Tartuffe

The table that makes a prominent appearance in Act IV takes on various meanings. Orgon is considered master of the house given the time period and social circumstances. In the table scene, his wife Elmire is in charge—“Oh dear, do as I say; I know what I’m about, as you shall see” (125). She is the one who tells him to get under the table, a position that could be construed as inferior or promoting punishment. Given his angry outbursts at his son in the prior act and his decisions that go against his promise that his daughter could marry Valère in Act II, there is reason to consider this table as punishment. However, Elmire’s ultimate goal is to have Orgon see Tartuffe in betrayal mode. Orgon ends up seeing more than he intended. Tartuffe says to Elmire, “He is a man to lead round by the nose […] I’ve fooled him so, he’d see all, and deny it” (135). After Orgon witnesses the betrayal, he crawls out from under the table with “That is, I own, a man…abominable!” (135). The tables have turned, figuratively speaking, and a completely devoted Orgon becomes a completely devastated Orgon.