The New Tenant (1955) by Eugène Ionesco (List of Characters)

 

The New Tenant (1955)

by Eugène Ionesco

(List of Characters) 

Characters in The New Tenant

 

1. The New Tenant

The central character of the play. A polite, composed, and meticulous man who moves into a new apartment. He carefully directs the placement of his furniture, insisting that every piece be brought inside despite the shrinking space. He represents obsession with possession, material accumulation, and self-imposed confinement.

 

2. The Concierge

The caretaker of the apartment building. She observes the Tenant’s actions with growing concern and questions the excessive amount of furniture. She represents practicality, social awareness, and common sense, contrasting with the Tenant’s detachment.

 

3. First Mover

One of the laborers responsible for carrying in the furniture. He struggles physically with the increasing weight and congestion of the space. His reactions add realism and mild comic effect to the absurd situation.

 

4. Second Mover

Another laborer assisting with the furniture. Like the First Mover, he becomes increasingly frustrated as the apartment fills. Together, the movers highlight the physical strain and impracticality of the Tenant’s demands.

 

Although the cast is small, each character serves a symbolic function rather than a deeply psychological one. The play focuses more on action and visual imagery than on complex character development, which is typical of absurdist drama.