Essay on Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen.Discusses the extent to which the play deals with othrodx ideas.

GHOSTS

BY
HENRIK IBSEN



GHOSTS by Henrik Ibsen is a play that is mainly concerned with orthodox views and beliefs in the society of it's time. It also examines the ruin that such beliefs have caused, through the lives of its main characters. However, the play is also concerned with the darker side of modern society. While the extent to which society invades personal lives is a major theme, issues such as hypocrisy and dissolute life styles are also dealt with.

In the second act of the play, Mrs Alving establishes the plays key metaphor - ghosts. "Ghosts' in her point of view are "old dead ideas' that have come to dominate and ruin lives. She feels that people are haunted not only by their inheritances from specific people, but by general superstitions that exist within a community. The ghosts dealt with in the play are mainly the ghosts of public opinion, duty and filial piety. All of which are perfectly represented in the plays characters.

Pastor Manders for exampl...