Rhinoceros
Eugène Ionesco (French: [øʒɛn jɔnɛsko]; born Eugen Ionescu, Romanian: [e.uˈdʒen
joˈnesku] ⓘ; 26 November 1909 – 28 March 1994) was a Romanian-French playwright who
wrote mostly in French, and was one of the foremost figures of the French avant-garde
theatre in the 20th century. Ionesco instigated a revolution in ideas and techniques of
drama, beginning with his “anti play”, The Bald Soprano which contributed to the
beginnings of what is known as the Theatre of the Absurd, which includes a number of
plays that, following the ideas of the philosopher Albert Camus, explore concepts of
absurdism and surrealism.[1][2] He was made a member of the Académie française in
1970, and was awarded the 1970 Austrian State Prize for European Literature, and the 1973
Jerusalem Prize.
Born:--Eugen Ionescu,26 November 1909,Slatina, Romania
Died:--28 March 1994 (aged 84),Paris, France
Resting place:--Cimetière du Montparnasse, Paris
Occupation:--Playwright, dramatist
Nationality:--Romanian, French
Period:--1931–1994
Genre:-- Theatre
Literary movement:--Avant-Garde, Theatre of the Absurd
Ionesco was made a member of the Académie française in 1970.[16] He also received
numerous awards including Tours Festival Prize for film, 1959; Prix Italia, 1963; Society of
Authors Theatre Prize, 1966; Grand Prix National for theatre, 1969; Monaco Grand Prix,
1969; Austrian State Prize for European Literature, 1970; Jerusalem Prize, 1973; and
honorary Doctoral Degrees from New York University and the Universities of Leuven,
Warwick and Tel Aviv. In 1964, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature
Rhinoceros is a play by Eugene Ionesco. Rhinoceros was first performed in
Germany in 1959. It is a play in three acts; Acts One and Three are each one scene,
and Act Two consists of two scenes. This play follows humanity's downfall as
human beings transform into rhinoceroses one by one. A man
, called Berenger must fight to refrain from succumbing to the rhinoceros epidemic
as he watches those closest to him transform into hideous bea sts.
Summary
Rhinoceros begins in a small town square where Jean, an efficient, refined young man,
meets his semi-alcoholic and fully apathetic friend, Berenger, for a drink. Jean upbraids
Berenger for his drinking habits and his aimlessness. Soon, a rhinoceros runs through the
square (off-stage), shocking all the townspeople with the exception of the indifferent
Berenger. Jean lectures Berenger about will-power while a rational Logician explains the
concept of a syllogism to an old man. Berenger concedes that he has a crush on Daisy, a
typist at his office, but worries that she favors Dudard, an up-and-coming co-worker. Jean
recommends will-power and cultural self- improvement to garner Daisy’s affections, and to
improve his life in general. Another rhino rushes by and tramples a cat. The townspeople
debate whether or not it was the same rhino and what breed it was. Berenger and Jean get
in a fight over the physical specifics of the rhino, and Jean storms off after calling Berenger
a drunkard. The townspeople ask the Logician to clear up confusion, but his lengthy
analysis makes no progress. The townspeople vow to stop the rhinos. Berenger expresses
remorse for fighting with Jean, then says he’s too upset to culture himself as planned and
instead drinks.
In Berenger’s office, the co-workers argue with Botard, an old skeptic who doesn’t believe
in the rhinos. Berenger arrives late, but Daisy sneaks him in. The employees ask Berenger if
he saw the rhino. Botard claims the illusory appearance of the rhino is an example of
“collective psychosis.” They return to work, proof-reading law proposals, and wonder where
co-worker Mr. Boeuf is. Mrs. Boeuf rushes in and says her husband is sick and will be back
in a few days. She tells them that she was just chased by a rhino, which is now downstairs.
The rhino crushes the staircase it tries to ascend, stranding the workers. Mrs. Boeuf
recognizes the rhino as her husband. Daisy telephones the fire station to rescue them. The
men give Mrs. Boeuf practical advice for dealing with this setback, but she is too devoted to
her rhino-husband and vows to stay with him. She jumps down to the ground floor and (off-
stage) rides off on his back. More rhinos are reported in the town. The firemen arrive to help
them out the window. Botard vows he’ll solve the rhino-riddle. Berenger passes on an offer
to drink with Dudard so he can visit Jean.
Eugène Ionesco (French: [øʒɛn jɔnɛsko]; born Eugen Ionescu, Romanian: [e.uˈdʒen
joˈnesku] ⓘ; 26 November 1909 – 28 March 1994) was a Romanian-French playwright who
wrote mostly in French, and was one of the foremost figures of the French avant-garde
theatre in the 20th century. Ionesco instigated a revolution in ideas and techniques of
drama, beginning with his “anti play”, The Bald Soprano which contributed to the
beginnings of what is known as the Theatre of the Absurd, which includes a number of
plays that, following the ideas of the philosopher Albert Camus, explore concepts of
absurdism and surrealism.[1][2] He was made a member of the Académie française in
1970, and was awarded the 1970 Austrian State Prize for European Literature, and the 1973
Jerusalem Prize.
Born:--Eugen Ionescu,26 November 1909,Slatina, Romania
Died:--28 March 1994 (aged 84),Paris, France
Resting place:--Cimetière du Montparnasse, Paris
Occupation:--Playwright, dramatist
Nationality:--Romanian, French
Period:--1931–1994
Genre:-- Theatre
Literary movement:--Avant-Garde, Theatre of the Absurd
Ionesco was made a member of the Académie française in 1970.[16] He also received
numerous awards including Tours Festival Prize for film, 1959; Prix Italia, 1963; Society of
Authors Theatre Prize, 1966; Grand Prix National for theatre, 1969; Monaco Grand Prix,
1969; Austrian State Prize for European Literature, 1970; Jerusalem Prize, 1973; and
honorary Doctoral Degrees from New York University and the Universities of Leuven,
Warwick and Tel Aviv. In 1964, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature
Rhinoceros is a play by Eugene Ionesco. Rhinoceros was first performed in
Germany in 1959. It is a play in three acts; Acts One and Three are each one scene,
and Act Two consists of two scenes. This play follows humanity's downfall as
human beings transform into rhinoceroses one by one. A man
, called Berenger must fight to refrain from succumbing to the rhinoceros epidemic
as he watches those closest to him transform into hideous bea sts.
Summary
Rhinoceros begins in a small town square where Jean, an efficient, refined young man,
meets his semi-alcoholic and fully apathetic friend, Berenger, for a drink. Jean upbraids
Berenger for his drinking habits and his aimlessness. Soon, a rhinoceros runs through the
square (off-stage), shocking all the townspeople with the exception of the indifferent
Berenger. Jean lectures Berenger about will-power while a rational Logician explains the
concept of a syllogism to an old man. Berenger concedes that he has a crush on Daisy, a
typist at his office, but worries that she favors Dudard, an up-and-coming co-worker. Jean
recommends will-power and cultural self- improvement to garner Daisy’s affections, and to
improve his life in general. Another rhino rushes by and tramples a cat. The townspeople
debate whether or not it was the same rhino and what breed it was. Berenger and Jean get
in a fight over the physical specifics of the rhino, and Jean storms off after calling Berenger
a drunkard. The townspeople ask the Logician to clear up confusion, but his lengthy
analysis makes no progress. The townspeople vow to stop the rhinos. Berenger expresses
remorse for fighting with Jean, then says he’s too upset to culture himself as planned and
instead drinks.
In Berenger’s office, the co-workers argue with Botard, an old skeptic who doesn’t believe
in the rhinos. Berenger arrives late, but Daisy sneaks him in. The employees ask Berenger if
he saw the rhino. Botard claims the illusory appearance of the rhino is an example of
“collective psychosis.” They return to work, proof-reading law proposals, and wonder where
co-worker Mr. Boeuf is. Mrs. Boeuf rushes in and says her husband is sick and will be back
in a few days. She tells them that she was just chased by a rhino, which is now downstairs.
The rhino crushes the staircase it tries to ascend, stranding the workers. Mrs. Boeuf
recognizes the rhino as her husband. Daisy telephones the fire station to rescue them. The
men give Mrs. Boeuf practical advice for dealing with this setback, but she is too devoted to
her rhino-husband and vows to stay with him. She jumps down to the ground floor and (off-
stage) rides off on his back. More rhinos are reported in the town. The firemen arrive to help
them out the window. Botard vows he’ll solve the rhino-riddle. Berenger passes on an offer
to drink with Dudard so he can visit Jean.
