Rhinoceros
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Act 1, Scene 1 Act 1, Scene 2 Act 2 Act 3
Themes
All Themes Absurdity, Logic, and Intellectualism Fascism Individuality vs. Conformity Escapism, Violence, and Morality
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Berenger Jean Daisy Botard Dudard The Logician Mr. Papillon The Old Gentleman The Grocer
Symbols
All Symbols Rhinoceroses The Cat
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Rhinoceros

by

Eugene Ionesco
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The Old Gentleman Character Analysis

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 as an “everyman” sort of character in that the way he follows the Logician’s logic lesson mimics the way in which Ionesco suggests real people fall prey to fascist movements. He’s fascinated by the logic arguments, especially when they can supposedly prove fantastical things, such as the idea that his dog is a cat because it has four paws. This then makes him more willing to go along with the Logician when the Logician defies his own logic and insists that a cat with five paws can still be a cat, which goes against the propositions that the Logician set out in his syllogism. The Old Gentleman also appears well dressed and like he’s a member of polite and intellectual society.

The Old Gentleman Quotes in Rhinoceros

The Rhinoceros quotes below are all either spoken by The Old Gentleman or refer to The Old Gentleman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Absurdity, Logic, and Intellectualism Theme Icon
).
Act 1, Scene 1 Quotes

Logician: Here is an example of a syllogism. A cat has four paws. Isidore and Fricot both have four paws. Therefore Isidore and Fricot are both cats.

Old Gentleman: My dog has got four paws.

Logician: Then it’s a cat.

[…]

Old Gentleman: […] Logic is a very beautiful thing.

Logician: As long as it is not abused.

Related Characters: The Logician (speaker), The Old Gentleman (speaker)
Absurdity, Logic, and Intellectualism Theme Icon
Fascism Theme Icon
Page Number: 23-24
Explanation and Analysis:

Logician: That would be unjust, and therefore not logical.

[…]

Old Gentleman: […] Not logical?

[…]

Logician: […] Because Logic means Justice.

Related Characters: The Logician (speaker), The Old Gentleman (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Cat
Absurdity, Logic, and Intellectualism Theme Icon
Escapism, Violence, and Morality Theme Icon
Page Number: 30
Explanation and Analysis:
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Old Gentleman: What can you do, dear lady—cats are only mortal.

Logician: What do you expect, madam? All cats are mortal. One must accept that.

Housewife: (Lamenting.) My little cat, my poor little cat.

Related Characters: The Logician (speaker), The Old Gentleman (speaker), The Housewife (speaker)
Related Symbols: Rhinoceroses, The Cat
Absurdity, Logic, and Intellectualism Theme Icon
Fascism Theme Icon
Escapism, Violence, and Morality Theme Icon
Page Number: 35
Explanation and Analysis:
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Berenger: (To Jean.) I’m not Asiatic, either, And in any case, Asiatics are people the same as everyone else.

Waitress: Yes, Asiatics are people the same as we are.

Old Gentleman: (To the Proprietor.) That’s true!

Related Characters: Berenger (speaker), The Old Gentleman (speaker), The Waitress (speaker), Jean
Related Symbols: Rhinoceroses
Fascism Theme Icon
Individuality vs. Conformity Theme Icon
Escapism, Violence, and Morality Theme Icon
Page Number: 39
Explanation and Analysis:
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The Old Gentleman Quotes in Rhinoceros

The Rhinoceros quotes below are all either spoken by The Old Gentleman or refer to The Old Gentleman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Absurdity, Logic, and Intellectualism Theme Icon
).
Act 1, Scene 1 Quotes

Logician: Here is an example of a syllogism. A cat has four paws. Isidore and Fricot both have four paws. Therefore Isidore and Fricot are both cats.

Old Gentleman: My dog has got four paws.

Logician: Then it’s a cat.

[…]

Old Gentleman: […] Logic is a very beautiful thing.

Logician: As long as it is not abused.

Related Characters: The Logician (speaker), The Old Gentleman (speaker)
Absurdity, Logic, and Intellectualism Theme Icon
Fascism Theme Icon
Page Number: 23-24
Explanation and Analysis:

Logician: That would be unjust, and therefore not logical.

[…]

Old Gentleman: […] Not logical?

[…]

Logician: […] Because Logic means Justice.

Related Characters: The Logician (speaker), The Old Gentleman (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Cat
Absurdity, Logic, and Intellectualism Theme Icon
Escapism, Violence, and Morality Theme Icon
Page Number: 30
Explanation and Analysis:
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Old Gentleman: What can you do, dear lady—cats are only mortal.

Logician: What do you expect, madam? All cats are mortal. One must accept that.

Housewife: (Lamenting.) My little cat, my poor little cat.

Related Characters: The Logician (speaker), The Old Gentleman (speaker), The Housewife (speaker)
Related Symbols: Rhinoceroses, The Cat
Absurdity, Logic, and Intellectualism Theme Icon
Fascism Theme Icon
Escapism, Violence, and Morality Theme Icon
Page Number: 35
Explanation and Analysis:
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Berenger: (To Jean.) I’m not Asiatic, either, And in any case, Asiatics are people the same as everyone else.

Waitress: Yes, Asiatics are people the same as we are.

Old Gentleman: (To the Proprietor.) That’s true!

Related Characters: Berenger (speaker), The Old Gentleman (speaker), The Waitress (speaker), Jean
Related Symbols: Rhinoceroses
Fascism Theme Icon
Individuality vs. Conformity Theme Icon
Escapism, Violence, and Morality Theme Icon
Page Number: 39
Explanation and Analysis:
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