The Story of Becoming a Rhinoceros” is a symbolic tale based on Eugène Ionesco’s play Rhinocéros, where humans gradually turn into rhinos, abandoning their values to follow the crowd. Discover the full interpretation in this powerful reflection on humanity.
Introduction: What If Humans Turned into Rhinos?
Imagine a quiet, peaceful European town…
People go about their lives — working, chatting, walking in the park.
And suddenly — a rhinoceros runs through the street!
Everyone is shocked: “A rhino here?”
But soon, it becomes clear —
This is not a wild animal invasion. The real shock is: people are turning into rhinos.
The Beginning of the Transformation
At first, it’s just one rhinoceros.
Then two. Then dozens.
And people start realizing: these aren’t actual animals.
They are their own neighbors, friends, coworkers… who are transforming into rhinoceroses.
Why Are People Becoming Rhinos?
Becoming a rhinoceros is symbolic.
It doesn’t mean growing horns or gray skin.
It means losing your mind to the crowd — abandoning thought, reason, and conscience.
People begin to:
Stop asking questions
Blindly follow others
Accept violence and tyranny as “normal”
Forget what it means to be human
One by one, almost the entire town becomes a rhino.
Even those who first resisted, eventually give in.
Bérenger – The One Who Refuses to Change
There is one man — Bérenger.
He’s not a superhero. He’s confused, afraid, and unsure.
But he thinks. He questions. He wants to stay human.
Even when his beloved turns into a rhinoceros, he refuses.
He stands alone — the last human left.
He declares:
I will not become a rhinoceros. I’m a human being. I will remain one.”
The Deeper Meaning Behind the Story
This story is a metaphor — a powerful one.
Symbol Meaning
Rhinoceros Mindless conformity, herd mentality, fascism, violence
Bérenger The thinking individual, the ethical human
The Townspeople Society giving in to pressure,
