Rhinoceros and Other Plays

In high school drama class, a friend and I performed The Rhinoceros. It was great to read it again. It has a message that is just as relevant today.

My first introduction to Eugène Ionesco's works. This was a great collection of works.

"There are more dead people than living. And their numbers are increasing. The living are getting rarer."-Ionesco.Ionesco wrote this play in his traditional style, that is, using humor and the idea of the ridiculous to develop satire. Rhinoceros is a commentary on Nazism and a result of Ionesco's experiences with fascism, yet it is extremely readable, if one remembers not to take it to seriously. That being said, the lessons it offers are serious, concerning groupthink, the absence of rational thought in humanity, and the slippery slope to an unconventional, self-destructive conclusion. And yes, this book does contain plenty of rhinoceros, in a small town, stampeding out of control. Cue the ridiculous: enjoy!

Ionesco has written wonderful plays showing the idiocy of modern life and its materialistic bent. It is perfect for the very sad and realistic times we live in; his absurdity has become our reality. He, with great artistry, has held up the mirror to a corrupt society on the political, social, psychological and religious levels. He doesn't pull punches. Everyone should read him. He's profound. And yes he does use humor to make his points.

The book was in a good condition when it arrived. It had wear and tear with a few pen marks in it, however this is to be expected from a used book. The main issue I had with this book was that it took much longer than I had anticipated for it to be shipped. I do live overseas and so I know that shipping takes a little longer than usual, however this took a little too long for my comfort. I enjoy the book, just not the company that shipped it.

We can sometimes best recognize our plight through metaphor. Rhinoceros is about the German people in the 30s who actually were good people until they became Nazis by actions ordered by Hitler. These plays are a reflection of that time And for anyone who wants to recognize where we are in the history of our nation, this is an excellent display of how a great country was caught unawares.

Not having read Ionesco in many years, I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Rhinoceros. This play is funny and real while at the same time preposterous, the essence of excellent satirical work.

Just the right play, with just the right message, for these disquieting times.