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Ghosts John Ibsen Analysis

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Henrik Ibsen’s play Ghosts (1881) tells the story of Mrs. Herlene Alving, a widow who kept hiding Captain Alving’s adulterous acts and depraved lifestyle from public knowledge even years after his death. Only when she was set to open an orphanage in honor of her husband does she reveal the truth behind her husband’s past to Pastor Manders, a long-time family friend. Despite her efforts to keep past events from resurfacing, she soon realizes that the “sins of the father shall be visited on the children”. Mrs. Alving crumbles as she learns that her beloved son Oswald Alving, who has just returned from studying overseas, has become what seems as a reincarnation of his father, flirting with the maid just as his father used to do. To add to that, Oswald divulges that he has a terminal illness, which doctors believe is hereditary, deeply troubling his mother. The play touches on several sensitive themes, such as stereotypes, religious …show more content…

It is given that its language and performance may seem old-fashioned at the present time. However, watching the play Ghosts would be greatly profitable for people who want to understand some of the pressing issues in society, which include pretenses, gender inequality, and duty. The play showed how pretenses with the intention of saving face does not alter the consequences of past actions and can only make things worse. In terms of gender inequality, Ibsen showed how a strong and powerful woman can defy the stereotypical gender roles by exceeding societal expectations. In terms of societal constraints, the play presented that adherence to duty and conventions must not dominate one’s personal happiness. Thus, the apparitions of these so-called ghosts from the past can be controlled by society after all by putting an end to the social and religious constructs that no longer benefit

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