Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco

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Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco
Eugene Ionesco was born in Romania on 26th of November 1909, but he spent most of his childhood in France because his father Eugene Senior was studying there. However, he later returned to Romania to stay with the mother after conflicts with his father and in 1929, he enrolled for French literature classes at the Bucharest University. Ionesco began writing and in 1930 he published his very first article with the Zodiac review. Many of his plays received huge criticism but despite this, his works achieved international acclaim. He was honored in many of his plays and 1970, Ionesco was designated into The Academy Francaise. Despite the fact that he was Romanian, Ionesco mainly wrote in French, and this is true for his renowned play Rhinoceros. Ionesco wrote the play Rhinoceros during the World War II in the rural area of Vichy France in 1959. This play has been included in “The Theatre of the Absurd” because of its focus on illogical or bizarre fiction (Ionesco 4).
Rhinoceros begins in a small town where Jean meets Berenger a semi-alcoholic and his indifferent friend for a drink. While they are arguing, a rhinoceros runs across the square surprising everyone except Berenger. Berenger confides in Jean his love for his workmate Daisy but worries that she would not be interested in him, and Jean asks him to have will-power and fight for her. Another rhino runs across the town and tramples a cat. They argue some more about the meaning of the rhinoceros and eventually Jean storms off (Ionesco 4). In the next scene, Berenger goes to work late but Daisy sneaks him in and the arguments about the rhinoceros continue. While working, they wonder about the whereabouts of a co-worker Mr. Boeuf, and suddenly Mrs. Boeuf rushes in and says her husband is sick. She confesses a rhino had just chased her, and this rhino tries to ascend the stairs but the staircase crashes. Mrs. Boeuf recognized the rhino as her husband and jumps on its back, and she rides off. While firefighters come to rescue the workers from the office, it is revealed that many more rhinos have been reported in town. Berenger goes to visit Jean and finds him sick and coughing in bed. While they are talking Jean’s voice grows hoarse, and a bump develops on his nose and continues to grow. Berenger informs Jean about Mr. Boeuf’s transformation and Jean approves. Jean keeps running in and out of the bathroom and each time, his voice changes further, his skin thickens, and the bump grows bigger. Finally, he transforms into a rhino and Berenger has to escape because Jean tries to attack him. Many people in the building turn into rhinos (Isherwood). In the final scene, Berenger is waking from a nightmare and worries he might turn into a rhino. A workmate Dudard visits him and as they talk a herd of rhinos pass by. Daisy joins them, but Dudard finally decides to go outside and turns into a rhino leaving Daisy and Berenger, who confess their love to each other. However, Daisy approves of the rhinos and at the end leaves Berenger and becomes a rhino. Berenger at the end vows not to become a rhino and inste...