Lecture Drama II - Modern drama: Lecture 29 - Dr Irum Zulfiqar - Trường Đại học Công nghiệp Thực phẩm Tp. Hồ Chí Minh

poverty underscores the privileged nature of the life that Nora leads.  we also learn that Mrs[r]

DRAMA II

Modern Drama | An OVERVIEW

Lecture 29

SYNOPSIS

Functions and

Characteristics of Modern

Drama

 mirrors the complex struggle of life

 the inspiration is to seek truth

 either to become part of the process or

be left behind

 This is the social significance which

differentiates modern dramatic art from art for art’s sake

 It is the dynamite which undermines 

superstition, shakes the social pillars, and  prepares men and women for the 

reconstruction

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 “The State is the curse of the individual How has the national strength of Prussia been purchased? By the sinking of the individual in a political and geographical formula The State must go! That will

be a revolution which will find me on its side Undermine the idea of the State, set up in its place spontaneous action, and the idea that spiritual relationship is the only thing that makes for unity, and you will start the elements of a liberty which will be something worth

possessing.”

(Henrik Ibsen )

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Ibsen’s Work

What Writer’s Have Said About Henrik Ibsen:

“All of Ibsen is visionary drama… His

mastery of inwardness is second only to Shakespeare’s.” — Harold Bloom

“Had the gospel of Ibsen been understood

and heeded, these fifteen millions might

have been alive now.” — George

Bernard Shaw (Discussing the loss of life during World War I)

“His characters may hate one another or

be happy together, but they will generate  nobility or charm.” — E M Forster

II Characters and

Characterization

1. Nora –

. The protagonist of the play and the wife

of Torvald Helmer

. a playful, nạve child who lacks

knowledge of the world outside her

home

. not as innocent or happy as she

appears

. In the end she finds her position in her

marriage with increasing clarity and

finds the strength to free herself from

her oppressive situation

2. Torvald Helmer –

 Nora’s husband

 Torvald delights in his new position at

the bank, just as he delights in his

position of authority as a husband

 He treats Nora like a child, in a manner that is both kind and patronizing

 He does not view Nora as an equal but rather as a plaything or doll to be teased and admired

 In general, Torvald is overly concerned

with his place and status in society, and

he allows his emotions to be swayed

heavily by the prospect of society’s

respect and the fear of society’s scorn

3. Krogstad –

 A lawyer who went to school with Torvald and holds a subordinate position at

Torvald’s bank

 Krogstad’s character is contradictory:

though his bad deeds seem to stem from

a desire to protect his children from

scorn, he is perfectly willing to use

unethical tactics to achieve his goals

 His willingness to allow Nora to suffer is despicable, but his claims to feel

sympathy for her and the hard

circumstances of his own life compel us

to sympathize with him to some degree

4. Mrs. Linde –

 Nora’s childhood friend

 Kristine Linde is a practical,

down-to-earth woman, and her sensible

worldview highlights Nora’s somewhat

childlike outlook on life

 Mrs Linde’s account of her life of

poverty underscores the privileged

nature of the life that Nora leads

 we also learn that Mrs Linde took

responsibility for her sick parent,

whereas Nora abandoned her father

when he was ill

5. Dr. Rank –

 Torvald’s best friend

 Dr Rank stands out as the one character

in the play who is by and large

unconcerned with what others think of

him

 He is also notable for his stoic

acceptance of his fate

 Unlike Torvald and Nora, Dr Rank admits

to the diseased nature (literally, in his

case) of his life

 For the most part, he avoids talking to Torvald about his imminent death out of respect for Torvald’s distaste for

ugliness

6. Bob, Emmy, and Ivar –

three small children.

with her children, Nora

shows herself to be a

loving mother

to spend time with her

children because she

fears she may morally

corrupt them

7. Anne­Marie –

fully develop her

character, Anne-Marie

seems to be a kindly

woman who has

genuine affection for

Nora

own daughter in order

to take the nursing job

offered by Nora’s father

Nora and Mrs Linde the act of sacrificing her

own happiness out of

economic necessity