Ghosts: The Classic 19th Century Play, Annotated

Ghosts (original title: Gengangere) is a play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It was written in 1881 and first performed in 1882. The play is considered one of Ibsen's most important works, and it has been translated into more than 50 languages.

Ghosts: The Classic 19th Century Play (Annotated)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	30469 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	249 pages

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Ghosts is a powerful and moving play that explores the consequences of silence, lies, and secrets. It tells the story of Mrs. Alving, a woman who has kept her husband's syphilis a secret from her son, Oswald. When Oswald discovers the truth, it has devastating consequences.

The play was controversial at the time of its publication, and it is still considered to be a challenging and thought-provoking work. It is a classic of world literature, and it is essential reading for anyone interested in drama, Ibsen, or the 19th century.

Plot

The play is set in a small town in Norway in the late 19th century. Mrs. Alving is a wealthy widow who lives with her son, Oswald. Oswald is a talented painter who has just returned home from Paris.

Mrs. Alving has kept a secret from her son: his father, Captain Alving, was a syphilitic. Oswald has inherited the disease, and it is slowly killing him.

When Oswald discovers the truth, he is devastated. He had always believed that his father was a good and honorable man, and he is horrified to learn that he was a liar and a cheat.

Oswald's discovery has a devastating impact on his life. He becomes depressed and suicidal, and he eventually dies from the disease.

Characters

The main characters in Ghosts are:

• Mrs. Alving: A wealthy widow who has kept her husband's syphilis a secret from her son.
• Oswald: Mrs. Alving's son, a talented painter who has inherited syphilis from his father.
• Captain Alving: Mrs. Alving's deceased husband, a syphilitic who was a liar and a cheat.
• Pastor Manders: The local pastor, a well-meaning but weak man who is unable to help Mrs. Alving.
• Regina Engstrand: A young woman who is the daughter of the town's carpenter, Jacob Engstrand.
• Jacob Engstrand: The town's carpenter, a dishonest and opportunistic man.

Themes

The main themes of Ghosts are:

• The consequences of silence, lies, and secrets: The play shows how the secrets that Mrs. Alving has kept from her son have devastating consequences.
• The power of the past: The play shows how the past can continue to haunt the present, and how we cannot escape the consequences of our actions.
• The inevitability of death: The play shows how death is a part of life, and how we must all face it eventually.

Critical Reception

Ghosts was controversial at the time of its publication, and it is still considered to be a challenging and thought-provoking work. Some critics praised the play for its realism and its unflinching portrayal of the human condition. Others criticized the play for its bleakness and its lack of hope.

Despite the controversy, Ghosts has become a classic of world literature. It is now considered one of Ibsen's most important works, and it is essential reading for anyone interested in drama, Ibsen, or the 19th century.

Legacy

Ghosts has had a profound impact on world drama. It is considered to be one of the first modern plays, and it helped to pave the way for the development of realism and naturalism in the theater.

The play has been adapted into several films and television productions. The most famous adaptation is the 1985 film starring Liv Ullmann and Roy Scheider.

Ghosts is a powerful and moving play that continues to be relevant today. It is a classic of world literature, and it is essential reading for anyone interested in drama, Ibsen, or the 19th century.

Ghosts: The Classic 19th Century Play (Annotated)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	30469 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	249 pages

FREE