Henrik Ibsen

Forum

Wow, first one on the block. If you haven't read any of Ibsen's work, you might want to look into it. Pretty good stuff. Ibsen puts women in the forefront of his literature in that woman are strong. They are the creators of their lives. That theme is exihibited in Hedda Gabbler and also a Doll House. In Hedda Gabbler, Hedda the main character juggles a few men, trying desperately to get the man she's always wanted but never had, Jorge. Funny, her being so strong was her weakness. Jorge needed someone to support him, not manipulate him and that was what Hedda Gabbler did. When Jorge writes about their brief relationship and mentions a baby, Hedda goes insane. The "baby" is symbolic of the book he was writing and also his rebirth. He no longer wanted to be Hedda's "baby" but his own being and he told her that in the story. He found a new love, a meek woman but strong in her own right because she left a loveless marriage. In those times, that wasn't done and she did it. Jorge admired her greatly for it and for her support. Hedda, she's a confused character. She fought so hard for her place in society as a strong woman only to be destroyed by the two things she never wanted to get in her way, a man and her emotions.

>>By T_Sweety   (Saturday, 8 Nov 2003 06:08)



I particularly like Ibsen's THE WILD DUCK. Played it in the school theatre once. I'm wondering whether the wild duck symbolizes something. I'm also curious whether Hedvig, one of the major characters in this novel, is trying to kill herself or somehow she just shoots the wrong thing and dies..

>>By carpediem_6   (Monday, 10 Nov 2003 19:51)



Carpediem_6,
Hey! It all depends on what edition you read. Mostly I've read Meyer but in this last play, he was a little murky with the translation. You might try Una Feymor. Yes, the duck does symbolize something and in my opinion its the lives of everyone surrounding the two families. It was the lies and illusions that they kept so the families could live in peace. I think it would start with Greger, since he was the one to come home and find that things had changed. The duck in its captivity can sybolize the older Ekdal which had no freedom and lived under the wing of Haakon, who "shot" him by taking his business, just like he shot the duck. It can also mean hope for Hedvig who's father no longer can stand the sight of her because he fears that she no longer loves him. In the end, Hedvig did what she had to to end all the lies and illusions. She gave the ultimate sacrafice for his love, herself. So maybe the duck was symbolic of the past because that would still remain long after she's gone. The memory of her love.

>>By T_Sweety   (Monday, 24 Nov 2003 05:45)



T_Sweety,
It's not Jorge you are talking about, It's Eilert Loveborg :)
Anyway, Hedda is my personal favourite, too. She is and will remain amystery... her motivations, that is... She is so full of contradictions, wishing for freedom, and tieing herself even worse, despising all the 'lowly\ things, and doing exactly what she despises... Being so cold outwards, with emotions raging on the inside...

>>By Dieda   (Thursday, 26 Feb 2004 02:45)



The discussion board is currently closed.