Reviews

John Gabriel Borkman by Henrik Ibsen

joweston's review against another edition

R4 reading

odd_sock's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The girls always win with Ibsen I love it, fighting that 17th century incel culture 🫦

juliepfammatter's review against another edition

dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

infinitespace's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

anmast's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Spennende historie som, i likhet med Ibsens drama flest, åpner opp for flere tema: relasjoner, selvrespekt, status, makt, oppvekst, omsorg, forventninger, generasjonskløft, frihet og kjærlighet. Disse framstår allmenne på tvers av tid og livssituasjon, rett og slett grunnleggende menneskelige. Dramaet er mer psykologisk enn de mer kjente realismedramaene til Ibsen. Replikkene er likevel ikke jevnt over så treffende, velformulerte eller dyptpløyende som i andre av hans drama.

msand3's review against another edition

3.0

My least-favorite of Ibsen’s later prose dramas, John Gabriel Borkman is about a disgraced financier punished for embezzlement and living an isolated existence. His life is defined by people he has used for personal gain -- a woman who once loved him whom he ignored for money; her twin sister, whom he married for convenience; his son, onto whom he projects a future based on the failed life he has lived. The final scene is too overwrought and obviously symbolic to have made much of a lasting impact on me. I thought this drama was a quite standard, and thus disappointing, work from Ibsen.

stanleysbird's review

Ibsen's second to last play felt rushed and desperately executed. All the characters in this play are exasperated and pulled every which way due to the consequences of one man's actions. I think the symbolism and parallels to Ibsen's own life are interesting. However, I don't think this was in any way close to his best work.

lnatal's review against another edition

3.0

From BBC Radio 4 - Drama:
Henrik Ibsen's rarely-performed but all-too-pertinent play about the dangerous pursuit of power. A new production from a version by David Eldridge.