Rhinoceros: Act 1, Scene 1 Summary & Analysis

It’s a sunny Sunday afternoon. A Waitress adjusts tables outside a café while the Grocer’s Wife sweeps the steps of the shop next door. A Housewife walks past with a basket of groceries and her cat, but she turns away when she sees the Grocer’s Wife. The Grocer’s Wife complains about this as Berenger arrives at the café. He’s unkempt; his clothes are wrinkled and he has no hat or tie. A moment later Jean arrives, neatly dressed in a brown suit with all the proper accouterments. Jean briskly notes that Berenger is late, but when Berenger apologizes and asks if Jean has been waiting long, Jean says that he arrives late for their meetings on purpose so he doesn’t waste any time. He flicks dust off a table and sits.

Berenger joins Jean at the table and agrees that he’s never on time. He asks Jean what he plans to drink, but Jean berates Berenger for wanting to drink so early in the day. He jokes that Berenger’s dry throat can’t get enough and laughs loudly. When Berenger pushes back on this, Jean says that Berenger isn’t doing well—he’s tired and hung over, and this is the case no matter what day of the week it is. Berenger insists that he’s better on weekdays because he works. Jean points out that Berenger lost his tie and offers Berenger an extra to wear. He then gives Berenger a comb and a mirror.

Absentmindedly, Berenger fiddles with the tie, combs his hair, and inspects his tongue, which he says is fuzzy. Jean declares that Berenger will have liver disease before too long. Berenger tries to give the tie back, but Jean refuses to take it and admires himself in his mirror before putting it away. Berenger again fails to tie the tie before admiringly telling Jean that he looks immaculate. Jean ignores this and goes on to list all the ways in which Berenger’s appearance is subpar, in particular that Berenger has been leaning against a wall and is covered in dust. When Berenger holds out a hand for a brush, Jean snaps that he doesn’t carry one—it would make his pockets bulge.

Jean says that he’s ashamed to be Berenger’s friend, but Berenger says that he’s bored and not cut out for an eight-hour workday, especially with only three weeks of vacation every year. By Saturday night, he just wants to drink and relax. Jean retorts that everyone has to work and has a similar number of vacation days but points out that he doesn’t descend into alcoholism because of it. He insists that Berenger needs more willpower, but Berenger sighs that he doesn’t have much and can’t get used to life. Again, Jean says that everyone has to get used to it and asks if Berenger thinks he’s superior to everyone else. Berenger says he’s not trying to be, but Jean cuts him off and says that he thinks he’s actually better than Berenger because he fulfills his duty as an employee.

Berenger burps and agrees as he plays with the tie. Jean asks where Berenger was drinking last night. Berenger says that he was celebrating their friend’s birthday. Jean is put out that he wasn’t invited. The sounds of a running and trumpeting beast begins in the distance and gradually gets louder as the Waitress arrives to take drink orders. Jean has to shout to be heard and continues to lament that he wasn’t invited to the previous night’s festivities, but both he and the waitress shout questions about the noise. Berenger doesn’t seem to hear it and responds to Jean, but his response is too quiet to hear. Jean knocks his chair over as he stands up and points, shouting that it’s a rhinoceros. The Waitress, the Grocer’s Wife, the Grocer, and the Housewife all shout and point out the rhinoceros.

The Logician rushes to the café and remarks that there’s a rhinoceros across the street, running at full speed. The Housewife and the Old Gentleman arrive at the café and bump into each other and then the Grocer. The Proprietor asks what’s going on and at first tells the Waitress that she’s seeing things but agrees finally that there is a rhinoceros in the street. Berenger remains seated and disinterested, while the Housewife sits down and sooths her scared cat. Everyone but Berenger says, “Well, of all things!” Berenger blows his nose and agrees that the creature looked like a rhinoceros.

The Housewife admits that she was scared as the Grocer gives the woman her basket. The Old Gentleman asks if he can help pick up the Housewife’s items, but he leers at her. She accepts his help as the Logician declares that fear is irrational. The Old Gentleman introduces the Housewife to the Logician, and the Logician accepts the cat while the Housewife purchases wine from the Grocer and then begins to repack her basket. The Grocer snidely notes that he carries the same vegetables that she bought elsewhere and suggests that if she bought from him, she wouldn’t have to cross the street and put herself in danger. The Housewife takes her cat back, refuses the Old Gentleman’s offer to walk her home, and leaves. The Logician decides to tell the Old Gentleman what a syllogism is and the two leave.

At the same time, Jean remarks to Berenger and the Proprietor that the rhinoceros was amazing. He asks Berenger what he thought, but Berenger doesn’t know what Jean is talking about. Berenger orders two cognacs as Jean incredulously asks again what Berenger thought. Berenger doesn’t know what he’s supposed to say. Jean insists that the rhinoceros was extraordinary and then sneers at Berenger when the cognacs arrive. Berenger mutters that he ordered water. Jean resumes his exclamations about the rhinoceros, but Berenger says it’s miles away by now and agrees with Jean that it shouldn’t be allowed as he yawns. Jean snaps at Berenger to cover his mouth.

Berenger points out that the rhinoceros won’t get them where they are, but Jean insists that they protest to their town council. Berenger yawns, hurriedly covers his mouth, and suggests that the rhinoceros escaped from the zoo. Jean accuses Berenger of daydreaming, and when Berenger insists that he’s awake, Jean says it doesn’t matter—dreaming awake and dreaming asleep are the same thing. Regardless, it’s silly to suggest that a rhinoceros escaped from the zoo since there isn’t one in the town. Indifferently, Berenger suggests that the rhinoceros escaped from a circus and enters a public toilet. Jean spits that the council banned traveling performers years ago. Berenger, yawning, says that maybe it’s been hiding in the nearby swamps. This incenses Jean—their town is dry and arid.

Jean tells Berenger that he lives in a haze of alcohol, which Berenger morosely agrees with. With a sigh, Berenger says that the rhinoceros could’ve hidden under a stone or nested on a branch. Jean isn’t amused and accuses Berenger of being unserious, but Berenger motions to his head and says that it’s just because of how he feels today. Jean insists that Berenger is like this every day, but when Berenger tries to defend himself, Jean says that he hates it when Berenger makes fun of him. Berenger emotionally insists that he isn’t making fun of Jean, but Jean maintains that he is. Berenger calls Jean obstinate, which offends Jean even more—he believes that Berenger is calling him a mule. He says that Berenger has no mind but insists that even people without minds can think and say insulting things.

Jean asks again why Berenger is being so insulting and why he’s being contrary—it’s dangerous for a renegade rhinoceros to run around on a Sunday when the streets are full of people. Berenger begins to point out that people are in church and therefore safe, but Jean points out petulantly that it’s also market time. With a sigh, Berenger admits that it didn’t occur to him how dangerous it could be. He agrees that the rhinoceros shouldn’t be allowed, but suggests that this is a silly reason to fight—especially since the rhinoceros is gone. He picks up his drink and asks to talk about anything else, but Jean uses his cane to stop Berenger from drinking. Jean takes a large drink from his own glass and Berenger timidly tries to drink.

As Daisy arrives at the grocery store and begins to speak to the Grocer, Berenger sighs and agrees to not drink. He recognizes Daisy’s laugh and spills his drink on Jean’s pants. Jean scolds Berenger for being clumsy, but Berenger hides in the restroom and says that he doesn’t want Daisy to see him like this. Daisy heads away down the street and Berenger mops at Jean’s pants. Jean says that Daisy looks nice and that this is proof that Berenger is digging his own grave by drinking like this.

Berenger admits that he doesn’t like the taste of alcohol, but that he drinks so he’s not scared. He can’t articulate what he’s scared of, but he feels out of place in the world and alcohol helps him calm down and relax. Jean accuses Berenger of trying to escape, and Berenger doesn’t refute it—he says that he’s tired of dragging his body around. He’s constantly conscious of his body and says it feels like lead. Berenger says that he’s not even sure if he is himself, but when he drinks, he recognizes who he is. Jean lifts his cane and declares that he weighs more than Berenger does, but he feels light as a feather.

The Logician and the Old Gentleman return to the café. Jean stands and turns, accidentally bumping into the Old Gentleman and then falling into the Logician’s arms. They all apologize, and then the Logician gives his companion an example of a syllogism: if a cat has four paws, and if Isidore and Fricot both have four paws, then Isidore and Fricot are both cats. The Old Gentleman notes that his dog also has four paws, which the Logician says indicates that the dog is a cat. The Old Gentleman says that logic is beautiful, but the Logician warns that he can’t abuse it. At the same time, Jean tells Berenger that he’s strong because he has moral strength and isn’t an alcoholic. He says that alcohol is Berenger’s problem.

Berenger morosely says that he’s not sure he has the strength to keep living; he feels oppressed by solitude and by people. Jean insists that this isn’t logical. Berenger declares that life is abnormal, which Jean refutes, but Berenger points out that there are increasingly more dead people than living people. With a huge laugh, Jean says that the dead don’t exist and asks Berenger how he can feel oppressed by individuals that don’t exist. Berenger wonders if he exists, and Jean says he doesn’t—he doesn’t think. The Logician gives another syllogism: all cats die, and Socrates is dead; therefore, Socrates is a cat. The Old Gentleman is delighted—he has a cat named Socrates. They revel in the fact that logic showed them that the historical Socrates was a cat.

Jean insists that Berenger is being silly: he’s clearly interested in Daisy and is clearly ashamed for her to see him drunk. He asks if Berenger expects Daisy to be attracted to him in his state. Berenger admits that he believes that Daisy has a crush on their coworker Dudard, who is qualified and has a future ahead of him. Berenger says that he has no future. Jean declares that Berenger needs to put up a fight for his life, using the weapons of patience, culture, and the mind. Berenger yawns. Jean suggests that Berenger turn himself into an intellectual, which Berenger says isn’t so easy for him. Jean tells him to concentrate and lists that Berenger must dress, shave, and wear clean shirts. He points to his own clothes and tells Berenger to wear a tie, a coat, and well-polished shoes.

While Jean and Berenger speak, the Logician and the Old Gentleman continue with their logic exercises. The Logician asks how many paws the cats have if the cat Isidore has four paws and if the cat Fricot has four paws. The Old Gentleman puzzles out that the cats have eight paws, and the Logician says that there are no limits to logic. Then, the Logician asks how many paws each cat has if he takes two paws away. The Old Gentleman is stumped, but the Logician says that it’s simple, tells the Old Gentleman to concentrate, and grouses that he has to tell his companion everything. He gives the Old Gentleman paper to do the math.

Berenger listens attentively as Jean tells him that he has talent, he just needs to involve himself in cultural and literary events. Berenger complains that he doesn’t have much spare time, but Jean points out that they have the exact same amount of time—they both work eight hours per day, but not on Sundays and not for three weeks during the summer. Instead of drinking to excess, he should be fresh and eager, and in his free time, he should visit museums, read, and go to lectures. If he does this, Berenger will be cultured in no time. Meanwhile, the Logician and the Old Gentleman have much the same conversation about logic: the Old Gentleman insists that he doesn’t have time to think, but the Logician points out that they have the same amount of free time.

The Old Gentleman deduces that he could have one cat with four paws and the other with two, and one cat with five paws and another with one paw. He asks if they’d still be cats. The Logician isn’t concerned, so the Old Gentleman continues that one cat could have six paws and the other zero. Jean suggests that Berenger spend his money on seeing avant-garde plays, such as those by Ionesco. Berenger says that Jean is right, and he promises to do better and be better. The Logician notes that if one cat has six paws, it’d be “specially privileged,” while the other cat with no paws would be underprivileged. The Logician says this “would be unjust and, therefore not logical”—"Logic means Justice.”

Berenger invites Jean to go to the theater with him later, but Jean insists that he can’t come—he’s already promised to have a drink with friends, and he always keeps his promises. Berenger accuses Jean of setting a bad example as the Logician praises the Old Gentleman for “making progress in logic.” The sound of a galloping and trumpeting rhinoceros gets increasingly louder as Jean insists that his drinking isn’t a habit, while the Old Gentleman says that a cat with no paws wouldn’t be able to catch mice. The Logician shouts that a pawless cat should be able to catch mice, since catching mice is in the cat’s nature.

Jean shouts that he’s a moderate person, and suddenly everyone becomes aware of the noise of the rhinoceros. Everyone but Berenger stands and shouts “Oh, a rhinoceros!” in quick succession. Berenger remarks on it and the Waitress drops glasses. The Proprietor grouses that the rhinoceros is no reason to break glasses as Daisy notices the rhinoceros. Berenger hides as everyone runs and cries out “Well, of all things!” People hear pitiful meowing, and the Housewife cries. She runs to the café cradling her dead and bloody cat. The rhinoceros ran it over. The Grocer, the Old Gentleman, Daisy, and the Logician comfort the Housewife as the Waitress cleans up.

The Grocer’s Wife and Jean declare that this is taking things too far. Meanwhile, Daisy notices Berenger, causing him to hide in the restroom. The Old Gentleman and the Logician remind the Housewife that cats are mortal and she should’ve expected this, while the Proprietor demands that the Waitress pay for the glasses she broke. Several people ask “Well, what do you think of that?” and the Proprietor calls for water and brandy for the Housewife. The Housewife refuses the brandy. People wonder if the same rhinoceros went past twice, but Jean insists it was two different rhinoceroses: the first one was an Asian rhinoceros and had two horns; the second one was an African rhinoceros and had one horn. Berenger insists that this is silly since the rhinoceroses went past so quickly.

The Old Gentleman, Daisy, and the Proprietor force the Housewife to drink the brandy and speak to her as though the brandy will cure her grief, but the Housewife continues to grieve for her cat. Berenger insists that the rhinoceros wasn’t running in a position conducive to seeing its horns, but Jean insists that his mind is clear and he could see and calculate. He asks if Berenger is accusing him of spouting nonsense and Berenger agrees that he is. The Grocer’s Wife offers the Housewife one of her cats, but the Housewife cries harder. Jean spits that he never speaks nonsense, and Berenger accuses him of being a “pedant”—and of being wrong, since Asiatic rhinoceroses have one horn and African rhinoceroses have two. Everyone turns their attention to Jean and Berenger.

The Housewife continues to cry over her cat as Jean accuses Berenger of having two horns and calls him an “Asiatic Mongoloid.” As the Proprietor warns Berenger against making a scene, the Old Gentleman points out that the Grocer is a tradesman and should be able to settle the dispute over the rhinoceros horns. Berenger belligerently says that he has no horns and that “Asiatics” are people too, just like they are. The Old Gentleman, the Waitress, and Daisy all agree as the Housewife says that her cat was gentle, just like a person. Jean angrily screams that they’re yellow and makes to leave, deliberately excluding Berenger from his farewell. The Old Gentleman and the Waitress discuss that they both have or have had Asian friends, but they wonder if their friends weren’t actually Asian.

Jean turns back and again shouts that Asian people are yellow. Berenger insists that in any case, Jean’s face is bright red. The Housewife continues to sob over her cat and Jean quickly leaves. The Old Gentleman tells the Grocer that Asian people have skin of all colors as Jean returns briefly to call Berenger a drunkard. Daisy tells Berenger that he shouldn’t have made Jean so angry as the Proprietor tells the Waitress to fetch a coffin for the cat. Berenger insists that it wasn’t his fault, while the Old Gentleman and the Grocer continue to discuss whether Asian or African rhinoceroses have one horn.

The Waitress and Daisy gently help the Housewife into the café to put her cat in a box. The Grocer, the Grocer’s Wife, and the Proprietor all agree that the Asian rhinoceros has one horn and the African rhinoceros has two. Berenger mutters to himself that he never should’ve contradicted Jean, but he also notes that Jean can’t stand being wrong. The other group, meanwhile, wonders if it’s possible that all the rhinoceroses are actually the same one. Berenger thinks that Jean has been good to him, but he wonders why Jean is so obstinate and asks the group why Jean tries to impress people with his knowledge and never admits that he’s wrong. At this, the Old Gentleman menacingly asks if Berenger has proof that one rhinoceros had one horn and the other had two.

Berenger backs away, taken aback, but then says that he thinks there was only one rhinoceros. The Proprietor brings the conversation back to the question of whether or not the African or Asian rhinoceros has one horn, and the Old Gentleman declares that they must figure this out. The Logician stands, introduces himself, and offers Berenger his card, and then says that he’s going to help. He points out that the real question is whether or not there was only one rhinoceros. He notes that they may have seen one rhinoceros with a single horn, two rhinoceroses with a single horn, one rhinoceros with two horns, two rhinoceroses with two horns, or one of each. Except for Berenger, the crowd follows this closely.

The Logician says that it’s possible that a rhinoceros with two horns may have lost one between its two runs through town and stops Berenger from interrupting. According to the Logician, if they could establish that they saw a rhinoceros with one horn first and then a rhinoceros with two horns, they could prove that there were two rhinoceroses—a horn doesn’t grow in only a few minutes. This would mean that there’s one Asian and one African rhinoceros. Berenger agrees that this is clear but says it doesn’t answer the question. The Logician knowingly says that it obviously doesn’t answer the question, but they’re now asking the right question. He leaves.

The Grocer says that it may be logical, but the real question is if they’re all going to allow rhinoceroses to run down their cats, whether they’re Asian or African. The Housewife, Daisy, and the Waitress come out of the café with the box and then head down the street. The Proprietor says that they won’t stand for anything running down their cats, and the Grocer agrees. Berenger says to himself that he shouldn’t have fought with Jean. He orders a brandy and thinks that he’s too upset to go to the museum—he’ll “cultivate his mind” another time.