Deathwatch
(Haute Surveillance, 1947)
by
Jean Genet
(List
of Characters)
List
of Characters in Deathwatch (Haute Surveillance, 1947)
Deathwatch
by Jean Genet features a small but intensely symbolic cast. Each character
represents not just an individual, but a psychological force within the
confined world of the prison.
1.
Green-Eyes (Yeux-Verts)
A
condemned prisoner awaiting execution.
He
is quiet, distant, and emotionally detached.
Symbolizes
power, myth, and the allure of criminal fame.
His
silence and reputation give him dominance over the others.
2.
Maurice
A
young, sensitive prisoner.
Deeply
fascinated and emotionally drawn to Green-Eyes.
Represents
admiration, vulnerability, and the desire for acceptance.
His
dependence and longing make him psychologically fragile.
3.
Lefranc
An
older, more calculating prisoner.
Envious
of Green-Eyes’ status and recognition.
Represents
ambition, jealousy, and the desperate need for identity.
His
obsession drives the central conflict of the play.
4.
Louise (Unseen Character)
Green-Eyes’
lover on the outside.
Never
appears on stage but is constantly discussed.
Symbolizes
desire, validation, and the external gaze.
Becomes
an object of fantasy and rivalry, especially for Lefranc.
5.
The Prison Guards (Offstage Presence)
Never
fully developed as characters.
Represent
authority, surveillance, and institutional control.
Their
presence reinforces the theme of confinement and observation.
Closing
Note
Though
the cast is minimal, Jean Genet uses each character with great intensity.
Together, they form a psychological triangle where power, desire, and identity
collide, making the play far richer than its small number of roles might
suggest.
 by Jean Genet (List of Characters)){kind=link}
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