#Classic: Ibsen “Rosmersholm”
- Author: H. Ibsen
- Title: Rosmersholm
- Published: 1886
- Trivia: This play is considered one of Ibsen’s masterpieces.
- List of Challenges 2018
- Monthly plan
- List of Plays
- Classic Club Master list
Finished: 08.11.2018
Genre: play (94 pages)
Rating: A++++
Quickscan:
- The play opens one year after the suicide at mill-race pond
- …of Rosmer’s wife, Beata.
- Rebecca had previously moved into the family home Rosmersholm
- ….as a friend of Beata.
- It becomes plain that she and Rosmer are in love
- …but he insists that their relationship is completely platonic.
Characters:
- Johannes Rosmer: former clergyman; owner of Rosmersholm
- Rebecca West: resident at Rosmersholm
- Professor Krol: Rosmer’s brother-in-law
- Brendel: Rosmer’s childhood tutor
- Mortensgaard: newspaper editor
- Mrs. Helseth: housekeeper at Rosmersholm
Motif: water (mill-race pond)
- Act 1:
- Rosmer has difficulty walking on the mill-path near mill-race pond
- Act 2:
- Kroll: “No. You (Rosmer) must solve the mystery of the mill-race
- …according to your conscience.”
- Act 3:
- Rosmer: “You can’t possibly judge of (guilt). But I–
- ( Rosmer points out the window) The mill-race. (pond)
- Act 4:
- Mill-race pond…..symbol of redemption, cleansing
- that appeals to both the intellect and the emotions.
Strong point: detailed stage directions
- Ibsen tells the reader: charcter is hesitating,
- …speaking in subdued voice
- …a faint smile, sitting wearily on sofa,
- …springing up, wringing her hands etc.
- This helps me (only reading play…no stage preformance)
- …to create a vivid mental picture.
- Ibsen was less detailed about lighting:
- …lamp with shade over it, lighting the lamp.
Strong point: dramatic scene endings
- For example…
- Act 1:
- Rebecca mentions the myth of the white horse.
- Housekeeper mutters: Will someone die soon?
- Act 2:
- Why does Rebecca refuse to marry the man she loves?
- These curtain calls are the muscle that drives the play forward!
- Every closing scene will effect the next…until the climatic moment!
Strong point: characterization by stage exits
- The character’s inner life on stage by their ‘exits’! (external action).
- For example:
- Act 1:
- Mrs. Helseth (housekeeper)
- shaking her head and muttering to herself
- ..she is confused about strange conversation with Rebecca
- Act 2:
- Rosmer slaming the door shut
- …seeking relief from tension: Rebecca refuses to marry him!
- Act 3:
- Rebecca and Mrs. Helseth…leaving stage
- …in search of Rebecca’s ‘ travel trunk. (…suddden journey?)
- Act 4: …no spoilers
Quote: puzzling
- Act 4 Rebecca: “Now I’ve submitted to an alien law.”
- What does this mean?
- Rebecca has been infected by the Rosmer view of life…
- …it enobles, but kills joy.
Prop: secret letter
- Plot turns on a letter written on fine paper, red sealing wax
- sent from Rosmersholm to publisher of the Beacon, a newspaper.
- The letter is passed from character to character:
- Beata (Mrs Rosmer) –> Mrs. Helseth, housekeeper –> Mortensgaard
- The reader feels tension about the letter throughout the play
- …concealment, interception, revelation of secrets?
Foreshadowing:
- Act 2:
- There is nothing like quoting a commandment
- …to give the reader a clue about the plot!
- Kroll –> Mortensgaaard (publisher newspaper)
- “…we shall not bear false witness against our neighbour…”
- Act 2: Kroll –> Rosmer:
- “…here in your house some game or other’s going on behind your back.”
Irony:
- Rosmer criticizes (as a former clergyman)
- …Mortensgaard’ s behavior (affair with woman)
- ….but Rosmer does exactly the same!
- Monrtensgaard: …SHE wants to marry him ..HE could not manage it.
- Rosmer: ….HE wants to marry….SHE could not manage it.
Conclusion:
- Read introduction and Act 1-4
- Each act takes 40 minutes to read
- …it feels like a novella!
- We meet Johannes Rosmer leading a
- …stormy personal and political life.
- The only way to really appreciate all the
- subtle clues in this play…is to read it twice!
- Once you know what happens in
- Act 4
- …the poignant conversation between
- Rebecca and Rosmer in the beginning of
- Act 3
- …will amaze you.
- You will realize the reaction of Rebecca is based on
- a long hidden secret that is gnawing at her heart.
- Theme: is obvious….confession of sins.
- The characters (Rosmer and Rebecca) examine
- their consciences without the help of the clergy.
- Theme: seen in many Ibsen’s plays
- …the redemptive power of love.
- Act 4:
- Dark in parts….but an ending
- with crackling dialogue
- ….between Rosmer en Rebecca
- ….filled with guilt and forgiveness.
- Act 2:
- Lesson learned?
- What is your most precious possession?
- …your ideals.
