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Act 5, Scene 4
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
Madame Pernelle now believes Tartuffe’s treachery and, as Orgon was before, is “thunderstruck.” Dorine reacts sarcastically. Orgon scolds her, but Cléante and Elmire intervene and urge the patriarch to decide on a course of action.
Like her son, Madame Pernelle had to actually see evidence of Tartuffe’s deception in order to believe it for herself. Orgon once again reacts emotionally (scolding Dorine) rather than planning rationally for what to do next.
Themes
