Lecture: Ghosts, by Henrik Ibsen

Overview

• Author: Henrik Ibsen
• Title: Ghosts (original title: Gengangere)
• Publication: Published in December 1881
• Initial Reception: Met with uproar and controversy.

Background

• Writing Locations:
  • Winter 1879-80: Munich
  • Summer 1880: Berchtesgaden
  • November 1880: Rome
  • Summer 1881: Sorrento
• Peer Gynt written 14 years earlier in Sorrento.

Reactions and Criticisms

• Controversy:
  • Scandinavian press was divided; much obloquy.
  • Few theaters willing to stage the play initially.
  • Viewed as a daring work that challenged societal norms.
  • Criticized for its portrayal of nihilism and critique of societal hypocrisy.
• Support:
  • Bjornson and Georg Brandes supported the work.
  • Brandes claimed it might be Ibsen's noblest deed.

Themes and Motifs

• Social Hypocrisy: Criticism of societal norms and religious hypocrisy.
• Inheritance and Family Secrets: Explores the impact of parental sins on children.
• Freedom and Constraint: Questions societal obligations versus personal freedom.

Key Characters

• Mrs. Helen Alving: Widow of Captain Alving
• Oswald Alving: Her son, a painter
• Pastor Manders: Represents conventional morality
• Jacob Engstrand: Carpenter, Regina's supposed father
• Regina Engstrand: Maid, has ambitions beyond her station

Plot Summary

• Takes place at Mrs. Alving's country house in Norway.
• Act 1:
  • Introduction of characters.
  • Tensions between Regina and Engstrand.
  • Pastor Manders' visit underscores societal expectations.
• Act 2:
  • Reveals the truth about Captain Alving's life and indiscretions.
  • Discussion on morality and societal pressures.
• Act 3:
  • The Orphanage burns down, symbolizing the collapse of facade.
  • Oswald reveals his illness, symbolizing the consequences of inherited sins.

Symbolism

• The Orphanage: Represents societal structures and facades; its destruction symbolizes the collapse of deceptive appearances.
• Ghosts: Metaphor for the past haunting the present, both literally and figuratively.

Legacy and Impact

• Performance History:
  • First staged in Helsingborg, Sweden by August Lindberg.
  • Faced censorship and delayed performances in many regions.
  • Eventually recognized as a key work in modern drama.

Conclusion

• Critical Acclaim: Became an important work in challenging theatrical and societal conventions.
• Ibsen's Intent: Sought to confront the audience with uncomfortable truths about society and morality.
• Impact: Encouraged discussions on truth, morality, and the role of societal norms in personal lives.

Study Points

• Consider how Ibsen uses characters to critique societal norms.
• Analyze the symbolism of the Orphanage and its destruction.
• Reflect on the play's commentary on inheritance, both material and moral.
• Examine the role of Pastor Manders as a foil to Mrs. Alving's evolving views.