Herik Ibsen: Father of Modern Drama
Shivany Condor
Mrs. Besnard
IB English HL2
21 November 2013
Henrik Ibsen as “The Father of Modern Drama” Henrik Ibsen has long been referred to as the "Father of Modern Drama," and such title has rightly been given so. Mr. Ibsen was one of the pioneer theatre dramaturges that began the Modernism Movement, primarily known as the Realism Movement. Modernism/Realism was a revolutionary idea back in Ibsen 's time. Many concepts of theater - including plots, dialogue, and characters – were renovated in order to make theater more useful to society’s goals back then. During 1859 to 1900 's, before the rise of Realism, theatre was mainly composed of melodramas, spectacle plays, comic operas, and vaudevilles. The stories displayed did have moral value for the most part, but they were performed with a stronger sense of Romanticism. The main characters usually had elevated positions in society, meaning they were kings or aristocrats. The conflicts in these plays usually involved a hero’s mission, and therefore, they were harder to connect to in a personal level (Saleh). Yet all was bound to change when a large wave of rebellions hit Europe. Due to the Revolutions of 1848 in Europe, the public began to demand their governments political, economic, and social reforms. The people were looking for a more representative government that would not condemn people based on their communal standing. Thus, social reforms were very strongly demanded. Thinking in society shifted as theatre’s function followed its current of influence. Theatre revolutionaries, with Ibsen as a leader, decided to have theatre transform from a mere form of entertainment to a major system of propaganda for the revolting side’s point of view. These drama pioneers brought real-life problems into their plays, having them replace fairy-tale like conflicts. The main purpose of this change was so the viewers could connect to the main characters’ conflicts. Ibsen, as a Realist scriptwriter, focused on
Mrs. Besnard
IB English HL2
21 November 2013
Henrik Ibsen as “The Father of Modern Drama” Henrik Ibsen has long been referred to as the "Father of Modern Drama," and such title has rightly been given so. Mr. Ibsen was one of the pioneer theatre dramaturges that began the Modernism Movement, primarily known as the Realism Movement. Modernism/Realism was a revolutionary idea back in Ibsen 's time. Many concepts of theater - including plots, dialogue, and characters – were renovated in order to make theater more useful to society’s goals back then. During 1859 to 1900 's, before the rise of Realism, theatre was mainly composed of melodramas, spectacle plays, comic operas, and vaudevilles. The stories displayed did have moral value for the most part, but they were performed with a stronger sense of Romanticism. The main characters usually had elevated positions in society, meaning they were kings or aristocrats. The conflicts in these plays usually involved a hero’s mission, and therefore, they were harder to connect to in a personal level (Saleh). Yet all was bound to change when a large wave of rebellions hit Europe. Due to the Revolutions of 1848 in Europe, the public began to demand their governments political, economic, and social reforms. The people were looking for a more representative government that would not condemn people based on their communal standing. Thus, social reforms were very strongly demanded. Thinking in society shifted as theatre’s function followed its current of influence. Theatre revolutionaries, with Ibsen as a leader, decided to have theatre transform from a mere form of entertainment to a major system of propaganda for the revolting side’s point of view. These drama pioneers brought real-life problems into their plays, having them replace fairy-tale like conflicts. The main purpose of this change was so the viewers could connect to the main characters’ conflicts. Ibsen, as a Realist scriptwriter, focused on
Cited: Hemmer, Bjorn . "The Dramatist: HENRIK IBSEN." Henrik Ibsen Biography. University of Oslo, n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2013. Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll 's House. Waiheke Island: Floating Press, 2008. Print. Powers, Sean. "Henrik Ibsen: The Father of Modern Drama." My Reports. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. . Trumbull, Eric. "Realism." Introduction to Theatre Online Course. Northern Virginia Community College, n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2013. .