The plays Tartuffe and Faust might not seem to have much in common at first glance. Tartuffe tells of the fall of a hypocrite, leaving the main characters in a better situation than at the beginning, while Faust is a tragedy that gets worse every time. Even so, these two works share a common thread: the sexual desire of the characters. This sexual desire is a driving force behind the plot of both of these comedies. The characters of Tartuffe and Faust describe the efforts made by humanity to achieve the object of their desire and how their actions lead to its downfall. Tartuffe's strong desire to have Elmire is only introduced in Act 3 and soon overshadowed by his plans to take Orgon's estate. Despite this, it is a pivotal scene that reveals the true nature of his character. Up to this point, he is seen as a hypocrite strictly because he controls. The reader can only draw conclusions about Tartuffe based on what other characters say about him. It is only during the scene with Elmire that any real judgment can be made about him. This is where his hypocrisy is revealed. He professes his love for Elmire in a way that makes him seem absolutely ridiculous. He reports being quite passionate in his sexual desire for Elmire. He says that at first he found these feelings sinful and was afraid of them, but now he sees his passion as truth and beauty. She reacts quite surprised, saying “But I'm surprised that you want the things you want. It seems that your heart needs to speak: it lives in the chest of someone who claims to be pious” (Tartuffe, act 3.3, lines 91-93.) Elmire conveys what the reader is thinking at this point. No truly righteous man would try to seduce his master's wife. It is here that Ta...... middle of paper ......, his desires push him to make a deal with Mephistopheles. Which kicks off the whole narrative. His sexual encounter with Gretchen results in the death of his mother, her condemnation as a whore and murderer, and also results in the death of his brother. Unlike Tartuffe, Faust faces no consequences for the despair he causes Gretchen. Despite their differences, the two characters have a common theme. Both go to great lengths to satisfy their desires, and these desires cause problems for themselves and others. In Tartuffe's case, his advances towards Elmire are what ousts him as a hypocrite by Orgon. Faust pursues Gretchen with the goal of sexual fulfillment, no matter the cost. He ruins this girl's life to pursue what he wants. The sexual desires of both characters play a big role and the consequences are not good for either of them.