The
Screens (Les Paravents, 1961)
by
Jean Genet
(List
of Characters)
List
of Characters in The Screens (Les Paravents, 1961) by Jean Genet
The
play features a very large and fluid cast. Many characters appear briefly,
reappear in altered forms, or function symbolically rather than as fixed
individuals.
Major
Characters
Saïd
– The central figure; a cunning, opportunistic young Arab man whose shifting
roles drive much of the play’s action.
Saïd’s
Mother – An old, sharp, and resilient woman devoted to her son; manipulative
and survival-driven.
Leïla
– Saïd’s wife; her relationship with him is unstable and marked by neglect and
tension.
Colonial
/ French Figures
The
Lieutenant – A representative of French military authority.
The
Captain – Another military officer involved in maintaining colonial control.
The
Sergeant – A lower-ranking soldier reflecting discipline and enforcement.
French
Soldiers – Various unnamed soldiers who appear across scenes, often as a
collective presence.
Colonial
Officials / Settlers – Figures representing the administrative and civilian
side of French rule.
Algerian
/ Native Figures
Rebel
Fighters – Members of the resistance opposing French rule.
Villagers
/ Civilians – Ordinary people caught in the conflict.
Beggars
and Outcasts – Marginalized individuals struggling for survival, often
interacting with Saïd.
Symbolic
/ Theatrical Figures
The
Dead – A collective presence of deceased characters who continue to appear,
speak, and observe.
Voices
/ Apparitions – Figures who emerge in fragmented or dreamlike scenes.
Masked
or Role-Shifting Characters – Individuals who change identity or function,
reinforcing the theme of performance.
Minor
& Episodic Characters
Various
Women, Prisoners, Guards, Messengers, and Onlookers who appear briefly in
different scenes.
Characters
who may reappear in altered roles, emphasizing the fluid and theatrical nature
of identity in the play.
Overall,
the characters in The Screens do not function as fixed, psychologically
detailed individuals in the traditional sense. Instead, they operate as
shifting figures within a theatrical spectacle—sometimes realistic, sometimes
symbolic—contributing to the play’s fragmented and ever-changing dramatic
world.
 by Jean Genet (List of Characters)){kind=link}
0 Comments