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Act 4, Scene 6
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Tartuffe, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Hypocrisy
Reason vs. Emotion
Religion, Piety, and Morals
Family and Fathers
Appearances and Beauty
Summary
Analysis
As Tartuffe comes back to announce that the house is empty, Orgon leaps out from behind Elmire and begins to berate Tartuffe for attempting to marry his daughter while coveting his wife. He falsely states that he has suspected Tartuffe for a long time, and refuses to listen when Tartuffe attempts to talk his way out of the situation, ordering the hypocrite to leave his house.
At this, Tartuffe shows his true colors, saying that since Orgon made him his heir and signed over all he owned, it is his former patron who should be turned out of the house. Before leaving, he warns that he will return, and says that Orgon has offended Heaven and will be punished for his wicked ways.
Orgon’s decision to make Tartuffe his heir has come back to haunt him (of course!); in theory, at least, Tartuffe does now have the legal power to turn Orgon and his family out of their own house.
Themes
