Ghosts
Oct 2018 · Otbebookpublishing
Ebook
65
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
reportRatings and reviews aren’t verified Learn More
About this ebook
Ghosts is a play by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It was written in 1881 and first staged in 1882 in Chicago, Illinois, in a production by a Danish company on tour. Like many of Ibsen's plays, Ghosts is a scathing commentary on 19th-century morality. Because of its subject matter, which includes religion, venereal disease, incest and euthanasia, it immediately generated strong controversy and negative criticism. Since then the play has fared better, and is considered a "great play" that historically holds a position of "immense importance". Theater critic Maurice Valency wrote in 1963, "From the standpoint of modern tragedy Ghosts strikes off in a new direction.... Regular tragedy dealt mainly with the unhappy consequences of breaking the moral code. Ghosts, on the contrary, deals with the consequences of not breaking it. (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.
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
