Argument: The arguement is that the Lady of the Sea is a "pivotal play in his developement" where he shifted from realistic plays to ones that were more psychological and symbolic. The type of characters also took a shift from normal but extreme, to abnormal with a focus on the irrational subconscious of humanity.
Claim: Ibsen's common theme of society creating an oppresive environment to woman becomes more dangerous in the Lady from the Sea as it drives her to the point of insanity.
Evidence: "The sea...is the primary symbol, and it suggests the life of the imagination, of daring..., of experience, and of total personal and spiritual fullfillment...within the mind and heart of the woman herself."
"Because Ellida has been allowed, indeed, forced, to take control of her own life, she does so, thus not only resolving her marital difficulties but, more importantly, regaining her mental and emotional stability."
Argument: There are three main concerns with society. The first being the nature of society, the second is people vs. society, and the third being past corruptions destroying the current success enjoyed by that person.
Claim: Ibsen believed that nineteenth century middle class society in Norway was materialistic, oppressive, and hypocritical among other things, which ultimately led to the overall corruption of society.
Evidence: "The exceptional individual has one of two choices: involvement or rejection. If the exceptional person accepts the community's mores and practices, the person will inevitably be corrupted; if the person rejects them, social ostracism and condemnation are the necessary consequences."
"In Ibsen's view, ...nothing can be successfully founded on a lie."
"In The Pillars of Society, as in other plays, it is a figure out of the past...who crystalizes these pressures and forces the revelation of the truth."
Argument: There are three different heroes in Ibsen's plays. There is the literary hero, the modern hero, and the Ibsen hero.
Claim: The Ibsen hero is a tragic hero.
Evidence: "The key to Ibsen's hero lies in his understanding of man's tragedy. Ibsen's concept of tragedy centers on the question of whether or not man is free to order his life as he chooses..."
He has freed himself--so he thinks--from the "manacle of slavery" (tradition), and he can now carry on the war against the lie: social hypocricy."
"...one cannot live for another's view; the best he can do is to die for it. He is finally made to realize this after he has condemned Skule to death; Håkon says: "God, God--why have you stricken me so sorely, when I have not sinned?" (act 3). Brand has the same view, perhaps as naive as Håkon's, that his idea of his mission has God's sanction. But he is made to realize that it may be beyond man's ability to know absolutely what his fate or destiny is and therefore what his limitations as a mortal may be."
"He must adhere to the principle that to will a thing and fail is forgivable, but to refuse to will even the impossible and therefore not attempt it is not only unforgivable but also contemptible."
Claim: Ibsen's common theme of society creating an oppresive environment to woman becomes more dangerous in the Lady from the Sea as it drives her to the point of insanity.
Evidence: "The sea...is the primary symbol, and it suggests the life of the imagination, of daring..., of experience, and of total personal and spiritual fullfillment...within the mind and heart of the woman herself."
"Because Ellida has been allowed, indeed, forced, to take control of her own
life, she does so, thus not only resolving her marital difficulties but, more
importantly, regaining her mental and emotional stability."
Permalink: http://search.ebscohost.com.lib.chandleraz.gov/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=MOL9560000401&site=lrc-live.
Argument: There are three main concerns with society. The first being the nature of society, the second is people vs. society, and the third being past corruptions destroying the current success enjoyed by that person.
Claim: Ibsen believed that nineteenth century middle class society in Norway was materialistic, oppressive, and hypocritical among other things, which ultimately led to the overall corruption of society.
Evidence: "The exceptional individual has one of two choices: involvement or rejection. If the exceptional person accepts the community's mores and practices, the person will inevitably be corrupted; if the person rejects them, social ostracism and
condemnation are the necessary consequences."
"In Ibsen's view, ...nothing can be successfully founded on a lie."
"In The Pillars of Society, as in other plays, it is a figure out of the past...who crystalizes these pressures and forces the revelation of the truth."
Permalink: http://search.ebscohost.com.lib.chandleraz.gov/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=MOL9560000581&site=lrc-live.
Argument: There are three different heroes in Ibsen's plays. There is the literary hero, the modern hero, and the Ibsen hero.
Claim: The Ibsen hero is a tragic hero.
Evidence: "The key to Ibsen's hero lies in his understanding of man's tragedy. Ibsen's concept of tragedy centers on the question of whether or not man is free to order his life as he chooses..."
He has freed himself--so he thinks--from the "manacle of slavery" (tradition), and he can now carry on the war against the lie: social hypocricy."
"...one cannot live for another's view; the best he can do is to die for it. He is finally made to realize this after he has condemned Skule to death; Håkon says: "God, God--why have you stricken me so sorely, when I have not sinned?" (act 3). Brand has the same view, perhaps as naive as Håkon's, that his idea of his mission has God's sanction. But he is made to realize that it may be beyond man's ability to know absolutely what his fate or destiny is and therefore what his limitations as a mortal may be."
"He must adhere to the principle that to will a thing and fail is forgivable, but to refuse to will even the impossible and therefore not attempt it is not only unforgivable but also contemptible."
Permalink: http://search.ebscohost.com.lib.chandleraz.gov/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lfh&AN=16287099&site=lrc-live.