2000 · Rhinocéros · Ionesco · Vigner (EN)

"We all know that criticism seems impossible, that the criteria vary, that the criteria are not congruent with the work, that, when they speak of a literary work, critics often do so from the point of view of psychology or sociology, or history, or the history of literature and so on. In other words, they invariably stand beside the work in question, in the context, as it were; the text does not touch them although it is the text that matters the most ; it is the text they ought to regard, the uniqueness of the text as a living body, as a creation turned creature, rather than the context, which is general, external, impersonal. What matters - what matters to me - is without resemblance to anything else, neither to sociology nor to history, what matters to me is the work’s irreducibility to history or society, its own specific story, not another one. All history of art is the history of its expression. Every and any new expression means an event, something arrives, something new. What lingers in my mind, then, is that expression is substance and form at the same time. Not the story is what matters, but how it is written, how any written story reveals a deeper meaning. To appreciate how a story is told rather than what it tells, this is the hallmark of a literary vocation."  [1]

BERENGER
Life is an abnormal business.
JEAN
On the contrary. Nothing could be more natural, and the proof is that people go on living.
BERENGER
There are more dead people than living. And their numbers are increasing. The living are getting rarer. [2]

"And now, before entering upon the next chapter, I invite my readers to reflect some twenty minutes on the identity of opposites."
Eugène Ionesco

BERENGER
Where can I find the weapons ?
LE LOGICIEN
There are no limits to logic !
JEAN
Within yourself. Through your own will.
BERENGER
What weapons ?
LE LOGICIEN
I'm going to show you...
JEAN
Les armes de la patience, de la culture, les armes de l'intelligence. Devenez un esprit vif et brillant. Mettez-vous à la page.
BERENGER
Comment se mettre à la page ?  [2]

"I wish I could do it ! Ahh, Ahh, Brr ! No, That's not it ! Try again, louder ! Ahh, Ahh, Brr ! No, that's not it, it's too feeble, it's got nodrive behind it. I'm not trumpeting at all; I'm just howling. Ahh, Ahh, Brr. There's a big difference between howling and trumpeting. I should have gone with them while there was still time. Now it's too late ! Now I'm a monster, just a monster. now I'll never become a rhinoceros, never, never ! ... I'm the last man left, and I'm staying that way until the end. I'm not capitulating !" [3]

DAISY
How's your head feel now ?
BERENGER
Much better, darling.
DAISY
Then we'll take off the bandage. It doesn't suit you at all.
BERENGER
Oh no, don't touch it.
DAISY
Nonsense, we'll take it off now.
BERENGER
I'm frightened there might be something underneath.
DAISY
Always frightened, aren't you, always imagining the worst ! There's nothing there, you see. Your forehead's as smooth as a baby's.
BERENGER
You're right; you're getting rid of my complexes. What should I do without you ?
DAISY
I'll never leave you alone again.
BERENGER
I won't have any more fears now I'm with you.
DAISY
I'll keep them all at bay.
BERENGER
We'll rea books together. [3]

BERENGER
I just can't get used to life. [2]