Henrik Johan Ibsen and Greek connection

 ΙΨΕΝ & ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΕΣ ΕΠΙΡΡΟΕΣ - Henrik Johan Ibsen and Greek connection

Henrik Ibsen, the Norwegian playwright, had significant connections to Greek culture, not through a direct personal visit but through his exposure to classical Greek themes and literature via German Romanticism and Scandinavian culture. Several of his plays feature parallels with ancient Greek tragedy and philosophy; for example, A Doll's House has echoes of Sophocles' Antigone, and his portrayal of Dr. Stockmann in An Enemy of the People mirrors aspects of Socrates in Plato's Apology. Ibsen's work also provided a foundation for the development of modernist theatre in Greece, a significant aspect of his lasting legacy in the country, as seen in the critical reception and stagings of his plays there, such as Ghosts.

Ibsen's Connection to Classical Greece

Influence of Greek Culture:

Ibsen's plays are encoded with veiled references to ancient Greek culture, though this influence was likely mediated through German Romanticism and Scandinavian culture rather than direct exposure, notes Norman Rhodes.

A Doll's House and Sophocles' Antigone:

The play demonstrates important parallels with Sophocles' classical tragedy Antigone, highlighting themes of self-understanding and belated knowledge.

An Enemy of the People and Socrates/Oedipus Tyrannos:

Dr. Stockmann in this play can be correlated with the image of Socrates in Plato's Apology and with Sophocles' Oedipus in Oedipus Tyrannos.

Epic Parallels:

Works like Brand and Peer Gynt are considered dialectic pairs that suggest Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.

Ibsen's Legacy in Greece

Modernist Theatre:

Ibsen's contribution to theatrical art is viewed as a key part of the tradition of tragic plays that gave European drama renewed vitality, similar to the ancient Greek tragedies.

Enduring Influence:

The lasting influence of Ibsen's works in Greece has been a significant topic of study, with various Greek directors and actors interpreting his plays from the late 19th century to the present day.

Reception and Performances:

The reception of Ibsen's plays in Greece reflects developments in the Greek theatre scene, with significant phases capturing socio-cultural contexts and transformations.

An Unexpected Greek Connection: Failed University Exams

Personal Connection: In an unexpected personal connection, Ibsen failed his entrance examinations for the university in Christiania (now Oslo), specifically failing in Greek and mathematics. This failure, however, decisively set him on the path to becoming a playwright rather than a doctor.

https://books.google.gr/books?id=gtR1JaxWUW0C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0&fbclid=IwY2xjawMvM3lleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBKa25vZzRidWR2Zzg3emxlAR4Wo7rEAPgpp9fvPGrdM7Kdw7CBAmBlqFj504EP4d1_KaAqAIspbNLRD5-7bQ_aem_wiP7RCLNVJTD5M68ShoMQA#v=onepage&q&f=true

Norman Rhodes. 1995. Ibsen and the Greeks, Bucknell University Press.

"Was Ibsen influenced by Greek culture? Were allusions to the Greeks configured in the Norwegian playwright's works? According to author Norman Rhodes, whether consciously or unconsciously, many of Ibsen's plays are encoded with veiled references to ancient Greek culture. Rhodes also postulates that Ibsen's perception of the importance of the Greeks was most likely mediated to him through German Romanticism and Scandinavian culture." "According to Rhodes, numerous echoes of Greek literature resonate in such early Ibsen plays as Catiline, The Warrior's Barrow, Olaf Liljerkrans, and Love's Comedy. Ibsen's Brand and Peer Gynt are a dialectic pair which in key ways are suggestive of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, A Doll House has important parallels with Sophocles' Antigone, and An Enemy of the People correlates with both Plato's Apology and Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannos. Moreover, a Euripidean sense of fatal irrationality seems inscribed in Ibsen's final plays: the protagonists John Rosmer, Hedda Gabler, Master Builder Solness, John Gabriel Borkman, and the sculptor Rubek all destroy themselves."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

https://www.academia.edu/6273995/tragedy_and_tradition_ibsen_and_nietzsche_on_the_ghosts_of_the_greeks?fbclid=IwY2xjawMvNKxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBKa25vZzRidWR2Zzg3emxlAR680DIj8TpDwk-oF43VyGw3J8a_oWgOQdEkOEVn64040EUriHi6u5LCEejKBQ_aem_aMSdh0A3h2KNIPqJTgnH7Q

Kristin Gjesdal. 2013. "tragedy and tradition: ibsen and nietzsche on the ghosts of the greeks," the graduate faculty philosophy journal, vol. 34, no. 2-2013, pp. 391-413

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