description Ubu Roi Overview
Ubu Roi is an 1896 French play by Alfred Jarry centered on Père Ubu, a grotesque and cowardly figure who murders the king of Poland, seizes power, and governs through greed and arbitrary violence. Its Paris premiere became notorious for its opening invented profanity and its deliberate rejection of theatrical decorum. The play's crude humor, linguistic experimentation, caricatured politics, and anti-realistic staging influenced later Dada, Surrealist, and Theatre of the Absurd traditions.
help Ubu Roi FAQ
What controversial word is shouted at the beginning of "Ubu Roi"?
The play famously opens with Père Ubu shouting the invented French profanity "Merdre!" which roughly translates to "Shittr!" with an extra 'r'. This single word incited a legendary riot at its 1896 Paris premiere, dividing the audience into warring factions.
Who is Père Ubu in Alfred Jarry's play?
Père Ubu is a grotesque, cowardly, and incredibly greedy figure who murders the King of Poland to seize power. Once king, he governs through arbitrary violence, relentless taxation, and absurd cruelty, serving as a parody of real-world tyrants.
How did Alfred Jarry's "Ubu Roi" influence modern theater?
Premiering in 1896, "Ubu Roi" is widely considered a precursor to the avant-garde Dada and Surrealist movements, as well as the Theater of the Absurd. Its deliberate rejection of naturalism, scatological humor, and absurdist style broke all theatrical conventions of its time.
What is the relationship between Père Ubu and Mère Ubu in the play?
Mère Ubu is Père Ubu's equally terrible wife, who acts as the mastermind behind many of his plots. She constantly pushes him toward treason and murder to satisfy her own unquenchable greed, though she frequently plots behind his back as well.
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