What would you say is Tartuffe's ultimate undoing?

What is Tartuffe's Ultimate Undoing?

Tartuffe's ultimate undoing is his insatiable greed, which causes him to abandon his characteristic caution and make a critical error in judgment.

While Tartuffe masterfully deceives Orgon and secures control over his property, his ambition does not stop there. His boundless avarice compels him to desire Orgon's wife, Elmire, as well. This excessive desire proves to be his fatal flaw, leading directly to his exposure.

The Role of Greed and Overconfidence

Tartuffe's downfall is rooted in an escalating sense of entitlement and overconfidence. It was not enough for him to merely acquire Orgon's considerable wealth and property; he also coveted Elmire, believing he could possess her too. This relentless pursuit of greater personal gratification caused him to deviate from his typically meticulous and pious pretense.

A Fatal Misstep with Elmire

Forgetting the careful deception that had served him so well, Tartuffe explicitly outlined his true, lustful intentions to Elmire. He made the grave mistake of trusting her implicitly, assuming she would either succumb to his advances or remain silent. This critical lapse in judgment, driven by his overwhelming desire, allowed Elmire to expose his true character to Orgon, who witnessed Tartuffe's scandalous proposition firsthand.

This pivotal moment clearly demonstrates how Tartuffe's greed—his desire for more power, more wealth, and more personal gratification—ultimately led him to discard the very discretion that had made him so formidable. His desire for Elmire, combined with his misguided trust, provided the irrefutable proof Orgon needed to see through the charade, directly resulting in Tartuffe's exposure and eventual downfall.