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Henrik Ibsen (20th March, 1828 - 23rd May, 1906) is often referred to as the father of realism and ranked just below Shakespeare as Europe's greatest ever playwright especially as his plays are performed most frequently throughout the world after Shakespeare's. He was Norwegian and although set his plays in Norway, he wrote them in Danish and lived most of his professional life in Italy and Germany. His affect on the theatre is still evident today and shapes the distinction of plays being art as opposed to entertainment since he broke down all previous traditions and explored issues, developed characterisation, revealed uncomfortable truths, challenged assumptions and brokedown facades in ourselves as well as society. These factors are clearly demonstrated in Ghosts which exposes painful and hidden past secrets that affect many of the characters. The protagonist, Mrs Alving, is a wealthy middle aged widow who was the victim of an alcoholic unfaithful husband. She searches to make sense of her life and comes to realise that her husband was suffocated by convention and is unwilling to let her life go the same way. The play tackles many taboo topics of its day like assisted suicide, premarital sex, incest, syphilis and criticism of the church and whilst these issues are no longer the hot potatoes they were, Ibsen's strong characterisation and haunting prose make this a powerful relevant drama.

Norwegian drama. --- Widows. --- Families.

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Henrik Ibsen (20th March, 1828 - 23rd May, 1906) is often referred to as the father of realism and ranked just below Shakespeare as Europe's greatest ever playwright especially as his plays are performed most frequently throughout the world after Shakespeare's. He was Norwegian and although set his plays in Norway, he wrote them in Danish and lived most of his professional life in Italy and Germany. His affect on the theatre is still evident today and shapes the distinction of plays being art as opposed to entertainment since he broke down all previous traditions and explored issues, developed characterisation, revealed uncomfortable truths, challenged assumptions and brokedown facades in ourselves as well as society. These factors are clearly demonstrated in John Gabriel Borkman, a banker who had previously been imprisoned for investing his clients money without their consent but believes himself innocent of any crime as he had not intended to steal funds or swindle them but was caught before being able to pay back the 'loans'. Borkman is married to Gunhild but as a young man was in love with her twin, Ella who although still a part of their lives, helping to raise his son whilst he was in prison, is estranged from her twin sister. Ibsen explores the despair felt by Borkman and Ella in this play. The dramatic climax and poetic beauty of his words ensures that this lesser known Ibsen play should not be overlooked.

English drama. --- Norwegian drama. --- Sisters.

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Henrik Ibsen (20th March, 1828 - 23rd May, 1906) is often referred to as the father of realism and ranked just below Shakespeare as Europe's greatest ever playwright especially as his plays are performed most frequently throughout the world after Shakespeare's. Ibsen was Norwegian and although set his plays in Norway, he wrote them in Danish and lived mot of his professional life in Italy and Germany. His affect on the theatre is still evident today and shapes the distinction of plays being art as opposed to entertainment since he broke down all previous traditions and explored issues, developed characterisation, revealed uncomfortable truths, challenged assumptions and brokedown facades in ourselves as well as society. These factors are clearly demonstrated in the Master Builder which is about Halvard Solness, an incredibly successful builder whose success is due to a lucky series of events which he had conceived and wished for but not actually done anything to make happen. These fortuitous occurrences for him and misfortunes for his competitors makes Solness think that he is divinely blessed to allow him to build churches and that all his wishes will come true. He confides these beliefs to a young woman he originally met as a child and together they fantasise about this magic power. At the same time his wife is uninterested in his buildings but consumed with grief over the loss of her two sons. Solness is ultimately destroyed by this infatuation for the younger woman together with his belief in his own infallibility making this Ibsen work a realistic tragedy with a thought provoking moral to the tale.

Norwegian drama. --- Man-woman relationships. --- Married people.

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Man-woman relationships. --- Norwegian drama. --- Domestic drama, Norwegian.

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Henrik Ibsen (20th March, 1828 - 23rd May, 1906) is often referred to as the father of realism and ranked just below Shakespeare as Europe's greatest ever playwright especially as his plays are performed most frequently throughout the world after Shakespeare's. He was Norwegian and although set his plays in Norway, he wrote them in Danish and lived most of his professional life in Italy and Germany. His affect on the theatre is still evident today and shapes the distinction of plays being art as opposed to entertainment since he broke down all previous traditions and explored issues, developed characterisation, revealed uncomfortable truths, challenged assumptions and brokedown facades in ourselves as well as society. These factors are clearly demonstrated in When We Dead Awaken which centres around celebrated sculptor Arnold Rubek whose fame rests with his great work "The Day of the Resurrection" which he sculpted when he was younger. The model for this piece had been Irene and although he had feelings for her, he moved on and married Maia. He feels his creativity has dwindled and Irene might be able to unleash this again. Irene appears mysteriously and perceives her modelling for his work as the epitome of her life and therefore is now dead to any other experiences and has lost any respect for the sanctity of life. Ibsen's exploration of artistic intensity and integrity through this powerful relationship with its pervading images of stone demonstrates a passion for life that is unable to be realised and gives the play an ironic conclusion that is a must read.

Norwegian drama. --- Spouses. --- Triangles (Interpersonal relations). --- Love triangles --- Ménage à trois --- Ménages à trois --- Sex triangles --- Three-way sex --- Threesome sex --- Threeway sex --- Triads (Interpersonal relations) --- Vees (Interpersonal relations) --- Non-monogamous relationships --- Triads (Sociology) --- Persons --- Married people --- Norwegian literature