Tartuffe · Character

Elmire

Orgon's second wife, whose poise and dry wit make her the only person in the house capable of outplaying Tartuffe at his own game.

major

Also known as Scene IV Elmire, Scene III Elmire, Elmire Coughing, Elmire The hypocrite, Elmire Damis

First appearance: tartuffe

As a major figure in Tartuffe, Elmire is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

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Elmire moves through the household with the ease of someone who sees clearly and speaks carefully, whether deflecting Tartuffe's advances or managing her husband's temper. Her famous tactic of hiding Orgon under the table to let Tartuffe convict himself shows a strategist's patience: she would rather stage a demonstration than argue with a man who cannot be argued with. Her composure under Tartuffe's wandering hands is both a social performance and a form of self-defense, and it makes her the play's most reliable judge of character.

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The fuller portrait of Elmire sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

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Character Web

11 connections

A slice of how Elmire sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Friendship
Psychological
Other

Character groups

Main Dramatis Personae
Protagonist

+6 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This scene is the dramatic climax because Orgon’s emotional and psychological peak—his blind, tearful rage aga…

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Relationships

Orgon
family · ambivalent
Elmire is Orgon's wife, who tries to reason with him and expose Tartuffe's hypocrisy to… How this plays out →
Dorine
friendship · positive
Madame Pernelle
family · negative
Tartuffe
psychological · negative
Orgon
family · ambivalent
Elmire is Orgon's wife, who tries to reason with him and expose Tartuffe's hypocrisy to… How this plays out →
Orgon
family · ambivalent
Elmire is Orgon's wife, who tries to reason with him and expose Tartuffe's hypocrisy to… How this plays out →
Dorine
friendship · positive
Dorine
friendship · positive
Madame Pernelle
family · negative
Tartuffe
psychological · negative
Madame Pernelle
family · negative

Orgon
Elmire is Orgon's wife, who tries to reason with him and expose Tartuffe's hypocrisy to save her marriage.
Dorine
Dorine is Elmire's loyal ally, working together to expose Tartuffe and protect the household.
Madame Pernelle
Elmire is Madame Pernelle's daughter-in-law, and they have a strained relationship due to differing views on Tartuffe.
Tartuffe
Elmire is the target of Tartuffe's lecherous advances, which she uses to trap him and reveal his hypocrisy.
Orgon
Elmire is Orgon's wife, who tries to reason with him and expose Tartuffe's hypocrisy to save her marriage.
Orgon
Elmire is Orgon's wife, who tries to reason with him and expose Tartuffe's hypocrisy to save her marriage.
Dorine
Dorine is Elmire's loyal ally, working together to expose Tartuffe and protect the household.
Dorine
Dorine is Elmire's loyal ally, working together to expose Tartuffe and protect the household.
Madame Pernelle
Elmire is Madame Pernelle's daughter-in-law, and they have a strained relationship due to differing views on Tartuffe.
Tartuffe
Elmire is the target of Tartuffe's lecherous advances, which she uses to trap him and reveal his hypocrisy.
Madame Pernelle
Elmire is Madame Pernelle's daughter-in-law, and they have a strained relationship due to differing views on Tartuffe.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Elmire in tartuffe