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Act 4, Scene 7
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
Elmire asks what Tartuffe meant, and Orgon explains to her that he has indeed signed over all his lands and property to Tartuffe. He then mentions something else: a certain locked chest up in Tartuffe’s room. Upset and worried, he runs off to check on the mysterious box.
Orgon now sees the full extent of his blindness, but can’t do anything to save his family from his own terrible decisions. By signing over everything to Tartuffe he has given up the legal standing that gave him power. In a sense, he has given up his fatherhood, his central status and ability to protect and control his family.
Themes
