Berenger
The play’s protagonist. Berenger is a morose and depressed alcoholic who can barely hold down his job and can’t show up anywhere on time. While he understands on some level that these habits are bad—he…
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Jean
Berenger’s best friend. Jean is the exact opposite of Berenger: he’s well dressed, polished, cultured, and intellectual. He takes special issue with Berenger’s alcoholism and so takes it upon himself to get Berenger to…
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Daisy
The attractive young receptionist at Berenger’s workplace and the object of his affection. Daisy first appears outside the café where Berenger and Jean meet. It’s clear to Jean that Berenger admires Daisy, so he…
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Botard
One of Berenger’s coworkers. Botard is in his 60s and is a former schoolteacher. He’s contrary and antagonistic; he seems to enjoy taking the opposite stance of his coworkers and insists that he does…
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Dudard
Berenger’s friend and coworker. Dudard is a handsome and successful young man who, according to everyone, has a future ahead of him if he continues at the law publication office where he and Berenger…
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The Logician
A man who makes his living as a logician. He visits the café with his friend the Old Gentleman at the same time as Berenger and Jean are there. The Logician wears a distinctive boater…
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Mr. Papillon
Berenger’s boss at the law publication office. He’s in his 40s, is well dressed, and is a very proper man. His offense when Botard insults religion as being an “opiate of the masses” suggests…
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The Old Gentleman
An elderly man and a friend of the Logician. He and the Logician are at the café at the same time as Berenger and Jean are when the play begins. The Old Gentleman functions…
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The Grocer
A grocer whose grocery store is next to the café where Jean and Berenger meet. He’s prickly because the Housewife is buying groceries elsewhere and gets very caught up in the arbitrary argument over whether…
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Minor Characters
The Housewife
A married woman who, when the play begins, is out shopping with her cat. For unknown reasons, she switches grocery stores, irritating the Grocer and the Grocer’s Wife. Her groceries are the first casualty of the rhinoceros and her beloved cat is the second.
The Waitress
A kind waitress who works at the café. She gets caught up in the anxiety about the rhinoceroses and the ensuing argument about what kind of rhinoceroses they were and how many horns they had.
Mr. Bœuf
A coworker of Berenger’s who only appears as a rhinoceros. Despite being a rhinoceros, he’s still very in love with Mrs. Bœuf and encourages her to join him after destroying his workplace’s staircase.
Mrs. Bœuf
Mr. Bœuf’s wife. Though she’s initially afraid when a rhinoceros chases her to Mr. Bœuf’s workplace, she discovers that the rhinoceros is her husband and leaps down to join him.
The Grocer’s Wife
The Grocer’s Wife helps her husband in their grocery store.
The Proprietor
The man who owns the café in the town square.
