Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

Elmire, Cléante, Dorine, Mariane, Damis, Valère

Taking down Tartuffe is a team effort, and each member of the ensemble listed above has their own strategy for dealing with the problem. Elmire uses her feminine wiles. Cléante appeals to Orgon's reason. Dorine insults Orgon and advises Mariane. Mariane tries to make Orgon feel bad. Damis wants to settle things with his fists, and Valère comes to Orgon's rescue when things are looking bad. Each strategy is effective in its own way – and Elmire's ruse successfully convinces Orgon that Tartuffe is a bad dude – but it takes the King, who we never see, to really solve things.