An Enemy of the People
Oct 2018 · Otbebookpublishing
Ebook
75
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About this ebook
An Enemy of the People is an 1882 play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. Ibsen wrote it in response to the public outcry against his play Ghosts, which had challenged the hypocrisy of Victorian morality. According to Ellen Mortensen (Ibsen Studies v.7, 169), the words scandalous, degenerate, and immoral were hurled at both the play and its author because of its open discussion of sex outside of marriage and its portrayal of one of the consequences of that lifestyle: syphilis. Ibsen's own view appears to have been more balanced. According to a widely quoted passage from a letter to his publisher in Copenhagen, Denmark, he wrote: "I am still uncertain as to whether I should call it a comedy or a straight drama. It may [have] many traits of comedy, but it also is based on a serious idea." (Excerpt from Wikipedia)
About the author
Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) was a pioneering Norwegian playwright and poet, often hailed as the "father of modern drama." Born in the small coastal town of Skien, Ibsen's early life was marked by financial hardship, which profoundly influenced his later works. He began his career in theater as a stage manager and playwright in Bergen and Oslo, where he honed his craft and developed a keen eye for the intricacies of human behavior and societal norms.Ibsen's literary contributions are monumental, as he broke away from the romantic tradition and introduced realism into the theater. His plays often scrutinized the moral fabric of society, challenging the status quo and exposing the hypocrisies of the bourgeoisie. This bold approach led to numerous controversies, as his works were frequently censored and criticized for their unflinching portrayal of taboo subjects such as marriage, gender roles, and individual freedom.One of Ibsen's most revolutionary ideas was his portrayal of strong, complex female characters who defied societal expectations, a theme that resonated deeply with the burgeoning feminist movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His influence on contemporary writers is profound, inspiring figures such as George Bernard Shaw and Arthur Miller, who admired his unyielding commitment to truth and social critique.Ibsen spent much of his later life in self-imposed exile in Italy and Germany, where he continued to write prolifically. His legacy endures as a cornerstone of modern drama, and his works remain a staple in theaters worldwide, continually provoking thought and discussion about the human condition and societal structures.
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