As a professor of French literature, I have taught Ionesco’s Rhinoceros for decades. I did so with misgivings since it felt so unduly absurd, seemingly disconnected from my world and that of my students. But with the rise of Trump and Trumpism, the play’s absurdity now seems increasingly plausible.
Dalmia has done a brilliant job of uncovering Ionesco’s personal and historical background to strengthen the connection between the play and our current historical situation. I just wish I had had this information when I was teaching it. In my own research on this play, I have never come upon anything as compelling as this!
Dalmia also brings to her analysis an important global context in which this play and the “nativist” movements should be viewed.
As a professor of French literature, I have taught Ionesco’s Rhinoceros for decades. I did so with misgivings since it felt so unduly absurd, seemingly disconnected from my world and that of my students. But with the rise of Trump and Trumpism, the play’s absurdity now seems increasingly plausible.
Dalmia has done a brilliant job of uncovering Ionesco’s personal and historical background to strengthen the connection between the play and our current historical situation. I just wish I had had this information when I was teaching it. In my own research on this play, I have never come upon anything as compelling as this!
Dalmia also brings to her analysis an important global context in which this play and the “nativist” movements should be viewed.
Thank you so much for this remarkable piece!!!
The movie is also available at no charge through kanopy.com (public library card info or student/professor info is required).