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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Note: Re-Read in 2021 while reading Ibsen's works in chronological order.
Ghosts, like so many things written by Ibsen, is dark, depressing, and in desperate need of something to brighten it. Ibsen makes a slight attempt at brightening everything by setting the children's home on fire, but that burns out within a couple of minutes. Even the characters are calling out for a bit of light as Osvald's last words are "the sun, the sun!" Apparently, even his characters recognize what a dark play they're in and wish to escape.
That being said, if it were performed by a superb actor, I'm sure Ghosts would give everyone something to think about. It has themes of throwing off the "ghosts" of old ways and raising up reform -- mostly by showing how the old ways have been abused. With such a worthy theme, it would be foolish to cast out the play wholesale. However, I would recommend to anyone trying to read it that they forgo the actual process of reading it and rent the movie instead. It will save you staring at the lines and wondering what's meant by all the offhand comments and possibly prove more enjoyable.
That being said, if it were performed by a superb actor, I'm sure Ghosts would give everyone something to think about. It has themes of throwing off the "ghosts" of old ways and raising up reform -- mostly by showing how the old ways have been abused. With such a worthy theme, it would be foolish to cast out the play wholesale. However, I would recommend to anyone trying to read it that they forgo the actual process of reading it and rent the movie instead. It will save you staring at the lines and wondering what's meant by all the offhand comments and possibly prove more enjoyable.
mysterious
tense
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
I understand that this is a famous and historically-significant play. I read it in high school and revisited it now (in a successful hunt for duo scenes). I appreciated it more the second time around, but damn if I still don't dislike it. The style just feels so unnatural and the action so squished together. It's a social critique, I get it; I just don't like it, you know?
fast-paced
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“My point is that's different.”
”Your point is that's worse.”
god I'll never get over how good this is no matter how many times I read it