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How do the ideas of Darwinism and Positivism impact the work of Ibsen, Strindberg, and Chekhov? What distinguishes each playwright’s approach from that of the others?

Darwinism and Positivism highly impacted the world from the mid 19th century through to the early 20th century. It is primary to look at how these thoughts are evident within society by viewing the ideas of Auguste Comte (1798-1857), Charles Darwin (1809-1882), and Karl Marx (1818-1883). Because theatre can be depicted as a representation of life and society as we see it, playwrights from the past are able to show us today how philosophy impacted life. We will in turn, look at these philosophies in relation to the works of playwrights, in particular, Henrik Ibsen, August Strindberg, and Anton Chekhov. Beginning with Ibsen (1828-1906), we will see how the impacts are much stronger, than that of Strindberg (1849-1912), then less of that to Chekhov (1860-1904). The once strong held beliefs of Darwinian thought and Positivism become less practiced and influential throughout the years.

Beginning with a brief intellectual background of realism and naturalism, we must first look at ...

Posted by: Anthony Pacella

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