Scan barcode
davidjames's review against another edition
an absolute whopper of a play. this man completely was out of his gourd. do not trust women, folks
divadiane's review against another edition
4.0
I read this at University (U of Wisconsin) for a fantastic undergraduate course called Scandinavian Literature in Translation. There were hundreds of people in this class, but I adored it. I remember very little of this play, and so I think I ought to reread it.
msand3's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars. It has been about fifteen years since I first read The Father, and I like it even less now than I did in my early-20s. The critical introduction claims repeatedly that the play isn’t melodramatic, and that only “surface” readings/viewings would lead to such a conclusion by missing the “complexity” of the characterizations of Captain and Laura.
Oh, nonsense!
You don’t even have to read much about Strindberg’s life to see that this was a highly autobiographical lashing out at all the dramatist’s own fears, anxieties, and hang-ups, which is what made me ambivalent about the play when I first read it. Years later, knowing the background of his marriage, misogyny, and mental instability, I find the play even more distasteful and histrionic on second reading. This drama gives us more insight into Strindberg’s own fragile masculinity than it does into psychology, marriage, gender roles, or ontology.
Oh, nonsense!
You don’t even have to read much about Strindberg’s life to see that this was a highly autobiographical lashing out at all the dramatist’s own fears, anxieties, and hang-ups, which is what made me ambivalent about the play when I first read it. Years later, knowing the background of his marriage, misogyny, and mental instability, I find the play even more distasteful and histrionic on second reading. This drama gives us more insight into Strindberg’s own fragile masculinity than it does into psychology, marriage, gender roles, or ontology.
mellamoger's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
emiliefyrst's review
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
More...