Characteristics of Works Produced by Henrik Ibsen (1828 – 1906) Vita Pilkington

Introductory Information  Considered by some to be the founder of realism in dramas.  Psychological conflicts  Bourgeois society  Described as both a social reformer and an intruder  “Problem Plays” : shedding light onto societal problems at the time  Bringing to light what was predominantly silenced  Compared to Shakespeare – due to depth into human relationships and honest ethical discussion as well as comparisons to Greek tragedies – due to artistic quality.  Ibsen was primarily concerned with writing dramas.  Explored poetry, but is best acclaimed for his dramatic plays.

Social Content  Ibsen’s works revolved around the context in which he lived.  Presented current problems on a public scale  Spoke out against conformity/conventions  Focus on the social aspects of his surroundings  Bringing criticism to social injustices  Providing truthful analysis on the bourgeois world and social relationships at the time  Shedding light on topics that were largely silenced  Generational conflicts, wives rebelling against husbands, moving away from traditional values and life at the time, murder, corruption

Language  Characters were made to be more familiar with audience members through use of colloquial language and everyday conversation topics.  Incomplete sentences, interjections mimicking real- life conversations  Lots of metaphors used in Ibsen’s texts  What was unsaid, as well as what was said, became an important component of Ibsen’s plays.  Focus on subtext as well as text  Builds up suspense and a realistic understanding of social relationships

Characters  Focus on both the social environment and on individual characters.  Strong focus on people’s values and morals  Presented characters as human – showing all aspects of individuals as well as social relations  Works largely described as “psychological” due to their insight into human behaviour and emotion.  Understanding and explaining human behaviour.  Contrast between what characters can achieve versus what they hope to achieve.  Desperate Drama: revolving around people who always want something different than they have

 Detailed scene directions  Symbolism  No use of on-stage narrator  Characters tell the story  Feeling that you are watching people’s private lives due to realistic potrayal of events

Virginia Woolf on Ibsen  "A room is to him a room, a writing table a writing table, and a waste paper basket, a waste paper basket. At the same time, the paraphernalia of reality have at certain times to become the veil through which we see infinity." – Virginia Woolf (on Henrik Ibsen)  Use of realism allowed for Ibsen to provide insight into the place and time in which he lived.  Realistic portrayal of life allowed for audience members to relate the works to their everyday lives and to understand their relevance.

H.L. Mencken on Ibsen  “He presented a few related scenes in the life of a husband and wife. Instead of a finely wrought fabric of suspense and emotion nicely balanced, neatly hanging together, he hit upon action that was all suspense and emotion. And instead of carefully calibrated explanations, involving the orthodox couriers and prattling chambermaids, he let the story tell itself.” –H.L. Mencken  Focused on emotional or suspenseful moments  Allowed for audiences to infer into situations

References  Hemmer, Bjorn. “The Dramatist: HENRIK IBSEN.” Henrik Ibsen Biography. Metropolitan News Company, n.d. Web. 09 Nov  Smith, Wendy. “The Meaning Behind The Lines: How Ibsen’s Toughness And Chekhov’s Tenderness Transformed American Playwriting and Acting.” American Scholar 78.3 (2009): Academic Search Premier. Web 8 Nov  Ularu, Nic. “Designers Notebook: Looking Beyond Realism In Ibsen.” TD&T: Theatre Design & Technology 37.4 (2001): Art Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 9 Nov  “Henrik Ibsen.” Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Pearson, n.d. Web. 08 Nov  Liukkonen, Petri. “Henrik Ibsen.” Henrik Ibsen ( ). Ed. Ari Pensonen. Kuusankosken City Library, Web. 08 Nov  “Henrik Ibsen – A Doll’s House (Genre and Style).” Stagework Notebook. N.p., 13 Jan Web. 08 Nov