The The Master and , an egotistical, espite gaining valuable valuable gaining espite Peer with its subject matter of that elevated him to international , a play concentrated on a priest n e household setting witnesses the heroine Nora become gradually disillusioned with whom her she view husband, to comes as a stranger, leaving him and her children behind. He courted yet more damnation in disease belief and that to central venereal s and directing plays. D directingplays. and Ib Ibsen’s unflinching dialogue contains portraits unflinching dialogue of middle-class Ibsen’s iting e: A Doll’s House ik resden, Dresden, and Munich. Seemingly released from the wr r . Ibsen rewrote the rules of drama remaining challenging challenging remaining drama of rules the rewrote Ibsen . n ome, ome, It was R tyle and genr o He Builder SG the end. to and provocative attention attention with its controversial denouement and scandalous (to Victorian audiences) lack of a happy ending. The ordinary constraints of his homeland, Ibsen wrote the bulk of his dramas dramas his of bulk the wrote Ibsen homeland, his of constraints abroad beginning with who puts his own religious and moral principles before the well-being of his family. The “all or nothing” Brand, philosophywhich ultimately leaves him broken of and alone, proved hugely popular, as did follow-up very of Brand. much the antithesis aimless character, later a at consequences dire create to only is truths ugly ignore point. Later works shifted focus from societal women to pressures the psychological interpersonal conflicts of on control and domination as explored in Born: Henrik Johan Ibsen, 20, 1828 (Skien, March Norway); died May 23, 1906 Norway).(, S and the futility hypocrisy male of idealism. through themes evolved tragic with life, A major playwright of the late nineteenth century, Ibsen was responsible for the introduction of modern realistic drama to the stage. His love for the theater took him firstly to and later Christiana (present day Oslo) working manager as a stage practical experience Ibsen failed to connect intellectually with an audience he thought to be petty and small-minded. A self- him taking ensued, exile of period twenty-seven-year imposed, t eer before eer before , P VI ene c “The strongest man in “The man in strongest bsen as he looked in bsen as he looked n e s Ib ew years before his death. his before years ew ik the world is he who stands r n most alone.” most alone.” E: The hirsute I hirsute The E: Act II S Gynt Peer T: ing of the Trolls. ing of the He H • OV ignature titles G I AB 1901, just a f R 32 Brand, 1866 Brand, Gynt, 1867 Peer and Galilean,Emperor 1873 1877 of Society, Pillars The 1879 House, A Doll’s 1881 Ghosts, 1882 An of the People, Enemy 1890 Hedda Gabler, 1892 Builder, Master The S the K

1820–39