French Society and Theatre before Jarry

Abstract

‘Shite!’ (‘Merdre!’) The first word of Jarry’s Ubu roi (King Ubu) was a deliberate insult hurled at the audience on the opening night and meant for the world beyond, the world of art, politics and science, in fact for the whole of society, with its hypocrisy and above all its violence. As a gesture of disgust with the ugliness of life and the nastiness of men, Vincent van Gogh lopped off his ear and then shot himself. Jarry attacked his audiences, with a view to destroying, if not their lives, at least their peace of mind. The world was to prove resilient, and Jarry succeeded only in destroying himself.