# Elmire — Tartuffe character guide

> Elmire in Tartuffe by Molière.

**Role:** major

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

**First appearance:** 0002-tartuffe

## Snapshot

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.

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

### [Orgon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tartuffe_se/characters/orgon)

_family_

Elmire is Orgon's wife, who tries to reason with him and expose Tartuffe's hypocrisy to save her marriage.

### [Dorine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tartuffe_se/characters/dorine)

_friendship_

Dorine is Elmire's loyal ally, working together to expose Tartuffe and protect the household.

### [Madame Pernelle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tartuffe_se/characters/madame_pernelle)

_family_

Elmire is Madame Pernelle's daughter-in-law, and they have a strained relationship due to differing views on Tartuffe.

### [Tartuffe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tartuffe_se/characters/tartuffe)

_psychological_

Elmire is the target of Tartuffe's lecherous advances, which she uses to trap him and reveal his hypocrisy.

### [Orgon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tartuffe_se/characters/orgon)

_family_

Elmire is Orgon's wife, who tries to reason with him and expose Tartuffe's hypocrisy to save her marriage.

### [Orgon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tartuffe_se/characters/orgon)

_family_

Elmire is Orgon's wife, who tries to reason with him and expose Tartuffe's hypocrisy to save her marriage.

### [Dorine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tartuffe_se/characters/dorine)

_friendship_

Dorine is Elmire's loyal ally, working together to expose Tartuffe and protect the household.

### [Dorine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tartuffe_se/characters/dorine)

_friendship_

Dorine is Elmire's loyal ally, working together to expose Tartuffe and protect the household.

### [Madame Pernelle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tartuffe_se/characters/madame_pernelle)

_family_

Elmire is Madame Pernelle's daughter-in-law, and they have a strained relationship due to differing views on Tartuffe.

### [Tartuffe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tartuffe_se/characters/tartuffe)

_psychological_

Elmire is the target of Tartuffe's lecherous advances, which she uses to trap him and reveal his hypocrisy.

### [Madame Pernelle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tartuffe_se/characters/madame_pernelle)

_family_

Elmire is Madame Pernelle's daughter-in-law, and they have a strained relationship due to differing views on Tartuffe.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tartuffe_se/characters/elmire
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tartuffe_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/tartuffe_se/characters