Tartuffe

Tartuffe, or The Impostor, is a five-act comedy by the French playwright Molière (Jean-Baptiste Poquelin), written in rhymed alexandrines. It was first performed in 1664 by Molière’s troupe at the Palais-Royal in Paris. The play’s initial reception was controversial, drawing strong opposition from religious authorities and leading to a temporary ban. A revised version, staged in 1669, with changes to the ending and dialogue, helped secure royal approval and broader performance. Today, Tartuffe is regarded as a central work of the French classical repertoire and a key example of Molière’s critique of religious hypocrisy.

Plot summary: Orgon, a wealthy Parisian, becomes convinced that Tartuffe is a paragon of virtue and welcomes him into his home, planning his daughter Mariane’s marriage to Tartuffe. Tartuffe seizes the opportunity to gain influence and control of the family fortune. Damis denounces Tartuffe, but his warnings are dismissed. Elmire, Orgon’s wife, recognizes Tartuffe’s manipulation and arranges a private confrontation in which Tartuffe makes his true motives clear. Orgon remains persuaded of Tartuffe’s piety until the king’s envoy arrives, exposing the impostor and ordering his arrest. The household is restored and the family vindicated.

Characters and themes: Central figures include Orgon, Tartuffe, Elmire, Madame Pernelle, Dorine (the quick-witted maid), Mariane, Valère, and Cleante. The play satirizes hypocrisy, rigid piety, and gullibility, while exploring the tension between appearance and virtue. Its brisk pace, comic invention, and use of dramatic irony have influenced much of later comedy. The term tartuffe has entered common usage to describe a hypocrite.