Père Ubu

Père Ubu, a former king of Aragon and captain of the Dragoons, ultimately usurps the throne of Poland. He is a grotesque figure, obese and vulgar, wielding a walking stick and a toilet brush as his scepter. Jarry crafted Ubu as a satirical caricature of a petty official drunk on power. Known for his gluttony, greed, and stupidity, Ubu is impulsive and speaks in a mix of vulgar language and repetitive phrases. After taking the Polish throne, he indulges in violence, corruption, and excessive taxation, ultimately failing to defend his kingdom against the Russians, fleeing to France. Originally imagined as a marionette, his exaggerated, mechanical performance highlights his imbecility. Ubu's character, free from moral restraints, critiques middle-class life with his bombastic persona and obscene language.

Mère Ubu

Mère Ubu, the wife of Père Ubu, mirrors his repugnant nature. Foul-mouthed and unattractive, she cooks using excrement and instigates her husband's assassination of the Polish king to seize the throne. Although equally vicious, she is more politically savvy, understanding the practical limits of their power. Attempting to steal the royal treasury independently, she is thwarted by Boggerlas. Her role parallels Lady Macbeth as she urges Ubu to eliminate the Polish royal family. Despite showing more diverse traits than others in the play, she remains a shadow of her husband.

Boggerlas

Boggerlas, the astute fourteen-year-old son of King Wenceslas, is well aware of Ubu's schemes. He vows to avenge his family's downfall and bravely fights to reclaim the throne. Surviving the chaos, Boggerlas ultimately defeats Ubu, fulfilling the vengeance demanded by his ancestors and restoring order to his kingdom.

Captain Macnure

Captain Macnure, a soldier in the Polish army, parodies the honorable soldier archetype as he conspires to kill the king, preferring to split him with a sword rather than use poison. When Ubu betrays him, Macnure allies with the Russian czar to wage war against Ubu, only to be ultimately killed by him in combat.

King Wenceslas

King Wenceslas, the ruler of Poland, is a benevolent yet imprudent monarch. Despite his well-meaning nature, his naive and obstinate ways lead to his demise. Ignoring his wife's warnings, he attends the Grand Review unarmed and is assassinated by Ubu's henchmen. His ghost later appears to Bougrelas, urging revenge, symbolizing his continued influence beyond death.

Queen Rosamund

Queen Rosamund, the cautious queen of Poland, tries to prevent her husband from attending the Grand Review by recounting a prophetic dream where Ubu murders Wenceslas to become king. Following the assassination, she attempts to escape with Bougrelas through a secret passage but succumbs to grief, dying in his arms. Her death scene, a parody of melodrama, underscores her foresight and apprehension.

Captain Bordure

Captain Bordure, instrumental in King Wenceslas's assassination, facilitates Ubu's rise to power. Growing disillusioned with Ubu's rule, Bordure defects to the Russians, collaborating with the czar and Bougrelas to overthrow Ubu. However, during a battle, Ubu recognizes Bordure and, per stage directions, gruesomely tears him apart.

Tsar Alexis

Tsar Alexis, the noble Russian czar, showcases a principled approach to leadership. Refusing to use treachery to secure victory, he joins forces with Macnure to aid in the campaign against Ubu, representing honorable opposition to tyranny.

General Laski

General Laski, an officer in the Polish army, embodies the ineffectiveness of the military under Ubu's rule. More concerned with ceremony and parade than strategic warfare, his foolishness highlights the superficiality and incompetence within the ranks.

Heads, Tails, and Gyron

Heads, Tails, and Gyron are Ubu's henchmen, complicit in the assassination of King Wenceslas and his sons. Heads and Tails demonstrate their independence by killing a wild bear without Ubu's aid, leading to their eventual desertion. Gyron, noted for being a black man, meets his end while assisting Mère Ubu in robbing the crypt of the Polish kings. These characters, each with distinct roles, illustrate various aspects of betrayal and misplaced loyalty under Ubu's chaotic rule.