Subject

Europe -- Social conditions -- 19th century -- Drama Books

Best books

Henrik Ibsen

Ghosts

"Ghosts" by Henrik Ibsen is a play written in 1881. This controversial drama follows widow Helen Alving as she prepares to dedicate an orphanage in memory of her unfaithful late husband. When her son Oswald returns home, long-buried family secrets begin to surface, threatening to destroy the carefully maintained façade of respectability. The play explores the devastating consequences of following society's moral code, confronting taboo subjects that scandalized 19th-century audiences and challenged conventional notions of duty, truth, and maternal sacrifice.

Henrik Ibsen

Ghosts: A Domestic Tragedy in Three Acts

"Ghosts: A Domestic Tragedy in Three Acts" by Henrik Ibsen is a play written in 1881. Mrs. Alving prepares to dedicate an orphanage in memory of her late husband, concealing his scandalous past. When her son Oswald returns home, devastating secrets emerge about inheritance, forbidden love, and the consequences of upholding society's moral code. The play's frank treatment of taboo subjects sparked immediate controversy, yet it became recognized as a groundbreaking work that questioned whether following conventional morality leads to tragedy.

Henrik Ibsen

Rosmersholm

"Rosmersholm" by Henrik Ibsen is a play written in 1886. It follows Johannes Rosmer, a former clergyman haunted by his wife's suicide, and Rebecca West, his strong-willed companion, as they navigate guilt, forbidden love, and political turmoil at the ancestral Rosmersholm manor. Their relationship unravels through accusations and confessions, revealing Rebecca's dark role in the late wife's death. Unable to escape their moral guilt or trust each other, they face an impossible choice between living with their past and embracing a tragic fate together.

Henrik Ibsen

Spettri: dramma in tre atti

"Spettri: dramma in tre atti" by Henrik Ibsen is a play written in 1881. A widow prepares to dedicate an orphanage honoring her late husband, whose hidden transgressions she concealed to protect their son. As the dedication approaches, devastating revelations emerge about inherited disease, forbidden love, and a shocking family secret. When fire destroys the orphanage, Mrs. Alving faces an impossible moral choice that tests the limits of maternal devotion. Ibsen's controversial drama challenged 19th-century morality by exploring the consequences of upholding society's codes.

Henrik Ibsen

Gespenster: Ein Familiendrama in drei Aufzügen

"Gespenster: Ein Familiendrama in drei Aufzügen" by Henrik Ibsen is a play written in 1881. A widow prepares to open an asylum honoring her deceased husband's memory, while her son returns home after twenty years abroad. As Pastor Manders arrives to finalize arrangements, long-buried family secrets begin to surface. The household servant Regine becomes entangled in revelations about her true parentage, and the respected late Captain Alving's carefully constructed reputation starts to crumble, exposing the devastating consequences of hidden sins and social conventions.

Henrik Ibsen

Kummittelijoita: Kolminäytöksinen perhenäytelmä

"Kummittelijoita: Kolminäytöksinen perhenäytelmä" by Henrik Ibsen is a three-act family drama likely written during the late 19th century. The play delves into complex themes surrounding family dynamics, societal expectations, and personal struggles, centered on the character of Rouva Helena Alving, her son Osvald Alving, and other figures such as Pastori Manders and Puuseppä Engstrand. Ibsen’s work often explores the darker aspects of human relationships and societal norms, making this drama a significant exploration of familial and moral conflicts. The opening of the play introduces us to a garden-room setting where we meet several key characters. Engstrand, a carpenter, interacts with Regina, a servant, who pushes him away while expressing disdain. Their exchange hints at underlying tensions and Engstrand’s desire for Regina to join him should he move back to the city. They discuss the arrival of Pastor Manders, who walks into the room following their conversation. He brings with him a more formal tone, and Rouva Alving soon joins the scene. The dynamic between these characters sets the stage for revelations about past relationships and current aspirations, indicating a brewing conflict within the household as they prepare for the inauguration of a children's home — a project closely linked to Helena's deceased husband’s legacy. The dialogue captures a sense of unease and a lingering contemplation about the past, hinting at deeper troubles that may unfold as the story progresses.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Die Aufgeregten

"Die Aufgeregten" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is a political drama written in 1793 under the impression of the coalition war against revolutionary France. This unfinished five-act fragment depicts a group of rural inhabitants planning an uprising against their landowners over feudal rights. Led by the vain and manipulative Breme von Bremenfeld, the rebels clash with a liberal-minded countess recently returned from revolutionary Paris. Goethe called it his "political creed of that time," documenting his nuanced view of revolution, tyranny, and justice during Europe's tumultuous era.

Henrik Ibsen

Rosmersholm: Schauspiel in vier Aufzügen

"Rosmersholm: Schauspiel in vier Aufzügen" by Henrik Ibsen is a play written in 1886. It follows Johannes Rosmer, a former clergyman haunted by his wife's suicide, and Rebecca West, his strong-willed companion, as they navigate guilt, forbidden love, and political idealism. When Rosmer announces support for revolutionary reform, his brother-in-law turns against him, exposing secrets that unravel their lives. Dark and psychologically complex, the play explores morality, personal freedom, and the inescapable weight of the past in a world collapsing around them.

Henrik Ibsen

Rosmersholm: Dramo en kvar aktoj

"Rosmersholm: Dramo en kvar aktoj" by Henrik Ibsen is a play written in 1886. Johannes Rosmer, a former clergyman, grapples with his wife's suicide and his idealistic dreams of social reform at his ancestral manor. Rebecca West, his strong-willed companion, challenges his convictions as their relationship intensifies. Guilt, morality, and political idealism collide in this exploration of liberation versus servitude. Haunted by the past and unable to trust themselves or each other, they face an impossible choice between living with their shame or escaping it together.

Henrik Ibsen

Rosmersholma: Nelinäytöksinen näytelmä

"Rosmersholma: Nelinäytöksinen näytelmä" by Henrik Ibsen is a play written in 1886. It follows Johannes Rosmer, a former clergyman haunted by his wife's suicide, and Rebecca West, his strong-willed companion, as they navigate guilt, forbidden love, and idealistic desires for social reform. Their relationship unravels as dark secrets emerge about the past, leading to an exploration of moral responsibility and the inescapable weight of memory in one of Ibsen's most complex and ambiguous works.

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