Berenger

He’s a drunk, he’s a lover, he’s an individual, he’s a mother…no wait, that’s Alanis Morissette. As for Berenger, he’s the protagonist, so why can’t he be a symbol, too?

Here’s something to chew on: “Ionesco describes his characters not as ‘stereotypes’ but as ‘archetypes,’ that function on a mythic plane but with enough naturalistic detail to ground them in the particular and thereby maintain their immediacy.” (Read this essay if you want more where that came from.)

Berenger falls neatly into the archetype (which is a kind of symbol) of the “Everyman,” meaning a man who is pretty much like every other man. But by the end he comes to symbolize the individual in a world of followers. Double whammy for Berenger!

Anyway, he might not be the strongest or the wealthiest or the smartest or even that great of a guy at the end of the day, but at least he’s willing to hold onto the things that make him him. While everybody else is turning into rhinoceroses and busting up the building, Berenger still speaks out on behalf of humankind:

BERENGER: I’m staying as I am. I’m a human being. A human being. (3.1.1227-1228)

He’ll say it again: a human being! Sure, it’s a little crazy for one guy to try to stand up to a legion of rhinos, and we all know his chances of winning this fight are slim to none, but sometimes it’s the willingness to stand up against the masses that's important.

So here, Berenger symbolizes humanity. It’s a pretty daunting role to take on, especially for a drunk.

But wait! Before you get totally wrapped up in the symbolism of Berenger and what he represents, don’t forget that he’s still a fully-formed character, and that is what makes him endure, and what makes it a good play. At the end of the day, Berenger’s staying power has to do with his character—his flaws, his imagination, his passion, his decision (source). If he’s just a symbol, his power can fade, but if he’s a great character, he can stick around forever.

So far, he’s been important for over 50 years. Not a bad start.