Deconstructing the binary: A Post humanist Rereading of Ionesco’s Rhinoceros
Keywords:
Intentional fallacy,, Effective fallacy, Post- human, Individualism, hegemony, anthropocentric notion,, Trajectory, Degradation,, Intrinsic superiorityAbstract
This paper aims at bursting the bubble in which the traditional reader lives when interpreting the Ionesco’s Rhinoceros. This rereading of the present text explores a new world of meaning to the reader who is victim of intentional fallacy and affective fallacy i.e. the human identity of both the writer and the readers make them value human self over the animal self. The play under present study is discussed by applying post-humanistic perspective in order to change the binary, placing animals and nature in the center, and shifting humans to periphery by shattering the anthropocentric notion. Post-humanism is a particular non-traditional way of analyzing the term ‘human’ and its relationship to the natural world. It works to challenge the traditional binaries between the humans, the animals and technology. The general reading of the play Rhinoceros tends to place humanity at the higher rank and degrades animals. According to the general reading, the play traces degradation of humans into animals. However, through this post-humanist rereading the current study unsettles the trajectory instead. According to this reading, humans have no intrinsic and inherent superiority to the rhinoceros. Therefore, there is no overt value in keeping the human identity while the whole society is turned into the society of rhinoceros. This sort of humanism is the heart of Eurocentric project which promotes individualism at the cast of community.
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