Tartuffe - Script Analysis

Act 1, Scene 1 (MP, Flipote, Mariane, Damis, Dorine, Cleante)

• MP trying to leave and insulting everyone because no one pays attention

• MP says everyone should love tartuffe

• Dorine says Tartuffe’s usurping is a disgrace and that he’s jealous of Elmire’s company

• MP scolds Elmire and Cleante then slaps Flipote and leaves

Act 1, Scene 2 (Cleante, Dorine)

• Cleante calls MP old

• Dorine says Orgon is even more deceived by Tartuffe and that he’s let him overtake the whole place

• Dorine mentions Laurent, who ripped up lace in a holy book

Act 1, Scene 3 (Elmire, Mariane, Damis, Cleante, Dorine)

• Elmire says Orgon is coming then leaves

• Damis wants Cleante to talk to Orgon about Mariane’s marriage to Valere

  • damis is really just trying to marry Valere’s sister lol

Act 1, Scene 4 (Orgon, Cleante, Dorine)

• Dorine tries telling Orgon about his previously sick wife, but he just keeps asking about Tartuffe

• Dorine says he’ll tell Elmire he’s worried for her

Act 1, Scene 5 (Orgon, Cleante)

• Cleante tries to talk sense into Orgon but he just glazes Tartuffe

• Orgon calls Cleante a wise sage and Cleante is humble

• Cleante brings up the marriage and Orgon dances around the topic

• ORGON EXITS

• Cleante says he’ll warn Valere

Act 2, Scene 1 (Orgon and Mariane)

• Orgon tells Mariane to cheerfully obey and she says yes

• Orgon wants her to marry Tartuffe and she doesn’t want to

• DORINE ENTERS

Act 2, Scene 2 (Dorine, Orgon, Mariane)

• Dorine thinks it’s a funny rumor that Mariane will marry Tartuffe

• Dorine says Mariane and Tartuffe are ill suited

• Orgon tries to slap her but misses

• DORINE EXITS

• ORGON EXITS (for a calming walk)

Act 2, Scene 3 (Dorine and Mariane)

• Dorine wants Mariane to stand up for herself but Mariane says she can’t disobey

• Dorine mocks Mariane and Mariane gets sad

• VALERE ENTERS

Act 2, Scene 4 (Dorine, Mariane, Valere)

• Valere confronts Mariane about Tartuffe

• Valere and Mariane argue

• Dorine makes them hold hands and they love each other again

• Dorine tells Mariane to suck up to Orgon and keep postponing the wedding

• Dorine tells Valere to tell his friends to urge Orgon to keep his words

Act 3, Scene 1 (Damis and Dorine)

• Damis is annoyed at Orgon

• Dorine says Elmire has sent for Tartuffe, who apparently has a soft spot for Elmire

• DAMIS STAYS TO EAVESDROP

Act 3, Scene 2 (Tartuffe, Dorine, and Damis stalking)

• Tartuffe gives a handkerchief for Dorine to cover her stomach

• Dorine tells Tartuffe Elmire wants a word with him

• DORINE EXITS

Act 3, Scene 3 (Elmire, Tartuffe, and Damis stalking)

• Tartuffe flirts and touches Elmire

• Elmire questions his piety

• Elmire says she won’t tell Orgon in exchange for his advocacy for Valere and Mariane’s marriage

• DAMIS EMERGES FROM THE CLOSET

Act 3, Scene 4 (Elmire, Tartuffe, and Damis)

• Damis is like NO I will expose Tartuffe to my father

• Elmire doesn’t want to tell Orgon and make him upset

• Damis says he will not lose his chance for revenge

Act 3, Scene 5 (Orgon, Damis, Tartuffe, and Elmire)

• Damis tells Orgon about Tartuffe hitting on Elmire

• Elmire is adamant that a husband’s peace of mind shouldn’t be spoiled like this

• ELMIRE LEAVES

Act 3, Scene 6 (Orgon, Damis, and Tartuffe)

• Tartuffe doesn’t deny Damis’ accusations

• Orgon accuses Damis of lying and staining Tartuffe’s soul

• Orgon says he’ll immediately give Mariane away and kicks Damis out of the house

Act 3, Scene 7 (Orgon and Tartuffe)

• Tartuffe tells Orgon to forgive Damis

• Tartuffe says he should leave but Orgon says no

• Orgon wants Tartuffe to be with Elmire all the time out of spite

• Orgon decides to make Tartuffe his son and heir to everything

Act 4, Scene 1 (Cleante and Tartuffe)

• Cleante is being mad at Tartuffe

• Tartuffe says he’s just accepting the inheritance so wealth doesn’t fall into wicked hands

• Cleante wants Damis to have his inheritance

• TARTUFFE JUST DIPS

Act 4, Scene 2 (Elmire, Mariane, Cleante, and Dorine)

• dorine begs Cleante to help Mariane because Orgon is marrying her off tonight

Act 4, Scene 3 (Orgon, Elmire, Mariane, Cleante, and Dorine)

• Mariane begs Orgon not to make her marry Tartuffe

• Everyone is mad at Orgon

• Orgon gets mad at Elmire for defending Damis

• Elmire says she can prove it’s true

• DORINE, MARIANE, AND CLEANTE EXIT

Act 4, Scene 4 (Elmire, Orgon)

• Elmire tells Orgon to hide under the table and excuse whatever she’s about to do

• she’ll stop when his doubts are satisfied

Act 4, Scene 5 (Tartuffe, Elmire, Orgon)

• Elmire flirts with Tartuffe

• Tartuffe is getting tooo close…

• Elmire has coughed 3x total

• Elmire tells Tartuffe to make sure Orgon isn’t outside the door

• TARTUFFE EXITS

Act 4, Scene 6 (Orgon, Elmire)

• Orgon comes out from under the table and is stunned!

• Elmire is sarcastic

• TARTUFFE REENTERS

Act 4, Scene 7 (Tartuffe, Elmire, Orgon)

• Orgon is like AHA i’ve suspected you this whole time!

• Orgon tries to kick out Tartuffe

• Tartuffe says he’ll expose and Punish him

• TARTUFFE EXITS

Act 4, Scene 8 (Elmire and Orgon)

• Orgon’s like oh shit because he already gave Tartuffe the deed

• Orgon needs to see if there’s a strongbox still in his room

Act 5, Scene 1 (Orgon and Cleante)

• Orgon explains that the box is full of papers that would ruin Argas

• He gave them to Tartuffe because he wanted it off his hands

• Cleante tells Orgon to be rational for once and take the middle course instead of the extreme

Act 5, Scene 2 (Damis, Orgon, and Cleante)

• Damis says he’ll cut Tartuffe’s life short

• Cleante says to moderate your rage

Act 5, Scene 3 (MP, Mariane, Damis, Elmire, Orgon, Dorine, Cleante)

• MP doesn’t believe that Tartuffe is bad

• Dorine is like aha Orgon that’s what it feels like

• M.LOYAL ENTERS

  • orgon tells Dorine to talk to him

Act 5, Scene 4 (ML, MP, Mariane, Damis, Elmire, Orgon, Dorine, Cleante)

• ML says Tartuffe brings an urgent eviction notice

• He’s excited he gets to be the one to tell Orgon

• ML says he’ll spend the night here with his men THEN kick him out

Act 5, Scene 5 (Orgon, Elmire, MP, Mariane, Damis, Cleante, Dorine)

• NOWWW MP believes Tartuffe is bad

• Elmire says we should expose Tartuffe to the whole world and the public will stop him

Act 5, Scene 6 (Orgon, Elmire, MP, Mariane, Damis, Valere, Cleante, Dorine)

• valere says tartuffe went to court with the strongbox and there’s a warrant out for Orgon’s arrest

• Valere offers Orgon a carriage to take him away

Act 5, Scene 7 (Officer + Everyone)

• Tartuffe interrupts the carriage

• Everyone dogs on Tartuffe

• Officer says Tartuffe is gonna be in prison!! The court is undoing everything and rewarding Orgon for his deeds in the war!

• Orgon says let’s give Valere his wedded happiness

• THEY DANCE

Beginning and End of Act 1

• MP tryna leave because no one pays attention and everyone’s mocking Tartuffe

• Cleante is trying to talk sense into Orgon but he’s just dancing around why he postponed Valere and Mariane’s marriage

Beginning and End of Act 2

• Orgon tells Mariane he wants her to marry Tartuffe

• Dorine tells Mariane to suck up to Orgon and push back the wedding and Valere to have his friends urge Orgon to keep his word

Beginning and End of Act 3

• Damis is annoyed at Orgon and tells Dorine he’s gonna eavesdrop on Tartuffe and Elmire

• Orgon tells Tartuffe he’ll give him a clear deed to everything he owns

Beginning and End of Act 4

• Cleante is getting after Tartuffe for his lack of piety and accepting Damis’ inheritance

• Orgon is like oh shit we have to check if there’s a strong box in the room

Beginning and End of Act 5

• Orgon tells Cleante about Argas and the box

• an officer says the king likes Orgon and Tartuffe is going to prison and everyone dances