La
Politique des Restes (The Politics of Rubbish) – 1963
by
Jean Arthur Adamov
(List of Characters)
Unlike
many well-documented modern plays, Arthur Adamov's La Politique des Restes (The
Politics of Rubbish / The Scavengers) does not have a widely available
authoritative published character list in standard English reference sources.
The play is more often discussed for its political themes than for its dramatis
personae, and many summaries identify characters by their social roles rather
than by personal names.
The
principal characters can therefore be listed as follows:
1.
The Black Garbage Collector (Protagonist) – An honest and hardworking
sanitation worker who becomes the central victim of racial prejudice and
institutional injustice. He represents the oppressed and marginalized members
of society.
2.
The Worker's Wife – His supportive wife, who shares his suffering and
represents the emotional burden placed upon families living under
discrimination.
3.
The Worker's Children – They symbolize the next generation growing up in a
society shaped by racial inequality and limited opportunities.
4.
Fellow Garbage Collectors (Scavengers) – Co-workers who perform the same degrading
labor and collectively represent the exploited working class.
5.
Employer/Supervisor – A representative of authority within the workplace,
reflecting the unequal relationship between labor and management.
6.
Police Officers – Officials responsible for enforcing the law, who illustrate
how prejudice influences law enforcement.
7.
Judge – Presides over the legal proceedings and represents the judicial system.
8.
Lawyers/Legal Representatives – Participate in the courtroom conflict and
symbolize the operation of the legal system.
9.
Government and Civic Authorities – Officials who represent political power and
institutional control.
10.
Members of the Privileged White Community – Citizens who benefit from racial
and social privilege, either actively supporting or passively accepting
discrimination.
11.
Members of the Oppressed Black Community – Ordinary citizens who experience
social exclusion, economic hardship, and racial injustice.
12.
Witnesses and Court Officials – Secondary characters who contribute to the
legal proceedings and highlight the conflict between justice and prejudice.
Character Classification
Protagonist: The Black Garbage Collector
Supporting Characters: His wife, children,
fellow garbage collectors, lawyers, judge, police officers, employer
Minor Characters: Witnesses, court officials,
government representatives, citizens of both communities
Collective Characters: The oppressed workers
and the privileged ruling community
Because
the play functions primarily as political theatre, many characters are
intentionally presented as social types rather than highly individualized
personalities. They are designed to represent broader classes, institutions,
and communities, reinforcing Adamov's critique of racism, class inequality, and
political oppression.
 – 1963 by Jean Arthur Adamov (List of Characters)){kind=link}
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