The hypocritical religious fraud Tartuffe attempts to seduce Elmire, the wife of his benefactor. He uses twisted theological logic to justify his lustful advances, claiming that his attraction to her beauty is actually a form of worship toward the Creator.
TARTUFFE: The love that draws us to eternal beauty
Does not extinguish in us love of earthly things;
Our senses may be charmed by those perfect works
Which Heaven has shaped with more than human art.
Heaven's reflected beauty shines in you,
But you yourself are the chiefest of its wonders.
Create a free account to explore more
Upgrade to Pro for full access — £6.99/month
Director's Notes
Want expert coaching on this scene?
Browse our curated list of acting coaches, dialect specialists, and more.
Need representation?
Browse verified agents and casting directors in our directory.
How well does this scene match you?
Save your casting profile to see match scores on every scene.
Try Headshot AnalyserGo Pro
£6.99/mo
- ✓ Unlimited scene reading
- ✓ PDF downloads
- ✓ Director's Notes
- ✓ Headshot Analyser
- ✓ Cover Letter Generator
- ✓ Practice Mode
- ✓ Agent Connect
- + 1,000+ scenes
More from Tartuffe
Act IV, Scene 5 — The Seduction of Elmire
from Tartuffe
Elmire attempts to expose Tartuffe's hypocrisy by baiting him into making a romantic advance while her husband, Orgon, hides nearby. Tartuffe reveals his true nature by justifying his lust through twisted religious logic.
Act I, Scene 5 — Cléante's Speech on Hypocrisy
from Tartuffe
Cléante delivers a sophisticated argument to his brother-in-law Orgon, distinguishing between genuine religious piety and the performative hypocrisy of Tartuffe. He warns that those who use faith as a weapon for personal gain are the most dangerous members of society.
Similar Scenes
Act II — Trigorin's Obsession
from The Seagull
Trigorin, a successful writer, deconstructs the romantic myth of the literary life to a young admirer. He describes the compulsive, exhausting nature of his creative process and how he views the world only as material for his next work.
Act I — The Nose Speech
from Cyrano de Bergerac
Cyrano mockingly educates a young viscount on how to properly insult his large nose. He delivers a virtuosic display of wit, listing various creative ways to describe his prominent feature before insulting the viscount's own lack of intelligence.
Exodos — The Blinding of Oedipus
from Oedipus Rex
After discovering the horrific truth of his lineage and the fulfillment of the prophecy, Oedipus emerges from the palace having blinded himself. He laments his existence and begs to be exiled from Thebes to end his suffering.
Act I, Scene 3 — Helena's Confession
from All's Well That Ends Well
Helena kneels before the Countess to confess her secret and unrequited love for the Countess's son, Bertram. She articulates the purity of her devotion despite the social disparity between them, likening her hopeless adoration to a religious ritual.
