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Three Plays: Hedda Gabler / A Doll's House / The Wild Duck
A collection of three plays by Norwegian play-wright Henrick Ibsen. Includes Hedda Gabler, A Doll's House, and The Wild Duck.
317 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1959
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About the author
Henrik Ibsen
2,227 books2,099 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 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 7, 2020
I wish I could give this 3 stars as Ibsen's writing is largely engaging despite two-dimensional, borderline autistic characters, but the last 10 percent of each of these plays is either rushed, nonsensical or outright amoral nihilism. It's shocking that these were written and produced as plays in the 1880s and were able to find public venues, but I guess it's an insight into the affluenza and ennui that was developing in the Gilded Age and which Nietzsche talked about ("God is dead and we have killed Him," etc.)
Not sure how feminists supposedly find inspiration in Hedda Gabler - an amoral, narcissistic, sociopath - or how A Doll's House is supposed to reflect reality when the real-life story it was based on ended with reconciliation between the husband and wife while the real-life wife never forgave Ibsen for airing and profiting from her life events pigeon-holed into his narrative.
The Wild Duck is just a culmination of Ibsen being a Norwegian George Bernard Shaw: an amoral nihilist upturning and "righting" society to his own vision all while hiding behind "helping others" against their will. Not surprising to find anti-religious views throughout his plays, but I am surprised to see openly demonic tropes like child sacrifice and even the protagonist's ending lines of admitting to be the devil (!) in TWD get nary a mention in analyses I've read online.
Completely bizarre that Ibsen is seen in a positive light by Norwegians. And ironic that leftists who love to tilt against Ayn Rand for two-dimensional, robotic and borderline sociopathic characters, see none of it in Ibsen who doesn't even have or make an attempt at an over-arching objective morality.
Not sure how feminists supposedly find inspiration in Hedda Gabler - an amoral, narcissistic, sociopath - or how A Doll's House is supposed to reflect reality when the real-life story it was based on ended with reconciliation between the husband and wife while the real-life wife never forgave Ibsen for airing and profiting from her life events pigeon-holed into his narrative.
The Wild Duck is just a culmination of Ibsen being a Norwegian George Bernard Shaw: an amoral nihilist upturning and "righting" society to his own vision all while hiding behind "helping others" against their will. Not surprising to find anti-religious views throughout his plays, but I am surprised to see openly demonic tropes like child sacrifice and even the protagonist's ending lines of admitting to be the devil (!) in TWD get nary a mention in analyses I've read online.
Completely bizarre that Ibsen is seen in a positive light by Norwegians. And ironic that leftists who love to tilt against Ayn Rand for two-dimensional, robotic and borderline sociopathic characters, see none of it in Ibsen who doesn't even have or make an attempt at an over-arching objective morality.
January 3, 2011
A doll's House: This very well is one of my most favorite play. Its theme and symbols seems to stand out clearly for me and its message is very raw and inspiring.
A must read for females who seek inspirations on individual identity as a women in society.
Its a page turning play!
A must read for females who seek inspirations on individual identity as a women in society.
Its a page turning play!
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March 15, 2011i adore ibsen, i really do.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews