Rhinoceros (SparkNotes Literature Guide Series) Book

One of the best plays ever on the individual human's stand against mass propaganda and oppressive societies! Do we have another outbreak of Rhinoceritis coming in the world?

I read Rhinoceros in French many years ago and had a vague memory of being moved by it. As I reread it in English to reflect on whether or not it could be used for a teaching unit on totalitarian societies, I was completely shaken by the horrific message. Fighting conformity and the pressure of the supposedly "inevitable" is shockingly familiar to me, and I don't have to refer to the political nightmares of the 20th century to see the main character's dilemma.

Bérenger witnesses the sudden transformation of a human into a rhinoceros. In the beginning, everybody is shocked by it, and people try to find rational explanations for individuals' failure to stay human. But the rhinoceros metamorphosis gets more and more common, and affects people who are educated, well-behaved, and express common sense in their daily life. How can this be explained? In the end, the pressure to transform into a brutal animal, following instincts rather than critical thinking, is so strong, Bérenger finds himself completely alone in his resistance. Even the perception of beauty and ugliness has changed, and he exclaims:

"Ce sont eux qui sont beaux. J'ai eu tort! Oh! Comme je voudrais être comme eux. Je n'ai pas de corne, hélas! Que c'est laid, un front plat!"

In his frustration, he yells:

"Malheur à celui qui veut conserver sa originalité!"

But then he resigns himself to his identity, different from all others, and accepts the consequence of his humanity. His choice, in the end, to stay human no matter what, is the bravest - and loneliest - act imaginable.

"Contre tout le monde, je me défendrai! Je suis le dernier homme, je le resterai jusqu'au bout! je ne capitule pas!"

Great read! Hard to digest.