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Ibsen's Political and Social Ideas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2013

Philip George Neserius
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Extract

Man, “to be himself,” is “to realize himself.” This fundamental thought became a beacon of light which Ibsen unhesitatingly followed through financial distress, through social isolation, and through severe and often malicious criticism by his contemporaries. To advance the country and elevate the people was Ibsen's cardinal aim, which he consistently strove to attain. He dared to be himself; he spoke the truth when he saw it, and fought for his convictions. If one never commits himself, he never expresses himself; his self becomes less and less significant and decisive. Calculating selfishness is the annihilation of self. This was not true of Ibsen. In a letter to Björnson he says: “Had I to decide on an inscription for the monument, I should chose the words: “His life was his best work.” So to conduct one's life as to realize one's self seems to be the brightest attainment possible to a human being. It is the task of one and all of us, but most of us bungle it.”

Type
Research Article
Information
American Political Science Review , Volume 19 , Issue 1 , February 1925 , pp. 25 - 37
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 1925

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References

1 Samtliche Werke, Bd. 1, Intro.

2 Letters of Henrik Ibsen, p. 359.

3 Ibid, p. 146.

4 Heller, O., Henrik Ibsen, p. 67.Google Scholar

5 Reich, Emil, Henrik Ibsen's Dramen, p. 14.Google Scholar

6 Archer's translation of Ibsen's Works, III, p. 232.

7 Ibid, p. 230.

8 Ibid, Vol. I, p. 430.

9 Ibid, Vol. I, p. 431.

10 Litzmann, B., Ibsen's Dramen, p. 63.Google Scholar

11 Boettcher, F., La Femme dans le Théâtre d'Ibsen, p. 133.Google Scholar

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18 Ibid.

19 Speeches and New Letters of Ibsen, p. 53.

20 Letters of Henrik Ibsen, p. 205.

21 Archer's transl, of Ibsen, I. Intro, xiv.

22 Letters of Henrik Ibsen, p. 370.

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25 Pillars of Society, Act iv, p. 408.

26 Brandes, Georg, Eminent Authors of the 19th Century, p. 452.Google Scholar

27 Act. i, p. 231.

28 Act. ii, p. 157.

29 Letters of Henrik Ibsen, p. 351.

30 John Gabriel Borkman, When We Dead Awaken, The Master Builder and Little Eyolf.

31 When We Dead Awaken, Act ii, p. 419.

32 Speeches and New Letters of Henrik Ibsen.

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