Ubu Roi: Analysis of Major Characters

Author: Alfred Jarry

First published: 1896 (English translation, 1951)

Genre: Play

Locale: An imaginary Poland

Plot: Absurdist

Time: Unspecified

Père Ubu (par EW-bew), the former king of Aragon, captain of the Dragoons, count of Sandomir, and, later, king of Poland. He is an obese, smelly grub, with an enormous paunch, who carries a walking stick in his right-hand pocket and uses a toilet brush as his scepter. As a grotesque parody of a petty official who usurps a position of power, he is vulgar, gluttonous, rapacious, untrustworthy, greedy, sadistic, cowardly, and stupid. His actions are impulsive, and his speech is a mixture of vulgar expressions, oaths, and repetitive phrases. He ruthlessly obtains the Polish throne, then recklessly abuses his power by killing off the nobility, usurping the power of the judiciary, and overtaxing the peasants. Unsuccessful in defending his kingdom against the Russians, he escapes to France.

Mère Ubu (mar), Ubu's wife, a repulsive, unattractive, foulmouthed woman who cooks her food in excrement. She goads Ubu into assassinating the Polish king and usurping the throne. Although just as vicious as Ubu, she knows the limits to which power can be wielded and is more practical than he in matters of politics. She tries to act independently of Ubu in stealing the royal gold, but her scheme is thwarted by Boggerlas.

Captain Macnure, an officer in the Polish army who agrees to assassinate the king. He is a parody of the honorable soldier who would rather split the king in half with his sword than poison him. Betrayed by Ubu, he joins the Russian czar to wage war on Ubu, who eventually tears him to pieces in combat.

King Wenceslas (van-TSEH-slahs), the good king of Poland who provides for his subjects. Rash and imprudent, he becomes an example of foolish credulity and heedless obstinacy when he attends the Grand Review unarmed and unprotected and is assassinated by Ubu's henchmen.

Queen Rosamund, the queen of Poland. Cautious and wary, she warns her husband not to attend the Grand Review. After he is assassinated, she dies of grief in her son's arms in a scene that parodies a melodramatic death scene.

Boggerlas, the fourteen-year-old son of King Wenceslas, wise to Ubu's schemes. He vows to avenge himself on Ubu for causing the death of his family. Fighting with great courage, he eventually reclaims the throne.

Tsar Alexis, the noble czar of Russia, who will not use treachery to win a victory. He joins forces with Macnure to defeat Ubu.

General Laski, a foolish general of the Polish army. He is more interested in the formality of parading than in battle tactics.

Heads, Tails, Gyron, and other

Palcontents, Ubu's henchmen, who kill King Wenceslas and his sons. Heads and Tails kill a wild bear without the help of Ubu, who watches and prays. After this incident, they desert him. Gyron, a black man, is killed while helping Mère Ubu rob the crypt of the Polish kings.