Topics for Further Study
Playwright Eugene Ionesco has stated that his plays are not merely exercises in absurdity, but rather critiques of our deteriorating language. In what ways might Ubu Roi fit this description?
Numerous critics have argued that Ubu Roi satirizes the bourgeois values of early 20th-century European society. Illustrate how Pere Ubu's actions and character contribute to this satire.
Scholars often highlight the Shakespearean allusions present in Ubu Roi. Identify and analyze specific references to Hamlet, Julius Caesar, and Macbeth within the play, and discuss their effectiveness as dramatic devices.
The premiere of Ubu Roi at the Théâtre de l'Œuvre incited a riot. Investigate this inaugural performance and note not only the events that transpired but also the reactions of some eyewitnesses. Compare these responses to those provoked by the debuts of other "controversial" plays such as Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? or Hair by Gerome Ragni, James Rado, and Galt MacDermot.
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