Totalitarianism

EUGENE IONESCO:

THE ALIENATION OF A HUMAN GRANDEUR

In Rhinoceros, the pervasive disorder in nearly all of his plays, the
disorder is not a true disorder, since the rhinoceroses symbolize, in
part, the fascism, which is more or less organized, particularly at the
time of World War II, which Ionesco was criticizing. One of the
recurrent themes of Rhinoceros is the conflict between the “ideal of
civilization” and the “ideal of nature”.

Passage from act 1 (copy from book) : let me know if you want this
pic*

In this passage, the rhinoceros incarnates the dream of simplifying the

complexities of an over-civilized society, of a return to “natural
innocence” and to a “state of nature” in which the degeneracy of
modern man will be finals purged and redeemed. But, to Ionesco, it is
precisely this glorification of nature which constitutes far and away
the most dangerous aspect of the Nazi Ideology-dangerous because it
may have a quite genuine appeal to the over- civilized mentality.
Thus, Rhinoceros is fundamentally an analysis of this betrayal. The
problem is not “what is Fascism?” but “How does a rational and
civilized nation come to accept the Fascist ideal?

Rhinoceros a play by Eugene Ionesco as a critique of Political

Conformist Ideologies, Totalitarianism and Fascism – By

The emphasis on race in the play expresses a strong disdain for

fascism's pretensions to racial superiority. As he characters debate
throughout the First Act and try to categorize the Rhinos as of Asian
or African variety based on the number of horns they possess; one can
sense the underlying current behind the debate has to do with more
than usual classification and categorization of the animals.
Though in the play, the protagonist Berenger remains irresolute in his
will, resisting the crushing tide of hegemony with the force of
humanity, Ionesco takes note of the fact that, all things considered,
one needs the power and friends of other to immunize and
invulnerable oneself from social confinement and depression.
Berenger, in Rhinoceros, is „Resistance‟ against the world – he is
symbolic of the entire humanity refusing to succumb to the grotesque
epidemic of „Rhinoceritis‟. Berenger, as an individual, is flawed but
admirably courageous in his celebration of selfhood in defiance of
conformism or totalitarianism. Berenger stands alone as a rejecting
slogan against the mass production and dominance of one ideology
and purposefully avoids labeling himself into one specific group.
Berenger‟s ignorance of all things political and inability to hold
stubbornly to one mode of thinking allow him to remain human. It can
be said that his constant suffering and pain remind him of his
existence as a human being and light up a burning desire to express
his individuality and help him not to succumb to the on-going mass
hysteria. There is a will in the character of Berenger , the will of
responsibility , it is this will within him that prevents him from falling
a victim to the outbreak of „Rhinoceritis‟.

The ending of the play brings the impression of aliens encircling

Berenger – but the protagonist still has got a lot more space, nearly
the entire stage to himself, a stage which exhibits the protesting
character in all his earned glory. The stage is exhibiting the struggle
and resistance against the conformist and totalitarian ideologies which
were present within the contemporary society.

CONCLUSION
The spread of „Rhinoceritis‟ in the play is depicted in the symbolic
terms of it being an epidemic of right-wing totalitarianism and left-
wing conformism. The rhinos represent an absurd world, a world
which has neither intelligence nor purpose and was rendered useless
and without purpose with the allegiance of the masses with collective
ideologies like fascism.
All that remains of human civilization in the play is an almost
unintelligible human-like verbal debris, unconnected fragments of
logic, hollow figures posing as human beings, metamorphosing into
savage and dangerous Rhinos begs to be read as a metaphor for
something else, something which is more deeper, more dark and evil
at its core, something which the playwright is not at the liberty to
disclose or something so intricate that cannot be named. The
playwright had to find something different a substitute the use of
which would make the audience laugh and at the same time leave
them disturbed and pondering upon the fact that whether their
allegiances to certain factions are right or they themselves have
transformed into those mindless beasts. These symbolic “Rhinos seep
deep within the psyche of the viewers thus awakening within them a
sense of responsibility and have them question their actions and
impacts their actions

The image of human being have. “Rhinoceros” the play is marked by

a sentiment which embodies the betrayal of humanistic and political
idealism, terror, pessimism, hate within the atmosphere of the society.
All these emotions are represented through the monstrous fantasies of
individuals transforming into ruthless and barbaric rhinos on the
stage.

Eugene Ionesco's Experimentalism and Avant-Garde Approaches in

Rhinoceros
Marwan M. Abdi

Totalitarian Trends & The Conformist Society

Ionesco's theatre basically presents fundamental themes such as the
protest against the deadlines of a repetitive mechanical life and the
bourgeoisie civilization, the loss of 'felt values' and the resulting
degradation of life. Another predominant theme is the "loneliness and
isolation of individual, his difficulty in communicating with others,
his subjection to disregarding outside pressure and to the mechanical
conformity of society"( 192). Rhinoceros presents a mindless
conformity and following of others in order to be like the herd. The
society which Berenger belongs to, transform to a sort of sameness in
appearance, aspirations, thoughts and intellectuality. This atmosphere
overtakes the society and confines each character in coly sense of
isolation. When Ionesco wrote this play an overwhelming trend of
'fascism' in Romania had appeared. Influenced by the social and
political context he wrote his 'Rhinoceros'.

"This play applies to Fascism, Stalinism and all other political or

religious doctrines that justify arbitrary violence in the name of an
ideal" (Magill's S. Of Lit.)
Daring his lifetime Ionesco Constantly criticized the atrocities of
Nazim and Fascism. But more than a mere critique of sub totalitarian
regimes, Ionesco was "determined to explore the psychology and
mentality of those who succumb with little resistance to 'Nazism'
allowing their individual ideals and free 'will' to be subsumed into a
violent group consciousness "(Drama for Students 200). The passivity
of the characters in Rhinoceros is depicted in their repeated words and
ideas, that other personages have stated earlier. By juxtaposing 'man'
and 'bestial nature' in this work, Ionesco underscores how malleable
or impressionable people can be seduced by a 'dominant
consciousness'. His satire is directed toward those who turn a blind
eye to their rising to power and those who join the ranks of these
political movements. In both cases, these people, are portrayed as a
partner in the atrocities of such intellectual and political movements.

Having knowledge about this literary movement one can trace its
rules in Ionesco's rhinoceros. Throughout the three acts the only
character who undergoes a positive change is Berenger when he
becomes aware of the power of his own 'will'. His 'will' has
transformed him from an apathetic addict into an independent
personality who stands against a huge current.
Unlike the other characters (even those who are rational) who fail the
final test of 'will power', Brenger gradually gains a sense of power. In
contrast to those who give up against the power of rhinoceroses, he
emerges as a man who can feel a sense of love and responsibility for
humanity. In the terms of existentialist philosophy, Berenger becomes
the figure of the superman, gathering his will power to reinforce his
love for his people and to take responsibility for his own role in
sustaining humanity.

Bérenger's Dubious Defense of Humanity in Rhinocéros

(the essay with a different view point)