short of aSaint. The family had grown tired of Orgons blindness and Elmire had prepared for therestoration of her husbands sight with a scheme to catch the scoundrel in his lies. Ultimately the outcome remains with Tartuffe in control using the deed and mysteriousbox as his position of power. In an earlier scene Elmire devises a way to expose the hypocrite to Orgon. Shepersuades Orgon to conceal himself under a table while she speaks to Tartuffe, and herhusband is thus a witness to the impostor's hypocrisy in all of its glory. What follows is acontemptible conspiracy to catch Tartuffe and prove his deception. Elmire trying tosatisfy her husbands need for proof sets a trap for the lustful Tartuffe luring him by falselyproclaiming her love for him. Tartuffe at first is tentative and confused by her suddenchange of heart, yet Elmire reveals the nature of women and explains her jealousy of hisplans to marry Mariane. Nevertheless Tartuffe advances further upon Elmire and evengoes as far as to call the eavesdropping Orgon gullible saying that he is a blind fool, andthat if Elmire kept their affair a secret, then it wouldn't be a sin. With this Elmire asksTartuffe to check for spies while Orgon emerges from under the table. With Tartuffesreturn Orgon has waited and heard enough proof to confront the impostor. The passage of ACT IV Scene seven is crucial in linking the entire story together. It is the revelation that the audience has been waiting for and sets the mood for the fifthand final act. The new situation that has arisen is a certain cause for alarm. Orgon andhis family are troubled by Tartuffes potential to displace them with the deed and displaythe incriminating papers within the strong box. In scenes following the passage Orgon, Elmire, and Cleante, the voice of reason,discuss their dilemma which has come about due to Orgons blindness. Orgon has nowseen both sides of his extreme spectrum. He went from loving Tartuffe a...
