to flee France tonight. But before he can leave Tartuffe enters, with the officer. Tartuffe says he is only there to serve his duty for the king. The officer, turns around to arrest Tartuffe. He tells Orgon his crime has been pardoned, because of his support of the king during the civil war. He informs us that Tartuffe is wanted for other crimes he committed under other names. The officer pays respect to the King for his good service to his people.  Orgon then tells Valere he should have what is hit by right, Marianne and they kiss.


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