Le Tartuffe by Molière – Detailed Plot Summary

Le Tartuffe by Molière – Detailed Plot Summary

This resource provides a comprehensive summary in French of Molière’s classic comedy Le Tartuffe (1664), tracing the intrigue of hypocrisy, deception, and eventual justice within Orgon’s household.

Key features:

• Outlines the central plot across five acts, from Tartuffe’s arrival and Orgon’s blind devotion, through family conflicts and Elmire’s clever trap, to Tartuffe’s exposure and the king’s intervention.
• Describes the main characters and their roles, including Orgon’s gullibility, Elmire’s intelligence, Dorine’s sharp wit, Mariane’s obedience, and Tartuffe’s false piety.
• Highlights Molière’s satirical critique of religious hypocrisy, social blindness, and the triumph of reason and truth over deceit.
• Explains key turning points, such as the table scene revealing Tartuffe’s true intentions and the dramatic reversal in the final act.
• Emphasises the play’s moral message, delivered through comedy, on the dangers of fanaticism and the value of lucid judgement.

Includes an accompanying worksheet to reinforce and practise key concepts.