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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
While I appreciate how Ibsen pushed the envelope with his frank depictions of cohabitation outside marriage, suicide, depression, madness, VD, prostitution, broken homes, and incestuous themes, I can't help but be distracted by the melodramatic dialogue and predictable structure of the drama. I found myself laughing at moments that were definitely not intended to be funny. In act one, Manders and Mrs. Alving talk a great a deal about their decision not to insure the orphanage. As soon as the decision is made, Manders says off-hand (paraphrasing), "Oh by the way, that carpenter we hired almost accidentally set fire to a room the other day. He sure is careless with matches!"
Gee, I wonder what's gonna happen in act three?
At another point, Regina makes a comment about not feeling like Engstrand's daughter. There's a "short pause," and Engstrand replies, "Well...that's what it says on the church register." If I had seen this performed on stage I would've had to stifle my laughter. And so Ibsen goes, telegraphing every future event.
Even so, I have to admire Ibsen's courage to write this material. I wish I could have seen it performed in the 1890s. It must have been riotously shocking. (In fact, I enjoyed reading the negative reviews more than the play itself.)
Gee, I wonder what's gonna happen in act three?
At another point, Regina makes a comment about not feeling like Engstrand's daughter. There's a "short pause," and Engstrand replies, "Well...that's what it says on the church register." If I had seen this performed on stage I would've had to stifle my laughter. And so Ibsen goes, telegraphing every future event.
Even so, I have to admire Ibsen's courage to write this material. I wish I could have seen it performed in the 1890s. It must have been riotously shocking. (In fact, I enjoyed reading the negative reviews more than the play itself.)
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
A gripping, fascinating play. This is filled with interesting commentary on "morality" as defined by society at large. While it focuses on eighteenth-century views that we would now consider out-of-date, that commentary is really relevant at any time. And Ibsen never bashes you over the head with his ideas, but nests his commentary in the personal lives of the characters.
I chose to read "Ghosts" because I wanted to read more of Henrik Ibsen’s work. I had just recently read his other play, "A Doll’s House." I took a liking to his writing because it was written in simple language and there were very few instances in which it was mandatory to look up the definition of a word. What I liked about the play was all the drama that occurred. There was major drama throughout the play, but my favorite storyline was the one that revolved around Oswald, the son of the main protagonist. His love life was very interesting and rather scandalous due to the fact that he was interested in his half-sister, which he did not know early on in the play. Besides his love life, his relationship with his mother was very sad. In part three, Oswald tells his mother directly that he cannot be grateful to her. I do understand where his thoughts on his mother come from. He did not grow up with his parents which therefore leads to why he has no connection to either of them. Also, he had more of a reason to not like his mother because she kept secret the truth of his father’s identity. I would recommend "Ghosts" to those who want to read plays as well as someone who is interested in drama.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While not my favourite Ibsen, it is an interesting story about a dying man and his relationship with his mother. I would not recommend this one first for newcommers for the playwrite, but that being said it also included interesting themes on the role of the church in this tragedy.
I suspect it says a LOT about me that this is my favorite Ibsen play (thus far).
challenging
dark
sad
fast-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
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes