Ghosts. By Henrik Ibsen FULL Audiobook
Ghosts is a three-act tragedy written by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. First performed in 1882, this play delves into uncomfortable and even forbidden themes, while simultaneously serving as a scathing commentary on the morality of its time.
The plot revolves around the wealthy widow Mrs. Alving, who grapples with the ghosts of her past. Here's a detailed summary:
1. Setting and Characters:
- The action unfolds in a small Norwegian coastal town.
- Mrs. Helen Alving: A widow who has spent years preserving her late husband's reputation.
- Oswald Alving: Mrs. Alving's son, who returns home after years abroad.
- Regine Engstrand: A maid in Mrs. Alving's household, secretly Oswald's half-sister.
- Pastor Manders: A conservative clergyman and family friend.
- Jacob Engstrand: A carpenter and Regine's father.
2. The Ghosts of the Past:
- Mrs. Alving is preparing to open an orphanage in memory of her deceased husband, Captain Alving.
- She reveals to Pastor Manders that her marriage was unhappy due to Captain Alving's debauchery and infidelity.
- Oswald's return brings unsettling memories to the surface.
3. Oswald's Illness and Revelation:
- Oswald suffers from mysterious symptoms, which he attributes to "the sins of the father."
- Mrs. Alving fears that Oswald has inherited his father's syphilis.
- Oswald confesses his love for Regine, unaware of their shared bloodline.
4. Regine's True Parentage:
- Mrs. Alving discloses the truth to Oswald: Regine is their illegitimate daughter.
- Oswald's illness worsens, and he faces the grim reality of his hereditary condition.
5. The Burning of the Orphanage:
- Jacob Engstrand, Regine's father, plans to open a brothel instead of the orphanage.
- Mrs. Alving confronts him about his true intentions.
- The orphanage burns down, symbolizing the destruction of false morality.
6. Oswald's Tragic Fate:
- Oswald's condition deteriorates rapidly.
- He pleads with his mother to end his suffering.
- Mrs. Alving faces a heartbreaking decision: mercy or truth?
7. Themes and Symbolism:
- Inheritance and Heredity: The sins of the past haunt the present generation.
- Morality and Hypocrisy: Ibsen critiques societal norms and religious dogma.
- Ghosts: The invisible specters of guilt, secrets, and suppressed desires.
In this powerful play, Ibsen challenges conventional morality, exposes hidden truths, and confronts the ghosts that linger within us all ..
More: Henrik Ibsen, Ghosts, Audiobook
Scathing commentary, 19th-century morality, Incest
Euthanasia, Criticism of religion, Venereal disease
Victorian society, Helen Alving, Troubled son
Dreams, Duty, Public Domain
00:00:00 Introduction
00:21:19 Dramatis Personae
00:21:46 Ghosts. Act I
01:32:37 Act II
02:34:39 Act III
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