Botard Character Analysis

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 so because he’s superior to them. He’s also a vocal member of the union and berates Mr. Papillon when Mr. Papillon tries to fire Mr. Bœuf on account of being a rhinoceros. Botard insists that he needs to see and interpret things firsthand, the result of being both a former teacher and of having a “mechanical mind.” He also insists that journalists lie and takes issue especially with the article in the local paper about the rhinoceros trampling the Housewife’s cat, as the writer wasn’t specific about the breed, color, or sex of the cat—or of the rhinoceros. He eventually accuses Dudard of being a part of a nefarious plot to install the rhinoceroses. After it comes out that Botard also became a rhinoceros, it looks more as though Botard’s main goal was gaining power, whether through the union, antagonizing his boss and coworkers, or joining the mass movement. His last words as a human were about needing to keep up with the times, which suggests that he believed the rhinoceroses were inevitably going to overwhelm the remaining humans and become the dominating party.