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Mothers and sons -- Drama Books
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J. M. (John Millington) Synge
Riders to the Sea
"Riders to the Sea" by J. M. Synge is a one-act tragedy first performed in 1904. Set on the Aran Islands off the Irish coast, the play depicts a family's hopeless struggle against the relentless cruelty of the sea. Maurya, a grief-stricken mother who has already lost her husband and five sons to drowning, faces the unbearable possibility of losing her last remaining son. Written in the poetic dialect of rural Ireland, this work explores themes of fate, tradition, and acceptance in the face of inevitable loss.
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.
Noël Coward
The Vortex: A Play in Three Acts
"The Vortex: A Play in Three Acts" by Noël Coward is a play written in 1924. Set in post-World War I British high society, it explores the sexual vanity of an aging socialite and her complicated relationship with her adult son. The play depicts drug abuse and includes what critics view as coded references to homosexuality, then illegal in Britain. Its scandalous content made it Coward's first major commercial success, though it barely survived official censorship before its November 1924 premiere in London.
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.
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