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In the classic comedic play Tartuffe, the title character fakes extreme piety to gain the affection of Orgon, the patriarch of a family Tartuffe stays with as a houseguest. Orgon’s adulation of Tartuffe tears the family apart. To save Orgon from his own folly and themselves from its consequences, Orgon’s family launches a campaign to expose and punish Tartuffe, rescue their own futures, and restore harmony to their lives.

As the play opens, Tartuffe has used displays of extreme piety to acquire Orgon as a disciple and patron. Tartuffe is living, eating, and drinking well in Orgon’s house, charged by Orgon to keep the household free of sin. Orgon’s mother, Madame Pernelle, ardently supports her son and Tartuffe. Everyone else in the family wants to get rid of Tartuffe, who they correctly believe is an imposter. Tartuffe’s strategies threaten the future marriages of Mariane and Damis, Orgon’s son and daughter from his first marriage. Tartuffe also comes between Orgon and his wife, Elmire. In Act One, both Dorine, the maid to Mariane, and Cléante, the brother of Elmire, confront Orgon about Tartuffe but fail to end Orgon’s infatuation with the phony saint.

In Act Two, Orgon informs Mariane that he is breaking her engagement to Valère, the suitor she loves, and betrothing her to Tartuffe instead. Mariane and Valère are dismayed by Orgon’s order, but they feel too afraid of Orgon and too caught up in their own quarrels to disobey him. The work of resistance is left to Dorine, who fearlessly confronts Orgon on the young lovers’ behalf. Dorine also referees Mariane and Valère’s squabbles, gets them to admit that they love each other, and urges them to stand strong against Orgon’s decree.

In Act Three, Elmire continues Dorine’s efforts to rescue Mariane and Valère. Elmire takes advantage of Tartuffe’s obvious interest in her and approaches Tartuffe, intending to ask him to persuade Orgon to change his mind and allow Mariane to marry Valère. Tartuffe takes advantage of Elmire’s request for a private meeting by touching and propositioning her, moves intended to further alienate Orgon from Elmire.

Damis, Orgon’s son, hides in a closet and overhears Tartuffe harassing Elmire. The hotheaded Damis immediately dashes off to Orgon to report the outrage. When Orgon confronts Tartuffe about what he’s been told, Tartuffe admits he is a sinner, berates himself sincerely, and then twists everything Damis says to shift blame onto Damis. Orgon becomes so bamboozled by Tartuffe’s reverse psychology that he orders Damis to apologize to Tartuffe. When Damis refuses, Orgon throws him out and disinherits him. Tartuffe offers to move out to restore peace to Orgon’s family. Touched by this self-sacrifice, Orgon signs the deed to his property over to Tartuffe.

In Act Four, the problems in Orgon’s family are starting to scandalize society, but opposition to Tartuffe only makes Orgon more stubborn. He decrees that Mariane will marry Tartuffe that very night. Mariane falls to her knees and begs Orgon not to force her to marry a man she hates. When Mariane’s sobs and pleas fail, Elmire decides to stage a seduction of Tartuffe. She invites Orgon to witness the event to see Tartuffe’s wickedness for himself. Tartuffe responds aggressively to Elmire’s overtures while bragging about how easy it is to lead Orgon around “by the nose.” Angry at being mocked, Orgon finally turns on Tartuffe and orders him out of the house. But Orgon’s realization arrives too late. The house belongs to Tartuffe. Orgon’s reaction to this disaster is to worry about a secret strong-box.

Act Five opens with Orgon’s explanation of the strong-box. Orgon had hidden the box at the request of a friend in exile and then foolishly turned the box over to Tartuffe for safekeeping. Tartuffe has been using the strong-box and its contents to blackmail Orgon. Orgon rages over Tartuffe’s behavior, and Cléante tries to reason with Tartuffe, but the imposter Tartuffe is now bent on revenge. Tartuffe gets Orgon and his family evicted from their house and persuades the King to issue an order for Orgon’s arrest. Valère tries to help Orgon flee, but it’s too late. Tartuffe arrives with a royal officer to escort Orgon to prison.

Instead of arresting Orgon, the royal officer arrests Tartuffe. The officer then explains that when Tartuffe denounced Orgon at court, the King recognized Tartuffe as a master criminal wanted for many vicious crimes. The King’s officers have followed Tartuffe and witnessed his swindle of Orgon. At the end of the play, the King restores Orgon’s property, pardons him for hiding a fugitive’s strong-box, and rewards him for previous loyal service. The play ends with the renewed betrothal of Valère and Mariane.

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