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Ibsen Volume III: Four Plays
Little Eyolf, John Gabriel Borkman, and When We Dead Awaken are Ibsen's last plays, written when he returned from his long self-exile from Norway. With The Master Builder, (Vol. II) they represent the culmination of the great spiritual journey undertaken in the 12-play cycle; arguably the most profound and audaciously imaginative theatrical work of the 19th century. The cycle's dimensions still invite exploration, provide exhilarating challenges for theatre artists and students.
- GenresPlays
235 pages, paper
Published January 1, 1998
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About the author
Henrik Ibsen
2,029 books2,106 followersHenrik Johan Ibsen was a major Norwegian playwright largely responsible for the rise of modern realistic drama. He is often referred to as the "father of modern drama." Ibsen is held to be the greatest of Norwegian authors and one of the most important playwrights of all time, celebrated as a national symbol by Norwegians.
His plays were considered scandalous to many of his era, when Victorian values of family life and propriety largely held sway in Europe and any challenge to them was considered immoral and outrageous. Ibsen's work examined the realities that lay behind many facades, possessing a revelatory nature that was disquieting to many contemporaries.
Ibsen largely founded the modern stage by introducing a critical eye and free inquiry into the conditions of life and issues of morality. Victorian-era plays were expected to be moral dramas with noble protagonists pitted against darker forces; every drama was expected to result in a morally appropriate conclusion, meaning that goodness was to bring happiness, and immorality pain. Ibsen challenged this notion and the beliefs of his times and shattered the illusions of his audiences.
His plays were considered scandalous to many of his era, when Victorian values of family life and propriety largely held sway in Europe and any challenge to them was considered immoral and outrageous. Ibsen's work examined the realities that lay behind many facades, possessing a revelatory nature that was disquieting to many contemporaries.
Ibsen largely founded the modern stage by introducing a critical eye and free inquiry into the conditions of life and issues of morality. Victorian-era plays were expected to be moral dramas with noble protagonists pitted against darker forces; every drama was expected to result in a morally appropriate conclusion, meaning that goodness was to bring happiness, and immorality pain. Ibsen challenged this notion and the beliefs of his times and shattered the illusions of his audiences.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 6, 2022
2 / 4 : If you have time, read
[Realist Henrik Ibsen and four moody Norwegian plays from later in his career]
Clouds of death and adultery congregate over the fjords and forests of these four plays. Heavy symbolism gives depth to the players' suffering.
When We Dead Awaken was Ibsen's last play, and the most tinglingly atmospheric of the four.
I read a translation by Rolf Fjelde
[Realist Henrik Ibsen and four moody Norwegian plays from later in his career]
Clouds of death and adultery congregate over the fjords and forests of these four plays. Heavy symbolism gives depth to the players' suffering.
When We Dead Awaken was Ibsen's last play, and the most tinglingly atmospheric of the four.
I read a translation by Rolf Fjelde
December 29, 2019
This edition is replete with spelling and punctuation errors. Translations are perfectly serviceable but hardly live up to the claim "Great translations for actors" -- they are quite similar to every other translation of Ibsen I've read.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews