Ubu Roi

In telling its tale of greed and the abuse of power, Ubu Roi borrows heavily from the plays of William Shakespeare and their plot points and motifs. The play can most directly be compared to Macbeth, which similarly tells of a man overthrowing a king at his wife’s urging. The text also incorporates other Shakespearean works: Buggerlaus’s revenge echoes Fortinbras’ quest for revenge in Hamlet; the group killing of Wenceslaus and his wife’s premonition draws from Julius Caesar; and the bear who attacks Papa Turd, Pile, and Coccyx is reminiscent of the bear in The Winter’s Tale, among other similarities to plays such as Richard III and King Lear. As with many Shakespearean plays, Ubu Roi uses the recurring motifs of ghosts who appear to characters: Buggerlaus’s quest for vengeance is spurred by a ghostly appearance by his ancestors, and Mama Turd pretends to be a ghost to Papa Turd so that he’ll forgive her for stealing his royal treasures. 

Ubu Roi’s playscript includes songs throughout the play: Mama Turd and Champion Gyron sing a patter song as they collect royal treasures, the Polish Army sings a “Song of the Army” about the buttons on their tunics (42), and the Soldiers and Papa Turd sing a drinking song before fighting the Russian army: “Your nose gets pimpled/ And your strumpot too/ So drink to Poland/ And to old Pere Ubu!” (51). In the Preface, Jarry mentions the music, saying it was important for the production to have “carnival music” (2), and that Ubu’s themes will be played by “various pianos and drums” (3). Though the songs do not advance the plot, the incorporation of jovial and often nonsensical music adds to the play’s raucous and absurdist spirit, and helps to further separate the play from the naturalism and realism audiences of the time were accustomed to.