A tale of two Scandinavian playwrights

Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg

By John Bechtel, Freelance culture and travel writer problem began over a profound each other, even engaging in difference in their perceptions of name calling. Then, as now, ugust Strindberg and , arguably Scandinavia’s most women. Not perceptions of specific name calling or labeling does celebrated playwrights, could not have been more different. Strindberg women, as with Frédéric Chopin and not contribute to the learning A was Swedish, and twenty years younger than Ibsen, who was Franz Liszt, two famous composers experience. Norwegian but wrote his plays in Danish, the language of the Danish-Norwegian (and neighbors in ) who were both kingdom of the time. They both held high hopes of a for Literature enamored of the same woman, French August Strindberg that never came. The courage of these two playwrights to challenge assumptions author George Sand (the pen name for Strindberg was born in 1849. and directly speak to issues of their day was the beginning of a tradition that Amantine Dupin). His mother was a barmaid considers a play art rather than entertainment. ______and his father a businessman, August Strindberg and Henrik Ibsen hated each other, and they sustained and August knew poverty this enmity throughout their careers. Apart from professional jealousy, the No, our two playwrights were intimately..As many as ten passionate advocates of diverse people shared his three-room opinions about the roles of all women home. His mother died when in a just society, and they dedicated he was thirteen. Strindberg their lives to writing plays to make surely never forgot being their respective points. As you read brought into a world where he what follows, bear in mind that these was not wanted, nor could he events took place almost 150 years forget the fear and hunger—the ago, and whether you agree with one two terrible memories of his

or the other, or neither of them, you childhood. The poverty he LEPETITJOURNAL.COM PHOTO: could conclude that both of them were knew was not a minor and temporary August Strindberg at home in his study. characters themselves in a much more loss of status in the community, but a destroy each other..Scripts for a Judge behavior as if he were the laboratory significant play, the play of life. We real empty belly. Judy show before its time? rat under observation. There were also have our bit parts in this play, and He dropped out of school, and a Strindberg was married and occasions when he was unsure if he was the great conversation goes on. failed young actor, he attempted suicide divorced three times, and fathered experiencing real life or as one of the ______by opium. Instead of dying, the ensuing six children. During the 1880s and protagonists in his plays. He continued hallucinations of childhood memories 1890s, he traveled extensively outside to write about the alienated modern The personal experiences and inspired him, and he wrote his first play man, hypocritical class divisions in of , living in France, Germany, histories of these two playwrights a few days later. society, and the battle of the sexes until , and Denmark. worked their way into their writing, He wrote some short pieces under his death in 1912 at the age of 63. In all, and in both cases, they rarely bothered the rubric Married, with unyielding and he wrote 50 volumes of plays, poems, to mask the fact that the characters in realistic perspectives on matrimony. The influence of Nietzsche political and social commentary. their were based on members of These stories created quite a stir in polite on Strindberg their families, their friends, and people society, and Strindberg’s publisher was Nietzsche was an early influence in The father of modern they resented or disliked. Today authors sued. Strindberg took the publisher’s Strindberg’s life, and with whom he and playwrights go out of their way to place as the defendant in the case, which exchanged a few letters. Like Ibsen, Strindberg’s novel The Red Room, disclaim any relationship between their of course improved his popularity with Strindberg was an adherent of the is considered by many to be Sweden’s fictional characters and real people they the younger members of society. He won Realism genre in literature, depicting first. Many artists have cited Strindberg know, to avoid lawsuits. his case, but more importantly, he had fictional characters in situations that as critical to their development as As we look at the plays of these two discovered the theme of his life’s work: could happen to real people in the writers, and Eugene O’Neill, a winner authors, we do well to separate their the constant battle for power between natural physical world. Unlike Ibsen, of the Nobel Prize in Literature, opinions and content from the style or the sexes. In his best productions, his Strindberg was more of a tragedian dedicated much of his acceptance manner in which they present them.. male and female protagonists find than a reformer. speech to Strindberg, referring to him This isn’t easy, just as it wasn’t for the themselves trapped by their intense During much of his life, he as “that greatest genius of all modern PHOTO: BONNIERFORLAGENS.ARKIV. PHOTO: PHOTO: DIGITALMUSEUM.NO PHOTO: two of them in their time. They were physical desire for each other and a experienced bouts of mental illness dramatists.” Henrik Ibsen August Strindberg not generous in their evaluations of simultaneous and perverse desire to during which he made notes of his (Continued on page 00)

O SUMMER 2018 | SCANDINAVIAN PRESS SCANDINAVIAN PRESS | SUMMER 2018 O (Continued from page 00) They were perceived by some as an unhappy marriage, perhaps because they Henrik Ibsen argued so much. But Suzannah not only cooked, cleaned, sewed, nursed, and kept Kierkegaard’s influence is evident in the house for her husband, but she also had a keen intellect and was not shy about Peer Gynt, one of his early successful Henrik Ibsen was born to an affluent expressing it. family in Skien, Norway in 1828. His plays that were first performed in 1876 was one of the most patrician families and continued to be one of his most in town. When Henrik was seven years Depression, money, and criticism often performed oeuvres. At various old, his father experienced an extreme Often borrowing money to make ends meet, Henrik was frequently depressed in times in concert, on stage, or in silent reversal in business fortunes, and the the early years. Many of Ibsen’s plays dealt with sexuality, and his willingness to deal movies, it has starred Edward G. family had to move (temporarily) to a with such controversial issues brought him notoriety and criticism of his works. Robinson, , Charlton summer home at the outside of town. Heston, Christopher Plummer, Eventually, they moved again to a larger The influence of Kierkegaard on Ibsen and innumerable others in various home in the city owned by a member languages. Edvard Grieg provided The Danish philosopher, theologian, of the extended family who was a some of the music. and poet Soren Kierkegaard exerted a wealthy banker and ship owner. Young Scandinavian audiences, expecting significant impact on the young Ibsen. Henrik never forgot the change in his theater to model strict moral codes Kierkegaard is considered the first immediate family’s circumstances, and and the utmost propriety, found some existentialist, even though he never later he often wrote about the effect of of Ibsen’s performances risqué, even used the term. He proposed that every poverty on family relations. scandalous. Ibsen’s later work examined individual, not society or religion, is Henrik’s sister Hedvig wrote about the tensions and currents beneath the the effect on their mother: “She was a solely responsible for giving meaning to surface, revealing a sleazy underbelly quiet, lovable woman, the soul of the life and living it passionately, sincerely, to human existence that everyone house, everything to her husband and authentically. In Kierkegaard’s view, preferred to ignore. children. She sacrificed herself time one’s purpose in life is not acquired by Norwegians were also often hostile and time again. There was no bitterness revelation, but that human beings, through to Ibsen’s content, so he exiled himself or reproach in her.” The role model and their consciousness, create their values to Germany, primarily to Dresden and memory of his uncomplaining mother WIKIMEDIA.COMMONS PHOTO: and determine a meaning to their life. doubtlessly inspired much in Ibsen’s Portrait of Soren Kierkegaard Munich, where he achieved resounding plays, although he was ambivalent ______acclaim. He eventually returned to about feminism. He despaired PHOTO: BRAINCREESE.CO.UK Norway because he missed the fjords of the fact that one of society’s Some of Kierkegaard’s famous quotes are: and the sea, and once Germany had welcomed him, Scandinavia became most revered institutions, that of Young Henrik Ibsen, above, “People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of more receptive. marriage, was unable to deliver on and wife Suzannah, left, had thought which they seldom use.” its promise due to the selfishness of ______one son, Sigurd—an only child, the participants, and therefore the “Old age realizes the dreams of youth: look at Dean Swift; in his youth, he built below, who became a lawyer, promise of equality before the law an asylum for the insane, in his old age he was himself an inmate.” After 27 years of self-imposed exile, author and statesman, and who was an empty promise and not the ______however, Ibsen never again felt himself served as Prime Minister of harbinger of a new millennium of at home in Norway. He loved Norway Norway in from 1903 marital bliss. but was unforgiving of his country’s to 1905. He played a central role early rejection of him..Near the end of in the dissolution of the union his life, he was mollified by becoming Child Support and between Norway and Sweden a Norwegian national hero. in 1905. Marriage (in that order) ______At the age of 18, Henrik fathered a son named Hans Jacob through a liaison with a local girl. The Peer Gynt Festival Henrik paid “child support” for Since 1967 Norwegians at Vinstra the next 14 years, even though he in the Gudbrandsdalen valley celebrate never met his son. Henrik applied Henrik Ibsen and Peer Gynt with at the University of Christiana an annual festival. This is one of (later Oslo) but failed the entrance Norway’s largest cultural festivals exams. He worked in a theater and is recognized by the Norwegian in Bergen for several years, Government as a leading institution for learning the production side of the presenting culture in nature. profession hands-on. Ibsen is widely regarded as the In 1858 Henrik married most important playwright since Suzannah Thoresen, and the Shakespeare, and he is the most often PHOTO: BRAINCREESE.CO.UK PHOTO: following year she gave birth to the NO.WIKIPEDIA.ORG PHOTO: performed after Shakespeare. He was only son of their 48-year marriage. MUSEUM OSLO PHOTO: Actor Henrik Klausen in Peer Gynt - at Christiania Theater, in Norway, 1876. (Continued on page 00)

O SUMMER 2018 | SCANDINAVIAN PRESS SCANDINAVIAN PRESS | SUMMER 2018 O (Continued from page 00) their women; or sought through the charred embers of the considered multiple times for the Nobel to dominate because post-coital relationship. The plays of Prize in Literature, and he influenced they were afraid of their both men confront issues that are still other playwrights and novelists such as women. Strindberg thought relevant today. Miroslav Krleža, Oscar Wilde, Arthur women were conniving and ______Miller, James Joyce, Eugene O’Neill, and manipulative, even evil. . Although Ibsen Even though Strindberg In Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, he was never awarded the Nobel Prize was the more prolific writer, creates the lead female Nora himself, the last two of his acolytes listed Ibsen was more financially in the stereotyped passive housewife here were. successful. Ibsen kept a role. Her dependency on her husband ______photo of Strindberg above and submissiveness are an essential his desk to remind him of part of the play’s overall message. Ibsen used the problem play as who he hated. They resented Strindberg in his The Father a device to stimulate debate about and envied each other’s takes the opposite viewpoint; the contentious social issues. successes. female protagonist Laura completely ______They may have been dominates her husband in everything. competing observers, ______The problem play is a straight- looking at different sides of forward, structural device that the same coin, challenging A Doll’s House by introduces a contemporary social issue, the status quo and stirring up the complacent Henrik Ibsen as a problem—in the moral dilemmas PRESROOM2.COM PHOTO: To all appearances Nora and Torvald of a central character. Debates among Scandinavians. They A Doll’s House premiered are happily married. He is a successful the characters about these contentious were both keen to expose at the Royal in banker. social issues are an essential component hypocrisy in society, and , Denmark, oin Nora once privately borrowed of the play. they were both naturalists, 1879. In 2006, the centen- a large sum of money so that her Ibsen made extensive use of this pointing out the perverse nial of Ibsen’s death, It was husband could recuperate from a device to confront topics of women’s parts of nature that exist in the world’s most performed life-threatening illness, and she had rights; greed; the role of women in all humans. They were both play that year. been quietly paying it back in small committed to portraying life WIKIMEDIA.ORG PHOTO: marriage, the family, and society; installments by saving from her as it was, or at least as they incest; even sexually transmitted Left: Emma Cunnife (Nora household allowance. had experienced it. diseases. Because of his pioneering this Helmer) and Ken Bradshaw Torvald infantilizes his wife and form of play, he was imitated by other Plays of both artists (Torvald Helmer). condescendingly calls her his doll and playwrights such as George Bernard were banned in Europe; MURRAY GERRY PHOTO: pet names. Torvald’s first act upon Shaw, Anton Chekov, and August Strindberg’s play Miss , being promoted is to fire a man who Strindberg, all of whom expanded written in 1888, was not was once disgraced for having forged upon it. produced in Sweden until his signature on a document. This It was the shocking nature of the 1906, and the ban on it in man, Nils Krogstad, is the person from issues Ibsen selected for his plays that England was not lifted until whom Nora has borrowed her money. stirred controversy and public outcry 1932. Incidentally, this is Nora reveals that she forged her in Scandinavia. His audiences weren’t the first play in which sex is father’s signature to get the money. ready for that kind of open debate. separated from love. Krogstad threatens to expose Nora Ibsen’s goal was to highlight human Strindberg was more for having committed the same crime , situations where a character direct and explicit about for which he had been punished. couldn’t move forward or backward but sexual matters; Ibsen Nora pleads with Torvald for leniency seemed locked in an untenable position. was more cautious and with regard to Krogstad, but Torvald reserved. Strindberg was dismisses her arguments as immature. brutally realistic about the When Torvald discovers that Nora Why the hostility? passions at play in human has forged her father’s name, he is The two playwrights held opposing interaction; the love, hate, angry and feels she has damaged his viewpoints on the proper role of fury, and desire in both brief reputation. He dismisses the fact that women in society. Strindberg hated encounters and long-term she did this to save his life. At the end Ibsen for idealizing women; for putting relationships. They were the of the play, Nora cannot forgive Torvald them on a pedestal. Strindberg did Ying and Yang of sexuality; for his self-centeredness and finds the not think women were powerless but Ibsen captured the heat, prospect of continued intimacy with manifested their power in different tension, and uncertainties him insufferable. She leaves him to ways than men did. Men either of the pre-sexual encounter; BRIAN SIANO PHOTO: become an independent woman. sought to dominate or were afraid of Strindberg escorts us STAD PHOTO:STOCKHOLMSKALLAN-STOCKHOLM A Doll’s House dress rehearsal: Jennifer Summerfield and Carl Guarmeri. (Continued on page 00)

O SUMMER 2018 | SCANDINAVIAN PRESS SCANDINAVIAN PRESS | SUMMER 2018 O (Continued from page 00) girls want her to join the Salvation Brief Analysis of Army! It won’t do to try to make a soul in patches like that. I, who have the A Doll’s House chief right to try to form her character, This play attempts to capture the am constantly opposed in my efforts. traditional 19th-century views of men And that’s why I have decided to send as the breadwinners and women as her away from home.” the caretakers. Ibsen cleverly portrays The father doesn’t want to rescue Nora’s dependency on Torvald by the daughter to make her an image her acceptance of his patronizing her of himself, but because he wants her with demeaning nicknames and her to experience genuine self-esteem, eagerness for money. To get what she empowered to make her own choices. wants, Nora feigns subordination and From the text: plays the game. From the text of the “THE CAPTAIN: I don’t want to be a play: procurer for my daughter and educate “NORA. Yes, whatever you say, her exclusively for matrimony, for then Torvald. if she were left unmarried she might TORVALD. Now, now, the little lark’s have bitter days. On the other hand, PHOTO:WIKIMEDIA.ORG wings mustn’t droop. Come on, don’t I don’t want to influence her toward Copenhagen 1918: The Father cast, be a sulky squirrel. (Taking out his a career that requires a long course Peter Fjelstrup (The Captain) and wallet) Nora, guess what I have here. of training which would be entirely Thilda Fønss (Bertha), his daughter. NORA. (Turning quickly). Money!” thrown away if she should marry. I Again from the text of the play, want her to be a teacher. If she remains of the child. Torvald’s outburst when he fears that he unmarried, she will be able to support “Because it is not primarily will be disgraced as a banker and in the herself, and at any rate, she wouldn’t concerned with the potentialities of community by what his wife has done: be any worse off than the poor school- character and growth of the child; “Now you’ve wrecked all my masters who have to share their salaries on the contrary, it is interested happiness- ruined my whole future. with a family. If she marries, she can chiefly in the birth-giver—that is, the I am in a cheap little grafter’s hands; use her knowledge in the education of mother. Therefore, the mother is the he can do anything he wants with me, her children.” most subjective, self-centered and ask for anything, play with me like a conservative obstacle. She binds the puppet. I’ll be swept down miserably Brief Analysis of child to herself with a thousand threads into the depths on account of a The Father which never grant sufficient freedom featherbrained woman.” In this play, the father focuses on for mental and spiritual expansion. Torvald reveals his hypocrisy. the development of the child, and the It is not necessary to be as bitter as He fears the same treatment from mother is obsessed with the possession Strindberg to realize this. There are Krogstad that he has been giving his of the child. The battle is joined, and of course exceptional mothers who wife throughout their marriage. His the mother fights with everything at continue to grow the child. But the hypocrisy demonstrates the inferior her disposal. She plants doubts in the average mother is like the hen with puppet status of a wife to her husband, Captain’s mind that he is not, in fact, her brood, forever fretting about her a consistent theme throughout the play the biological father of the child. She chicks if they venture a step away from and Ibsen’s work in general. seeks to drive her husband mad, and the coop. The mother enslaves with through various intrigues persuades kindness—a bondage harder to bear The Father by others, including a doctor, that he is and more difficult to escape than the August Strindberg insane. It destroys the Captain, and he brutal fist of the father. This play is about a fight for dies, and as she bids him farewell: “Strindberg himself experienced possession of a child between a father “You have fulfilled your function as it, and nearly everyone who has ever and mother. The father, a cavalry an unfortunate necessary father and attempted to outgrow the soul strings captain, is an intellectual, a freethinker, breadwinner. You are not needed any of the mother.” and a man of ideas. His wife is narrow, longer, and you must go.” The Father was twice produced on selfish, and lethal when angry. As Emma Goldman explained in Broadway, once in 1912 and again in From the text: her analysis, published in “The Social 1949, when it starred . “THE CAPTAIN: This house is full Significance of the Modern Drama”, Interestingly, The Father and A Doll’s of women who all want to have their Boston, 1914: House are occasionally produced one say about the child. My mother-in-law “The Father contains two basic after the other in the same theatre for wants to make a Spiritualist of her. truths. Motherhood, much praised, purposes of contrast of content and Laura wants her to be an artist; the poetized, and hailed as a wonderful style. The debate about life’s oldest governess wants her to be a Methodist, thing, is in reality very often the battlefield stirs passionate discussion as old Margret a Baptist, and the servant- greatest deterrent influence in the life much now as ever.

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