Genre
Satire, Epic Theatre
Language
German
Setting and Context
1930s Chicago and Cicero
Narrator and Point of View
POV is that of the Cauliflower Trust and Ui
Tone and Mood
Satirical, Farce, Dramatic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonists are the grocers. Antagonists are Ui, The Cauliflower Trust, Dogsborough, Roma, Giri and Givola
Major Conflict
Arturo Ui covers up a conspiracy involving the Cauliflower Trust and Dogsborough which he uses as leverage to gain power in Chicago.
Climax
Ui takes complete control of Chicago and then claims Cicero for his own, extorting each city and taking what he wants for his own.
Foreshadowing
Ui walking by characters early in the play without saying anything foreshadows that he is looking for a way into their business to gain power.
Understatement
The fate of the Cauliflower Trust is understated.
Allusions
The play is alludes to Adolf Hitler's rise to power in Germany and Europe in the 1930s
Imagery
Roma's haunting Ui just as Macbeth is haunted.
Bowl being gunned down on the steps of the courthouse during the trial.
Paradox
Roma is Ui's best friend; paradoxically, Ui orders his death to gain more power.
Parallelism
The Barker at the beginning of the play in the prologue is paralleled by the actor playing Arturo Ui removing his mustache and addressing the audience directly in the Epilogue at the end of the play. Both of these features of the drama break the fourth wall.
Personification
Ui becomes the personification of betrayal when he orders Roma's death. He is willing to pay any price to rise in power.
Use of Dramatic Devices
Signs that appear stating historical events leading to Hitler's rise in power in the 1930s.
The Barker and actor playing Ui breaking the fourth wall to begin and end the play.
