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Rhinoceros and Other Plays

eugène ionesco derek prouse

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In Rhinoceros, as in his earlier plays, Ionesco startles audiences with a world that invariably erupts in explosive laughter and nightmare anxiety. A rhinoceros suddenly appears in a small town, tramping through its peaceful streets. Soon there are two, then three, until the “movement” is universal: a transformation of average citizens into beasts, as they learn to move with the times. Finally, only one man remains. “I’m the last man left, and I’m staying that way until the end. I’m not capitulating!”

Rhinoceros is a commentary on the absurdity of the human condition made tolerable only by self-delusion. It shows us the struggle of the individual to maintain integrity and identity alone in a world where all others have succumbed to the “beauty” of brute force, natural energy, and mindlessness.

Includes Rhinoceros, The Leader, The Future Is in Eggs or It Takes All Sorts to Make a World

141 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1959

This edition

Format
141 pages, Paperback
Published
January 1, 1960 by Grove Press
ISBN
9780394172262
ASIN
0394172264
Language
English

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About the author

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eugène ionesco

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Eugène Ionesco, born Eugen Ionescu, was a Romanian playwright and dramatist; one of the foremost playwrights of the Theatre of the Absurd. Beyond ridiculing the most banal situations, Ionesco's plays depict in a tangible way the solitude and insignificance of human existence.

Excerpted from Wikipedia.

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Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 100 votes)
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jtnho
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I have had this book for a year or two. However, while watching a video by the YouTuber ContraPoints that references Rhinoceros, I decided to move it further up to the front of my reading list.

Rhinoceros itself is an absurdist exploration of civil inattention. It shows how destructive cultural movements can spread throughout a community, while the general public pretends to be ignorant of what is happening. The play vividly portrays the power of conformity and the ease with which people can be influenced by the crowd.

The other two plays in this collection are also quite hilarious. They offer critiques of mindless leader worship and the oppressive ideologies that persist in heteronormative households. However, they don't quite reach the same level of satisfaction as Rhinoceros in their analysis and commentary.

Overall, this collection of plays provides an interesting and thought-provoking look at various social and cultural issues. It challenges the reader to question their own beliefs and behaviors and to be more aware of the world around them.
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aesir_valkyrie15
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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The play "Rhinoceros" is truly an engaging and surreal horror tale. It presents an epidemic of rhinoceros transformation that evolves into a strange nightmare filled with isolation, claustrophobia, and conformity. Ionesco's absurdist story, with its numerous satirical jabs, remains essential reading in 2024. In a world where pandemic denialism persists and fascism is resurgent, it holds great significance. It's difficult not to draw comparisons with Camus' "The Plague," both written after WWII and strongly influenced by French collaborators with the occupying Nazi forces. However, it's about more than that. The transformation that engulfs society and becomes irresistible is a powerful and unpleasant experience to immerse oneself in. I can envision this play being extremely powerful and humorous on stage. I would love to see it performed someday.


As for the other two works included in this collection, namely "The Leader" and "The Future is in Eggs, or, It Takes All Sorts to Make a World," they are short, absurd, and bitter satires of hero-worship and the Family. While both are entertaining, they lack the same depth as "Rhinoceros."
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Awesoma
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I like to pretend that absurdist theater is rather uncommon, but in reality, it probably isn't. Martin Esslin came up with the concept in his The Theatre of the Absurd. This book has, for some reason, entered our lives and our home in the past few months.

I've flipped through it several times and have been intrigued, yet I'm not ready to read what Esslin has to say until I've read some of the plays he references in his text. I've had a copy of Ionesco's Rhinoceros on my shelf for years, so it seemed appropriate to begin my exploration of absurdist theater and fiction with it.

At first, I thought the rhinoceros in the title would be a metaphor, similar to when people say, "There's an elephant in the room" to refer to a big issue that no one wants to face. But no. The play actually features a rhinoceros. There's only one at the beginning, but more do show up. Hence the absurdity of this play. The rhinoceroses do serve as a metaphor, so I was right about that. But I was startled by the actual existence of the pachyderm, and I found myself giggling, shaking my head, and thinking about how Lynchian the whole thing was. And then I started over.

My edition also had two other plays, short one-act pieces: The Leader and The Future is in Eggs or It Takes All Sorts to Make a World. I didn't enjoy either of them nearly as much as the title play, but I could also see their place in absurdist theater.

It is now a life goal of mine to find a stage production of Rhinoceros.
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Kittycat345554
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Rhinoceros is an extremely entertaining play. Its premise, in my opinion, holds just as much relevance today as it did in the 1960s. The concept presented in the play is thought-provoking and still manages to capture the attention of the audience. It makes us reflect on various aspects of society and human nature.


The other two plays in this collection, namely The Leader and The Future Is in Eggs or It Takes Two to Make a World, were considerably shorter. While they may have had their own merits, I didn't find them nearly as engaging as Rhinoceros. The brevity of these plays perhaps didn't allow for a deep exploration of the themes or for the characters to be fully developed.


Overall, Rhinoceros stands out as a remarkable piece of work that continues to resonate with audiences decades after its initial release. It is a play that not only entertains but also makes us think and question the world around us.

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ninjacupcake333
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Classic surrealism

This play is truly and utterly strange, and it has a deeply disturbing quality. It's one of those works that defies easy description and classification. I don't think I really need to say much more about it, given its well-known status. It's a piece that has left an indelible mark on the world of theater and art.

I, for one, absolutely loved it. The way it plays with the boundaries of reality and imagination, the vivid and often disorienting imagery, all of it combines to create an experience that is both captivating and thought-provoking. It's a testament to the power of surrealism to transport us to a world that is at once familiar and yet completely alien.

Even now, long after I first saw it, it still lingers in my mind, a constant reminder of the limitless possibilities of the human creative spirit.
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YuruAnimeWeeb
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Thought this was a truly fantastic concept and story.

It had a certain charm and mystery that was very reminiscent of the classic "Twilight Zone" episodes.

The way the plot unfolded was both engaging and unexpected, keeping me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

The characters were well-developed and added depth to the overall narrative.

Each one had their own unique qualities and motives, which made them relatable and interesting.

The setting was also described in great detail, creating a vivid and immersive world that I could easily picture in my mind.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or science fiction tale.

It had all the elements of a great story and left me wanting more.

I can't wait to see what else the author has in store for us.

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chezkimo
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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In Ionesco's Rhinoceros, fascism is presented as a family affair. It诱人ly dangles career advancement, the perception of strength, intellectual might, and respectability in front of the most rational individuals. The goal is to make them desire to become a beast. Bad satire is often like a big, dull hammer. It simply applauds the good people and smears the bad. However, Ionesco manages to avoid this pitfall. He shows contempt for the pitiable while still maintaining pity for the contemptible. What they are doing is a choice, and it is bad, degrading, and bizarre. But they are still people, people who have chosen to become something less than a person. This is not the kind of wit that soothes or emptily mocks. Instead, it awakens and stirs, hopefully fast enough to make people realize the true nature of fascism and the choices that lead to it.

It forces us to confront the uncomfortable reality that even rational people can be lured into the clutches of something evil. Ionesco's work serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant and not succumbing to the temptations that can lead us astray.
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Userman
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I actually found that I enjoyed the play "The Future is in Eggs" or "It Takes all Sorts to Make a World" more.

Although "Rhinoceros" adeptly discussed the issue of social conformity in the face of the rising tide of Nazism, I thought "The Future is in Eggs" was brasher and ridiculously wonderful.

The play's commentary on the issue of a pure race that is so focused on production that it becomes almost absurd was right on target.

It presented a unique and thought-provoking perspective on this topic, using humor and exaggeration to drive home its point.

The characters and their interactions added to the overall charm and entertainment value of the play.

Overall, I found "The Future is in Eggs" to be a more engaging and memorable theatrical experience.
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