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Absurdism in Rhinoceros- Ionesco
445
How is Absurdism demonstrated through language in Rhinoceros?
Lucie and Inès
What is absurdism?
Introduction
“It is in its attitude to language that the Theater of the Absurd is most revolutionary. It deliberately attempts to renew the language of drama and to expose the barrenness of conventional stage dialogue.”
Martin Esslin
Definition of Absurdity
Absurdism is a philosophy based on the belief that the universe is irrational and meaningless and that the search for order brings the individual into conflict with the universe.
The Theatre of the Absurd
The theatre of the absurd is a term introduced by Martin Esslin in his 1960 book, which is used to categorize "absurd" plays.
The Theatre of the Absurd
Rhinoceros, Ionesco
Rhinoceros - Eugène Ionesco
Rhinoceros (French: Rhinocéros) is a play by Eugène Ionesco, which was written in 1959.
The play is often read as a response and criticism to the sudden upsurge of Fascism and Nazism during the events preceding World War II, and it really explores the themes of conformity, culture, fascism, responsibility, logic, mass movements...etc.
A repetitive dialogue
A repetitive dialogue
POINT
To be considered an absurd dialogue, the script must contain ideas that are repetitive or a script that makes no sense.
P1
EVIDENCE
E1
JEAN [rises, knocking his chair over as he does so; looks towards left wings where the noises of
the passing rhinoceros are coming from]:Oh, a rhinoceros!
LOGICIAN [rising, knocking over his chair]: Oh, a rhinoceros!
OLD GENTLEMAN [doing the same): Oh, a rhinoceros!
BERENGER (still seated, but this time, taking more notice]: Rhinoceros! In the opposite
direction!
WAITRESS (emerging with a tray and glasses]: What is it? Oh, a rhinoceros! [She drops the
tray, breaking the glasses.]
PROPRIETOR [Coming out of the cafe']: What's going on?
WAITRESS (to the Proprietor]: A rhinoceros!
LOGICIAN: A rhinoceros, going full-tilt on the opposite pavement!
GROCER [Coming out of his shop]: Oh, a rhinoceros!
JEAN; Oh, a rhinoceros!
GROCER'S WIFE [sticking her head through the upstairs window of shop]: Oh, a rhinoceros!
EXPLANATION
E1
This part of the play is a clear example of the absurd dialogue because the characters' reaction in the story was ridiculous and silly. Instead of being afraid and worried about the what just happened, they were more concerned about discussing and arguing if there were 2 rhinos and if the rhino is from Asia or Africa.
Double meanings
Double meanings
POINT
Ionesco systematically plays on the double meanings, and on the confusion of the proper and the figurative (=departing from a literal use of words).
P2
EVIDENCE
E2
JEAN
Vous rêvez debout !
BÉRENGER
Je suis assis.
JEAN
Assis ou debout, c’est la même chose.
BÉRENGER
Il y a tout de même une différence.
JEAN
Il ne s’agit pas de cela.
BÉRENGER
C’est vous qui venez de dire que c’est la même chose, d’être assis ou debout...
JEAN
Vous avez mal compris. Assis ou debout, c’est la même chose, quand on rêve !...
BÉRENGER
Eh oui, je rêve... La vie est un rêve.
EXPLANATION
Bérenger concedes absurdity from the outset—
"...Life is a dream." he says, alluding to the inexplicable randomness around him. This enables him to understand the absurdity of the metamorphoses better, even though he never arrives at a logical solution.
The world is nonsensical, absurd, and defies the extent of logic.
E3
Irrational characters
Irrational characters
POINT
P
Even if the word "logical" is in his name, the Logician is a very irrational character. In the first act, he was explaining the syllogism to the other characters in the play.
EVIDENCE
E
LOGICIAN [to the Old Gentleman]: Here is an example of a syllogism. The cat has four paws. Isidore and Fricot both have four paws. Therefore Isidore and Fricot are cats.
OLD GENTLEMAN [to the Logician]: My dog has got four paws.
LOGICIAN [to the Old Gentleman]: Then it's a cat.
EXPLANATION
Although the spectators see the irrationality of the Logician, he himself does not see it. An illogical dialogue is one of the main characteristics of the theatre of the absurd.
E
Absurdism and language in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern
Link with Tom Stoppard
E.g Page 36
G Do you think it matters?
R doesn’t it matter to you?
G why should it matter?
R what does it matter why?
G doesn’t it matter why it matters?
R what’s the matter with you?
G it doesn’t matter.