Henrik Ibsen, Essay Example

Class discussions helped me not only learn about Henrik Ibsen and the play HeddaGabler but also about bourgeoisie in Norway including their way of life and their relationship with the aristocracy. Eddy and Alex told us about Ibsen’s life in Italy and Germany where the author moved due to lack of success in Norway. Ibsen lived abroad for 27 years which allowed him to understand Norway on a whole new level. He wrote on personal and influential topics which gave him both fame and heavy criticism. This is not surprising since his first plays were targeted at the Norwegian public and were an ironic satire on conservative and middle-class public. However, as Ibsen understood more about his country over time, his topics changed as reflected by HeddaGabler. Sofia did research on the Norwegian language and pointed out that the play is written in a simpler language than most contemporary works. Henrik wanted everyone to understand the very core of his art.

In class, one of the important topics discussed was Ibsen’s ability to write about human emotions and feelings that remain deep inside an individual’s soul. This attracted criticism because no one had publicly spoken on such radical topics as suicide and feminism before. For a long time, Ibsen was not popular in Norway due to his insights on the inner workings of the Norwegian society. But he was appreciated in other parts of Europe such as Germany, Italy and Great Britain and became one of the most popular individuals at the time. It took some time for Norwegians to finally appreciate him. His descriptions of bourgeois social pressures were too accurate and were not accepted until much later in his life, i.e. at the end of the 19th century.

It was a pleasure reading HeddaGabler since I have learnt more about the human nature such as the way people may sometimes manipulate others and how respect, reputation and wealth are sometimes more valued than a human life. During the class discussions, students related Ibsen’s key ideas to Norwegian society and Europe at the time. As a child, Ibsen moved down the social hierarchy which also happens to Hedda in the playa. Despite being from an aristocratic class, she marries someone from the bourgeoisie class. The evident conflict results from the money and the opportunities that are taken away from Hedda after the marriage. However, the switch in social class conceals a greater number of problems due to the huge differences in perspectives on life as well as socially conservative customs that existed in Norway at the time. In the earlier plays, Ibsen tried to reveal these social problems to Norwegians. He was picked apart by his country mates for criticizing them which is why Ibsen left Norway because people were too conservative to embrace his plays that introduced new and controversial ideas. Eddy and Alex talked about his life in Italy and. While abroad, he became focused on better understanding human nature rather than focusing on its negative aspects only. But he also attracted criticism from German audience when one of his play shed light on the inequity between men and women and attempted to promote greater rights for women. Ilya also talked about the evolution in Ibsen’s writing. In earlier plays like Ghost, Ibsen doesn’t provide a clear ending to the play and leaves the viewers speculating about potential ending. But in HeddaGabler, he makes sure to deliver the message in order to leave no room for speculations regarding possible ending. After going through many changes in work style and personal beliefs, Ibsen returned to Norway where he became a national hero.