Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Rhinoceros, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Absurdity, Logic, and Intellectualism
Fascism
Individuality vs. Conformity
Escapism, Violence, and Morality
Summary
Analysis
Berenger sleeps in his bedroom, which looks much like Jean’s, though he has a dining table barring the door. Rhinoceroses growl outside as Berenger writhes in his sleep, shouting to someone to watch out for the horns. As a stampede passes outside, he falls out of bed and wakes up. Berenger checks his bandaged forehead and studies himself in the mirror. He sighs with relief that there’s no bump. He moves around anxiously and starts to pour himself a drink, but he stops and reminds himself of his vow to be more willful. Rhinoceroses run past and Berenger pours a drink and downs it. It makes him cough, which worries him. He checks outside and then falls asleep. After a while, he hears a knock at the door. He doesn’t recognize Dudard’s voice.
When Berenger doesn’t recognize Dudard’s voice, it essentially repeats what happened in the last act. This doesn’t bode well for at least one of these men—and probably for Dudard, since he, like Jean, conforms and is conventionally successful. The hordes of rhinoceroses outside make it clear that this is a pressing problem that people can no longer ignore—as the Nazis eventually were for the Germans and later, the rest of the world.
Themes
Berenger unblocks the door and lets Dudard in. They move the table aside and exchange pleasantries. Berenger apologizes for not recognizing Dudard’s voice, checks out the window again, and nervously says that he’s feeling a bit better. They discuss whether their voices have changed, which confuses Dudard. Berenger puts his laundry away, nervously says that voices can change, and invites Dudard to sit. He fidgets and Dudard asks if his headache is still bad. Berenger says it is, but he doesn’t think he has a bump. He lifts the bandage for Dudard to see, and Dudard confirms that there’s no bump. Dudard asks why there’d be a bump if Berenger hasn’t bumped his head, but Berenger replies that if a person doesn’t want to knock their head, they don’t. Dudard agrees but asks why Berenger is so agitated.
The discussion about whether people can prevent hitting their heads by vowing to not hit their heads speaks to Berenger’s belief that not succumbing to becoming a rhinoceros is a matter of wills. Thus, his anxiety over not becoming a rhinoceros suggests that even if he doesn’t exhibit will in the way that Jean would like (that is, by not drinking), he’s still willfully resisting becoming a rhinoceros. Dudard’s lack of anxiety, meanwhile, suggests that he’s desensitized to the rhinoceroses and is therefore more likely to see no issue with them and eventually join them.
Themes
Dudard declares that it must just be Berenger’s migraine, but Berenger forcefully tells Dudard to not talk about migraines. Dudard says that the migraine is understandable after all the emotional turmoil, and Berenger says he can’t get over it. Berenger admits that he’s afraid of becoming someone else and, with Dudard’s encouragement, sits down. They discuss Jean, and Berenger says that he’s shocked that everyone is turning into rhinoceroses, but Dudard cautions him to not dramatize the situation. Berenger cuts him off and says it was awful watching his best friend transform. Dudard encourages him to not think about it as Berenger gets up to dust.
Berenger’s inability to forget Jean’s traumatizing transformation again speaks to Berenger’s sense of duty and morality—he took it upon himself to try to keep Jean from transforming but ultimately failed. The fact that many others are turning into rhinoceroses suggests both that many people are, like Jean, throwing aside their morals to become rhinoceroses, as well as plenty others like Berenger who haven’t been able to keep their loved ones from changing. This is, in short, a societal problem.
Themes
Berenger says that he can’t not think about it. Jean was warm and he never would’ve thought that he’d do this to him. Dudard reminds Berenger that Jean likely didn’t do this to annoy him, but Berenger says that it seemed like he did. Dudard tries to make the case that Jean would’ve transformed no matter who was with him, but Berenger laments that he hoped that Jean would’ve controlled himself. At this, Dudard accuses Berenger of thinking that he’s the center of the universe. Berenger sighs, agrees, and says that this whole thing is just disturbing as he moves a plant to the table. He wonders why this is happening.
Dudard’s advice to not take this sort of thing personally may be sound advice in plenty of other situations; however, given that the play is a clear critique of Nazi Germany and the Romanian Iron Guard, Ionesco sees that joining either movement was actually a moral crime that people committed against those who refused to join.
Themes
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Dudard says that he’s not sure, but he’s been observing and has some ideas. He wonders if Jean wanted some fresh air and to relax, though this isn’t an excuse. Berenger continues to tidy his room and says that he’s trying to understand, but Dudard says it’s not worth getting upset over. Rhinoceritis is a disease like any other, but Berenger exclaims that he’s afraid of catching it. Dudard gets up and scoffs. He says that Jean was wild and eccentric, and Berenger can’t judge rhinoceritis based on exceptions like Jean. He needs to consider the average cases. Berenger sees the sense of this, but he says that Jean gave lots of reasons for why he transformed. He wonders if Mr. Bœuf was mad too, but Dudard says that Mr. Bœuf certainly didn’t transform to annoy Berenger. Berenger finds this both reassuring and even worse.
Even if Dudard qualifies his musings to say that wanting to relax or get fresh air isn’t an excuse, he’s still working very hard to rationalize why people might choose to become rhinoceroses. While doing so may be positive to a certain extent, Dudard’s rationalization throughout this act merely functions to discredit Berenger’s strong sense of morality and that becoming a rhinoceros is wrong, no matter what a person’s reasons are for the transformation. Insisting that Jean is eccentric, meanwhile, shows that Dudard still thinks that this is happening to individuals, rather than to everyone on a much larger scale.
Themes
Rhinoceroses stampede outside and Berenger rises, nervous. Dudard pushes him back down and tells him to stop acting so obsessed; he needs to concentrate on getting better. Berenger wonders if he is immune, but Dudard points out that rhinoceritis isn’t fatal and he believes it’s curable if people want to be cured. Berenger worries about aftereffects, but Dudard assures him it’s temporary. Dudard takes his glasses off and rubs his forehead as Berenger says again that he doesn’t want to catch it and if a person doesn’t want to catch it, they won’t. He offers Dudard brandy, but Dudard refuses. Berenger declares that alcohol is good for epidemics, ignores Dudard saying that they don’t know if it helps rhinoceritis, and reasons that Jean never drank.
Though becoming a rhinoceros is, of course, absurd and impossible in the real world, Berenger’s worries about aftereffects speak to the concern that supporting fascism impacts a person for life—something that the play implies strongly is the case, no matter what Dudard says here. When Dudard rubs his forehead, it implies that Dudard will contract rhinoceritis himself, as it recalls Jean’s early bump and his headache.
Themes
When Berenger drinks, he coughs. Dudard points this out but insists that it sounds like a normal cough. Berenger asks if rhinoceroses cough, but Dudard says that Berenger is being ridiculous. The best protection against rhinoceritis is willpower, and Berenger needs to demonstrate he has some by not drinking. Berenger insists that he’s drinking purposefully and will quit when the epidemic is over, but Dudard insists that this is an excuse. Berenger says that in any case, alcohol has nothing to do with the rhinoceritis. Dudard points out that they don’t know this, which alarms Berenger. Berenger declares that he’s not an alcoholic, checks his forehead, and ascertains that his drink didn’t hurt him, so it must be either good or benign.
Berenger’s thoughts about alcohol and whether or not it’s harmful shows that he’s still trying hard to engage with things rationally, as Jean wanted him to—but aside from being a loose parallel to symbolize escapism from everyday life, the play gives no evidence that a person’s drinking habits influence whether or not they contract rhinoceritis. Berenger is, therefore, grasping at straws.
Themes
Dudard says that once Berenger is well enough to go out, he’ll abandon all his silly ideas. Berenger is horrified that he’ll have to go out and meet rhinoceroses, but Dudard says that they’re peaceful and in a way, pleasantly innocent. Berenger paces and says that the sight of the rhinoceroses upsets him, but talks himself down from getting angry. Dudard insists that this is because Berenger has no sense of humor—he needs to be detached so he can see that this is funny. Morosely, Berenger says that he feels responsible and involved, so he can’t be indifferent. To this, Dudard tells him to stop judging and warns that if gets too worried, he won’t be able to live.
Though Dudard finds the rhinoceroses mostly peaceful, they’ve already killed a cat, chased an innocent woman, and destroyed buildings and other property. By insisting that the rhinoceroses are just misunderstood and that Berenger should think it’s funny, Dudard downplays the seriousness of wild animals that are proven to be destructive and violent.
Themes
Berenger says that if this had happened somewhere else, they could’ve read about it in the newspapers, examined it from various points of view, and organize debates with all sorts of people. It would’ve been interesting and instructive. However, since they’re in the thick of it, it’s hard to not feel connected to it. Dudard says that he’s surprised by this, too, but he’s starting to get used to it—though this doesn’t mean that he’s on the rhinoceroses’ side. Rhinoceroses stampede and Berenger watches them, declaring again that he can’t get used to it. Dudard says he must, though Berenger says he doesn’t want to. Dudard asks what Berenger plans to do, and Berenger says that he’s going to think about it. He might apply to speak with the mayor.
In this speech, Ionesco uses Berenger as a mouthpiece to speak to the way in which the international community didn’t necessarily take the Nazis seriously until it was too late exactly because they didn’t see firsthand the kind of atrocities that the Nazis committed on a daily basis. Berenger’s vow to not get used to the rhinoceroses is essentially a vow to hold onto his individualism and humanity, which allows him to recognize even as he speaks to someone that he admires that the rhinoceroses are fearsome beasts.
Themes
Dudard encourages Berenger to leave the authorities to act as they see fit and suggests that Berenger has no real right to involve himself, especially since this isn’t serious. He sits down again and says that it’s silly to get so upset because people made a choice to change their skins. Berenger says that they have to “attack the evil at the roots,” which makes Dudard laugh. He insists that it’s impossible to know what’s evil and what’s not, since everything is a matter of “personal preferences.” Dudard declares that Berenger is just worried about himself, but Berenger will never become a rhinoceros. Berenger says that if everyone thinks like Dudard, nobody will act. This concerns Dudard; he asks if Berenger thinks they need to involve the international community and insists they don’t. Berenger says they should ask for help.
Dudard’s insistence that they can’t know what’s evil and what’s not speaks to the idea that there are different systems of morality among different people and places. Berenger implies that though there may be some room to debate the merits of this, it still doesn’t excuse the widespread violence and destruction that the rhinoceroses (symbolically the Nazis and Iron Guard) are causing. He also sees clearly that if people try too hard to rationalize violence, they will, like Dudard, continue to do nothing—thereby giving those regimes even more power.
Themes
Dudard laughs and tells Berenger to calm down. Berenger thinks for a moment and agrees to change. He apologizes for keeping Dudard and asks if Dudard got his application to take sick leave. Dudard assures him that it’s fine but shares that nobody’s working since they haven’t repaired the staircase yet. They’re working on it, but workmen only work for a few days before disappearing, and they’re not getting a stone staircase. Berenger grumbles about how the company refuses to change and suggests that Mr. Papillon isn’t happy about this. Dudard says that Mr. Papillon retired to the country and became a rhinoceros. Dudard thinks it’s funny. Berenger can’t believe it and doesn’t find it funny. Dudard says he didn’t share earlier because Berenger has no sense of humor.
For Dudard, rhinoceritis is funny because he cannot accept how serious it actually is. While the genre of tragicomedy, for example, proves that tragedy can be funny, Dudard takes this a step further by refusing to understand that it’s also tragic and horrific—in other words, he’s closing himself off to taking a wider and more nuanced view by focusing only on the humor and not on the implications of losing his boss to rhinoceritis. Accusing Berenger of having no humor, meanwhile, continues to discredit Berenger.
Themes
Berenger laments Mr. Papillon’s transformation and that Mr. Papillon gave up such a good job. Dudard says that this means that Mr. Papillon’s transformation was sincere, but Berenger reasons that someone talked Mr. Papillon into it. Dudard points out that it could happen to anyone, which disturbs Berenger. He confirms that it couldn’t happen to him or Dudard. Berenger asks how Botard reacted. Botard was outraged, which makes Berenger feel better. Berenger announces that he thinks Mr. Papillon had a duty to hold firm and he thinks horribly of their boss. Dudard insists that this is intolerant and suggests that Mr. Papillon just wanted to relax. Dudard eats the flower off of Berenger’s plant.
The fact that so many seemingly normal people eventually followed along with the Nazis—and that the normal Mr. Papillon willingly became a rhinoceros—drives home the play’s underlying idea that fascism isn’t something that draws in only those who look like villains or those who are hungry for power and indiscriminate about how they get it. By insisting that everyone is susceptible, the play asks the audience to question their own thoughts and how much they conform with the mainstream.
Themes
Berenger accuses Dudard of being too tolerant, but Dudard says that it’s their duty to try to understand honestly how and why this is happening using logic and scientific inquiry. Berenger spits that Dudard will soon side with the rhinoceroses, but Dudard denies this and says he’s trying to be realistic. He believes that anything that occurs naturally can’t be truly evil. Berenger is incredulous, but Dudard says that rhinoceroses are natural and coughs. His voice becomes hoarse. Berenger points out that turning into a rhinoceros is abnormal, which Dudard says is a matter of opinion. Dudard tries to encourage Berenger to understand that they can’t define normality or abnormality, but Berenger says it’s simple. He says that people may prove that movement isn’t real, but then when a person walks, they can say like Galileo: “E pur si muove” (“and yet, it moves”).
Berenger is, of course, right—Dudard will soon join the rhinoceroses and is becoming noticeably more tolerant of them as this act continues. When he insists that they must consider the rhinoceroses in terms of logic and science, it again exposes the ways in which both science and logic cannot always explain everything, or, on the contrary, how it can be abused to explain or prove nearly anything.
Themes
Dudard argues that this is an incorrect analogy, since Galileo proved that science was superior to dogmatism. Berenger looks lost but says that he’s not even sure what this means—his words are getting mixed up, but Dudard doesn’t seem to have a head at all. He declares that he doesn’t care about Galileo, but Dudard says that Berenger just said that practice always wins, but only when it comes from theory. Shouting angrily, Berenger says that this proves nothing and declares this all “lunacy.” Dudard says they have to define “lunacy,” but Berenger says they all know what it means. He asks if the rhinoceroses are practice or theory. Dudard says they’re both, but it’s debatable. Berenger refuses to think about it.
Even if Berenger is a bit lost in his philosophical argument here, his philosophical argument as a whole is beside the point. In playing Dudard’s game and attempting to rationalize why the rhinoceroses are bad, Berenger simply opens himself up to criticism and Dudard’s accusations that Berenger isn’t being open enough. Asking Berenger to define “lunacy” in particular suggests that Dudard is trying hard to keep this an argument he can win by keeping it philosophical instead of about morality.
Themes
Dudard tells Berenger to calm down and says that they can still discuss this peacefully. Berenger bellows angrily, says in a terrified voice that he shouldn’t be like Jean, but then says he doesn’t have the education that Dudard does. Regardless, he feels “intuitively” that Dudard is wrong about the rhinoceroses. Dudard asks him to define “intuitively.” Berenger accuses Dudard of dancing around him and suggests that they contact the Logician who explained the question of the African versus Asian rhinoceroses. The noise outside grows until Berenger and Dudard can’t hear each other. Berenger shakes his fist at the rhinoceroses as Dudard pulls out a cigarette and tells Berenger to be polite. The rhinoceroses run past again and Berenger notices that one is wearing the Logician’s hat—the Logician is a rhinoceros.
Because of Berenger’s lack of education, he’s not wrong that Dudard is dancing circles around him and making it increasingly difficult for Berenger to make his point that the rhinoceroses are wrong on a moral level. Berenger has seen firsthand the violence and destruction that the rhinoceroses have caused, so he “intuitively” knows that they’re bad news and doesn’t have to use logic to try to understand the rhinoceroses further.
Themes
Dudard joins Berenger at the window, tells him again to be polite, and remarks that the Logician still has some individuality. Berenger shouts that he’ll never join the rhinoceroses as Dudard muses that the Logician, being a logician, must have the decision carefully and “couldn’t have got carried away.” Dudard tells Berenger to stop shouting, since the rhinoceroses are just playing. He eats his cigarette and tries to call Berenger’s attention to knocking at the door. He lets Daisy in and takes a very familiar tone with her, but Daisy wants to know where Berenger is and insists that she’s just a friend to Berenger.
For Dudard, seeing the Logician—an authority figure—join the rhinoceroses impresses upon him that the rhinoceroses can’t be bad, since a person he trusts and admires joined them. This makes it even more important for Dudard to force Berenger to behave politely toward the rhinoceroses, as now he knows even more people who have joined and therefore has a reason to try to impress them.
Themes
Berenger enters and greets Daisy. He hides his brandy bottle and asks if she saw that the Logician is a rhinoceros. She did, but she’s more concerned about Berenger’s health. She and Berenger ignore Dudard suggesting he might be imposing and Daisy says that Botard’s a rhinoceros. Daisy says that he protested, but he changed within 24 hours of Mr. Papillon. Berenger says anxiously that anything can happen and says that someone may have lied to Daisy. Daisy insists that she saw him change, and Dudard says that everyone has the right to change their minds. Daisy says that Botard’s last words were that they “must move with the times.”
Learning that Botard is a rhinoceros and believes that they have to follow the tide suggests that Botard was more interested in power than anything else. Antagonizing people and threating union action was a way for him to feel powerful, just as being a rhinoceros now allows him to do the same.
Themes
Dudard approaches Daisy, puts a hand on her shoulder, and notes that he hasn’t seen her since the office closed. Daisy snaps that he can call her anytime as Berenger groans about Botard’s transformation. Berenger suggests that Botard’s firmness was a front and the reason he became a rhinoceros—good men make good rhinoceroses. Daisy puts her basket of food on the table and Dudard hurries to help her. Berenger continues to try to make sense of Botard, but Dudard insists that Botard wasn’t as “anarchic” as Berenger suggests; he followed his boss, and his “community spirit” won out.
Berenger makes an important point here; people with organizing skills or other skills important to a group effort can put them to use in a harmful movement the same as they could in a more positive one. Botard, then, may experience even more success as a rhinoceros, since it will give him a platform. This mirrors how some individuals were able to rise through the Nazi ranks because of their skills and their willingness to buy into the ideology.
Themes
Daisy begins to set the table as Berenger states that the rhinoceroses are “anarchic” since they’re the minority. Daisy notes that the minority is growing; several family members are rhinoceroses, as are some government officials. Dudard says that it’s going to spread internationally and Berenger says they need to act now before the rhinoceroses overwhelm them. Daisy invites Dudard to eat with them, but he says he doesn’t want to impose and makes up an appointment. Daisy says that she had a hard time finding food, since shops close when the owners transform and then rhinoceroses plunder them. Berenger thinks that they should round up the rhinoceroses, but Dudard and Daisy note that the animal protection league won’t allow it and everyone has a relative who’s a rhinoceros now.
The recognition that there’s little that anyone can do to stop the spread of rhinoceritis at this point speaks to the idea that there are plenty of things to be done to stop harmful movements in their early stages, but it gets increasingly harder as the movements and ideologies gain traction. It’s much harder to denounce a movement when a person knows people who are a part of it, and if the movement is successful, it’s likely that there will be laws of some sort to protect them from opposition.
Themes
Berenger asks desperately how people can be rhinoceroses. As Daisy fetches plates, Dudard mutters that she’s very familiar with Berenger’s home. She starts to set the table for three and notes that she’s getting used to the rhinoceroses, which stand aside for people on the street. Berenger says he can’t get used to it, and Dudard muses that it might be good to try it. Suddenly, rhinoceroses and drums can be heard outside making lots of noise. Berenger and Dudard rush to the window and hear a wall crumbling, but dust obscures their view. Berenger sees that rhinoceroses demolished the fire station. Rhinoceros firemen march out, and other rhinoceroses swarm out of houses and windows to join the march.
At this point, the rhinoceroses reach a tipping point, and it becomes clear that the movement or illness is out of control—Daisy, Dudard, and Berenger are now in the minority. Even the firemen have become rhinoceroses, which speaks to the fact that, if left unchecked, troubling movements can infiltrate society’s infrastructure.
Themes
Berenger asks how many have one horn and how many have two. Dudard says that the statisticians are surely working on it, but Berenger worries that this is happening too fast for them to know for sure. Daisy leads Berenger to the table and then tries to get Dudard to sit, but Dudard restlessly says he doesn’t like tinned food and wants to eat on the grass. Berenger cautions against this and says that they can’t let Dudard go, but Daisy says that they can’t make him stay. Berenger reminds Dudard that men are superior to rhinoceroses, but Dudard says that he won’t know for sure until he tries it. Dudard says that he must stand by his friends and employers and tells Berenger that he prefers the “universal family” to anything else.
The discussion about the statisticians shows again that this kind of intellectualism is futile and, in this case, impossible to do properly—especially since the statisticians are, at this point, probably rhinoceroses and aren’t keeping track. Dudard shows that the desire to conform is especially strong as he insists that he needs to take the rhinoceroses seriously and begins to make the decision to join them.
Themes
Berenger tries to restrain Dudard, but Dudard says he must criticize things from the inside. He leaps onto Berenger’s bed, messes the blankets, and when he turns back there’s a horn on his head. Berenger tells Dudard that he’s good and human, but Dudard charges the door. Daisy opens it and steps aside. Berenger calls after Dudard, and then he and Daisy watch at the window. They can’t pick Dudard out from the crowd. Berenger reprimands Daisy for not trying harder to hold Dudard back, especially since he was in love with her. Daisy insists that he never said so, but Berenger insists that Dudard was shy and did this because Daisy wouldn’t return his advances. He asks Daisy if she feels like chasing Dudard. Daisy insists she doesn’t.
When Berenger and Daisy note that they can’t identify Dudard among the rhinoceroses, it makes it clear that becoming a rhinoceros is symbolic of conformity to an extreme degree—it means giving up all of one’s individuality in exchange for power and inclusion. Berenger’s attempts to blame Dudard’s transformation on Daisy show that he’s trying to be logical still, but it’s worth noting that romantic partners (or love interests) aren’t responsible for their partners’ bad behavior—the individual in question is.
Themes
Staring pensively out the window, Berenger notes that there’s nothing but rhinoceroses—half with one horn, half with two—outside. He moves closer to Daisy and asks if she feels let down. Daisy says she doesn’t, and Berenger puts a hand on her back. He says that he wants to comfort her and that he loves her. After a pause, Daisy asks him to shut the window. Daisy sits on the bed and Berenger says that he’s afraid of nothing as long as they’re together. Squatting in front of her, Berenger asks if they can be happy together. Daisy insists that they’ll be fine and lets Berenger kiss her before pulling him onto the bed and putting his head in her lap. She cautions him that they can’t interfere in other people’s lives.
Even though this moment looks tentatively hopeful for Daisy and Berenger, Daisy still maintains that they can’t control other people’s choices. This suggests that even though Daisy is still on Berenger’s side, she, like Dudard at the beginning of the act, is still sympathetic to the rhinoceroses and advocates for allowing people to choose to transform, no matter how violent or wrong it may be.
Themes
Berenger muses that if Dudard had stayed, he would’ve come between them. He says that he admires Daisy, but Daisy says that he might change his mind once they know each other better. They hear rhinoceroses running and Berenger says that they make Daisy seem even more beautiful. When Daisy asks if Berenger has had alcohol today, Berenger insists that he’s been good. Sure that Berenger isn’t lying, Daisy says that he can have a glass. She praises him for hiding his brandy so well, pours him a small glass, and refuses to give him more when he downs it in one gulp. Daisy insists that Berenger is making progress. He puts his head in her lap and says that he’ll make more now that they’re together.
Daisy’s insistence that Berenger still watch his alcohol consumption confirms that she’s still interested in conformity to some degree. This implies that she’s more susceptible to falling in with the rhinoceroses, since the rhinoceroses are the ultimate form of conformity. Berenger’s choice to lie to Daisy, meanwhile, shows that the draw of conformity is still strong for him.
Themes
Daisy insists that they take Berenger’s bandage off and says he’s being silly when he admits that he’s afraid of what might be underneath. They agree to never leave each other and daydream about the walks they’ll take and the things Berenger will do to “become clever.” Berenger says he’ll keep Daisy safe, but Daisy insists that nobody wishes them harm and they don’t want to hurt anyone either. Berenger suggests that people sometimes cause harm without meaning to, like he did by not being nicer to Jean and proving that they were friends. Daisy encourages him to forget the bad memories, but Berenger insists he can’t. Daisy tells him to choose the side of reality that’s best for him and escape into imagination.
Again, Berenger’s mention of what he’s going to do to become more of an intellectual shows that at least when he has the draw of Daisy to motivate him, conforming still looks desirable and worthwhile—as long as it doesn’t mean becoming a rhinoceros. Daisy’s advice to forget his fight with Jean and choose a version of reality that lets him sleep at night indicates that Daisy just wants to get through this and is willing to tell herself anything so that she doesn’t have to live with bad feelings.
Themes
Berenger says it’s easy for Daisy to say that, which makes Daisy ask if she’s enough for Berenger. She says that he’ll ruin everything if he has such a bad conscience. She muses that they’re good people and are better than most, but they can’t feel guilty. Berenger motions out the window and notes that lots of the rhinoceroses started out feeling guilty. Berenger tells Daisy that she’s right; they need to be happy.
Feeling guilty can be the first step toward either reforming or, in Daisy and Berenger’s case, not succumbing at all. Because of this, it’s telling that they’re against feeling guilty, since it shows that in this one respect both of them are trying to not conform in order to feel superior and righteous.
Themes
The phone rings. Daisy fearfully tells Berenger not to answer, but Berenger suggests that it might be Mr. Papillon, Botard, Jean, or Dudard saying they’ve had second thoughts, or the authorities asking for help. Daisy insists that their friends will take longer to change their minds. Berenger picks up the phone and hears only trumpeting. Daisy hangs the phone up and Berenger says that the rhinoceroses are playing jokes on them now. Daisy asks what they’ve done to attract this as the phone rings again. She asks Berenger to pull the plug out, but he refuses and cites the telephone authorities’ warning not to. Annoyed, Daisy says that Berenger will never be able to defend her if he won’t do anything.
Daisy’s annoyance with Berenger when he refuses to unplug the phone is understandable—in this respect, Berenger is oddly willing to do what he’s told without question, even when all the evidence around him indicates that the telephone authority is no longer human. This begins to give Berenger some moral complexity, as it shows that he’s definitely not infallible, especially when combined with his alcoholism and his coming treatment of Daisy.
Themes
Berenger runs to the radio and flips it on, hoping for news. He and Daisy hear trumpeting, but it doesn’t stop when he turns the radio off. Terrified, Daisy asks what happening. They try to calm each other, but Daisy remarks that the rhinoceroses mean business. Berenger notes that the authorities joined the rhinoceroses. The noise stops, and Daisy and Berenger realize they’re alone. They accuse the other of this being what they wanted as suddenly, rhinoceroses run and bellow loudly, but in a strangely musical way. The house shakes. Berenger yells out the door for the upstairs neighbors to be quiet, but Daisy insists they won’t listen. Terrified, Berenger leads Daisy to the bed and promises to keep her safe. Daisy suggests that it’s their fault, but Berenger says they can’t think that way.
Here, fear turns Berenger and Daisy against each other. It’s clear that neither of them intended to be the last humans in society, but accusing each other is easier than admitting and recognizing that all their friends and the authorities have turned against them and are now unrecognizable. Because of this shift, it makes it even less likely that Berenger and Daisy will be able to hold onto their individuality, as the rhinoceroses begin to look more and more powerful and joining them starts to look like the safer option.
Themes
Berenger offers Daisy brandy, but Daisy says she has a headache. Berenger wraps his bandage around Daisy’s head and assures her that this is a phase, but Daisy says it isn’t. Daisy takes off the bandage and says that they should let things proceed, since there’s nothing they can do about it. They argue about whether they should adapt and try to live with the rhinoceroses or whether all hope is lost. Berenger tries to interest Daisy in lunch, but Daisy isn’t hungry. She insists that she can’t take it anymore. Berenger tries to tell her that she’s courageous and says that he loves her. He says that they can have children and eventually regenerate the human race. If they have courage, they can do it. Daisy says that children are boring and there’s no use in trying to save the world.
At this point, Daisy gives up and effectively joins the rhinoceroses, even if she’s still in her human form. Her unwillingness to be brave and regenerate, even if the possibility of successfully doing so in these circumstances seems impossibly slim, shows that she’s no longer on Berenger’s side. Berenger’s sense of heroism, meanwhile indicates that he’s coming more fully into his individualism and now understands that it’s truly his responsibility to do something.
Themes
Berenger grabs at Daisy as rhinoceros heads appear everywhere. Daisy suggests that they are the ones that need to be saved and are abnormal, since they’re the only humans left. She studies the rhinoceroses, ignores Berenger’s insistence that she’s ill, and says that the rhinoceroses look content and happy with their choice. Berenger assures Daisy that they’re the ones who are right, but Daisy refutes this. She says that the world is right, not her and Berenger. Berenger says that he’s correct because Daisy understands his speech and because he loves her. Daisy insists that she’s ashamed of their love, which feels weak compared to the energy she feels in the rhinoceroses.
Now, the rhinoceroses seem far more powerful than morality, love, or any of Daisy’s ties to the human world. Berenger’s insistence that he’s right because Daisy still understands his words is another attempt to insist that logic and intellect can win out over the rhinoceroses, but Daisy’s unwillingness to play along indicates that all logic is breaking down now. Brute strength is now more important than intellect or sense.
Themes
Berenger slaps Daisy’s face. She turns away, shocked, but Berenger immediately apologizes for losing control and pulls her close. Daisy pulls away and says that Berenger has run out of arguments. Slowly, Berenger says they’ve gone through 25 years of marriage and declares that he’ll never give in. They cling to each other and Daisy promises to help Berenger resist. The rhinoceros noises seem even more musical and Daisy notes this. She leads him to the window and says that they’re also playing and dancing. Berenger says it’s disgusting, but Daisy tells him to not say mean things about them. He apologizes and Daisy says that the rhinoceroses look like gods. Berenger accuses Daisy of going too far and shrugs off her touch. Quietly, she says they can’t live together and leaves.
By slapping Daisy, Berenger momentarily channels the violence of the rhinoceroses and adds even more moral complexity to his character. Now, the reader or audience must contend with the fact that the hero of this play may be heroic in that he stands up to fascism and abusing logic, but he also experiences moments of violence that are inexcusable—and for that matter, make it so that Berenger can’t regenerate the human race with Daisy and fulfill that vision of being a hero.
Themes
Berenger inspects himself in the mirror, unaware that Daisy is gone, and says that men don’t look too bad. He turns and realizes that Daisy is gone and yells for her. Berenger decides that it was obvious that they weren’t getting along, but he’s upset that she left without leaving a message. He tosses everything off the table angrily, slams the window shut, and declares that the rhinoceroses won’t get him; he’ll stay a human. He wonders what happened to Daisy and tries to plug his ears. Berenger muses about whether or not he can convince the rhinoceroses to turn back, but he then realizes he’d have to learn their language and talk to them. He wonders what language he even speaks now that he’s the only man left. He thinks it’s French, but it doesn’t matter anymore.
When Berenger muses about what language he’s speaking and if it matters anymore, it signals that communication, logic, and intellectualism are no longer at work in Berenger’s world—the only purpose of language at this point is to communicate Berenger’s scattered thoughts to the reader or audience, as there’s no one else in Berenger’s world to talk to. This also suggests that if there’s nobody to talk to, language itself doesn’t matter—Berenger has lost the battle at this point because he can’t convince anyone to come to his side.
Themes
Berenger thinks he looks funny and spills photos on the floor. He recognizes himself but none of his friends. He says that they’re all good-looking and wishes he was like them. He wishes he had horns, rough skin, and that he could trumpet. He tries to trumpet, but it sounds feeble. Berenger says that he feels ashamed for not being able to change and sobs that people who hang onto their individuality always have sad endings. With a gulp, he sits down with his brandy, vows to fight all the rhinoceroses, and says that he’s going to stay a man and not give up. He drinks.
Notably, Berenger doesn’t get his happy ending—he’s right in that the one individualistic character of the play gets a horrible ending, and he’s unable to make sense of what it even means to be the last person on earth. This makes the play’s overarching case that the world isn’t just fundamentally absurd in its own right, but that all of those things that people use to try to make sense of the world are just as absurd and ineffective.
Themes
