A popular ‘comédie de boulevard’ (light comedy) goes mad and falls to pieces.

Jacques is first and foremost a family drama or a parody of a family drama. It could be a moralizing play. The characters’ language and their attitude are both dignified and refined, only this language comes apart and falls to pieces ;

‘I wanted this naturalistic comedy to be played so I could free myself from it in a way.’ (E. Ionesco)