The Killer (1957) by Eugène Ionesco (List of Characters)

 

The Killer (1957)

by Eugène Ionesco

(List of Characters) 

List of Characters

 

Major Characters

1. Bérenger

The central protagonist of the play. He is sensitive, idealistic, and morally aware. Unlike others, he is deeply disturbed by the presence of the killer in the Radiant City and attempts to confront him through reason and persuasion.

 

2. The Architect

The designer and official representative of the Radiant City. He symbolizes bureaucratic pride and blind faith in urban planning and progress. He dismisses the seriousness of the murders.

 

3. The Killer

A mysterious, mostly silent murderer who drowns victims in the lake. He has no clear motive and rarely speaks. He symbolizes irrational, motiveless evil.

 

Supporting Characters

4. The Concierge (Caretaker)

A practical figure associated with the residential area. Represents ordinary citizens who accept events passively.

 

5. Édouard

A colleague of Bérenger who appears in the first act. He represents normal social routine and conventional attitudes.

 

6. The Mother

A grieving woman whose child has been killed. She briefly appears, emphasizing the human cost of the murders.

 

7. The Old Man

A resident of the Radiant City. His presence adds to the atmosphere of unease and vulnerability.

 

8. Various Officials and Residents

Minor characters who represent bureaucratic indifference, social conformity, and the collective apathy of society.