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HENRICK IBSEN and A Doll’s House

HENRICK IBSEN and A Doll’s House. 1828-1906. Brief Background……. Henrick Ibsen was born into wealthy Norwegian family but became poor due to father’s bankruptcy. Brief Background……. He could not afford University, left school at 15, worked for apothecary.

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HENRICK IBSEN and A Doll’s House

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  1. HENRICK IBSEN and A Doll’s House 1828-1906

  2. Brief Background……. • Henrick Ibsen was born into wealthy Norwegian family but became poor due to father’s bankruptcy.

  3. Brief Background……. • He could not afford University, left school at 15, worked for apothecary. • He fathered child by a servant woman 10 years his senior; had to pay maintenance – financial hardship. • Lived in poverty but wrote poems and plays. • Initially he met with minimal success.

  4. Finally success… • Plays started to gain attention • The Pretenders, 1863 • Brand,1865 • Peer Gynt, 1867 • All attacked Norwegian society – nationalism/cowardice

  5. Finally success… • First very successful play (satiric comedy) The League ofYouth 1869. • Often protests during performance.

  6. Finally success… • A Doll’s House, 1879 • Ghosts, 1881 • An Enemy of the People, 1884 • Financial success and fame/notoriety

  7. Dramatist Extraordinaire • Ibsen regarded one of the first Norwegian dramatists. Gained attention Norwegian National theatre. Became Director 1857. Nationalist plays.

  8. Little known “fact”…IBSEN is the inspiration for Mr. Heat Miser

  9. HENRICK IBSEN and A Doll’s House ca.1879

  10. Critical Reaction to A Doll’s House • “morbid” • “unwholesome” • “not suitable for dramatic representation…” • “not for the English stage”

  11. Critical Reaction to A Doll’s House • Horror, shock, disbelief woman would disobey her husband • IBSEN had to rewrite ending for England… • …but Ibsen eventually refused to let that ending be used as this changed the whole message of play

  12. Critical Reaction to A Doll’s House • Ibsen’s reaction: “ I revel in adverse criticism”

  13. Ibsen’s concerns in literature:

  14. Ibsen’s concerns in literature: • Role of the individual in society ; issue of freedom central to plays • Interested in women’s independence but not a supporter of women’s rights – rather rights of all people. • Described self as ‘social philosopher” • Later famous plays deal with controversial issues: loveless marriage, STD’s, hypocrisy, petty-mindedness, class barriers.

  15. ROMANTICISM vs REALISM • Romantic literature depicted life as the reader would love it to be. Adventurous, fantastic, heroic, etc • NB ‘Romantic literature’ does not mean LOVE

  16. ROMANTICISM vs REALISM • Realistic literature depicts life as it is • Ibsen: the first dramatist to write tragedy about ordinary people in everyday situations.. • Audience feels they can relate to emotions / experiences of characters • Romantic literature depicted life as the reader would love it to be. Adventurous, fantastic, heroic, etc • NB ‘Romantic literature’ does not mean LOVE

  17. Introduced : -natural sounding, yet individualistic dialogue -middle class characters -complex, dynamic characters -psychological perspective -social criticism -objective viewpoint -quickly paced short scenes • Instead of: -rhymed verse -upper-class or royal characters -static, simple characters -entertaining melodramas and farces with no ulterior motive -subjective viewpoint -longwinded scenes with many soliloquys and hyperbole

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