Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906)

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) published his last drama, "When We Dead Awaken", in 1899, and he called it a dramatic epilogue. It was also destined to be the epilogue of his life's work, because illness prevented him from writing more. For half of a century he had devoted his life and his energies to the art of drama, and he had won international acclaim as the greatest and most influential dramatist of his time. He knew that he had gone further than anyone in putting Norway on the map.

Henrik Ibsen was also a major poet, and he published a collection of poems in 1871. However, drama was the focus of his real lyrical spirit. For a period of many hard years, he faced bitter opposition. But he finally triumphed over the conservatism and aesthetic prejudices of the contemporary critics and audiences. More than anyone, he gave theatrical art a new vitality by bringing into European bourgeois drama an ethical gravity, a psychological depth, and a social significance which the theater had lacked since the days of Shakespeare. In this manner, Ibsen strongly contributed to giving European drama a vitality and artistic quality comparable to the ancient Greek tragedies.

It is from this perspective we view his contribution to theatrical history. His realistic contemporary drama was a continuation of the European tradition of tragic plays. In these works he portrays people from the middle class of his day. These are people whose routines are suddenly upset as they are confronted with a deep crisis in their lives. They have been blindly following a way of life leading to the troubles and are themselves responsible for the crisis. Looking back on their lives, they are forced to confront themselves. However, Ibsen created another type of drama as well. In fact, he had been writing for 25 years before he, in 1877, created his first contemporary drama, "Pillars of Society".

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His Work

·             1850 - Catiline (Catilina)

·         1850 - The Burial Mound also known as The Warrior's Barrow (Kjæmpehøjen)

·         1851 - Norma (Norma)

·         1852 - St. John's Eve (Sancthansnatten)

·         1854 - Lady Inger of Oestraat (Fru Inger til Østeraad)

·         1855 - The Feast at Solhaug (Gildet paa Solhoug)

·         1856 - Olaf Liljekrans (Olaf Liljekrans)

·         1857 - The Vikings at Helgeland (Hærmændene paa Helgeland)

·         1862 - Digte - only released collection of poetry

·         1862 - Love's Comedy (Kjærlighedens Komedie)

·         1863 - The Pretenders (Kongs-Emnerne)

·         1866 - Brand (Brand)

·         1867 - Peer Gynt (Peer Gynt)

·         1869 - The League of Youth (De unges Forbund)

·         1873 - Emperor and Galilean (Kejser og Galilæer)

·         1877 - Pillars of Society (Samfundets Støtter)

·         1879 - A Doll's House (Et Dukkehjem)

·         1881 - Ghosts (Gengangere)

·         1882 - An Enemy of the People (En Folkefiende)

·         1884 - The Wild Duck (Vildanden)

·         1886 - Rosmersholm (Rosmersholm)

·         1888 - The Lady from the Sea (Fruen fra Havet)

·         1890 - Hedda Gabler (Hedda Gabler)

·         1892 - The Master Builder (Bygmester Solness)

·         1896 - John Gabriel Borkman (John Gabriel Borkman)

·         1899 - When We Dead Awaken (Når vi døde vaagner)

References :"Biography of Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906)."Biography of Henrik Ibsen. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2014. <http://www.gradesaver.com/author/henrik-ibsen/>.

 "Arthur Miller Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2014. <http://www.biography.com/people/arthur-miller-9408335>.