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89.181.149.9
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THE

QUINTESSENCE

OF

IBSENISM:

G.

BERNARD

LONDON:
24

BY

WARWICK

SHAW.

WALTER

SCOTT
LANE.

1891

CONTENTiS.

PREFACE.
the

IN

finding

to

itself at
its

occupy
to

make

forward

the

Essayists,

for the

in the

end

Zola";

Hubert

most

day,

of

the

failure

of

which

read

on

to

came

Russian
the

but

the

summer

also

to

to

without

so

having

most

Society
to

close

to

asked
but

Stepniak

lecture

added

and

amusing

Morris,

having

take

desperate

the

the

the

"

Socialist

all the

read

; but

Ibsen";

flatly declined,

with

fiction ; and

without

consented

in

or

something
heads

Architecture.

rescue

Fabian

their

William

himself,

Socialism

"

do

enterprise

resulted

Gothic
the

"

The

"take

to

an

series.
on

paper

one

Olivier

put

papers

heading

to

compelled

was

series of

shook

undertook

novels

of

part

consented

Bland

paper

with

pressed

Sydney

of lectures

course

Literature."

strongly

other,"

meetings,

general

Contemporary

in

us

summer

shift

under

loss for

Society,

Fabian

the

1890,

of

spring

on

gave
also

modern

tided

over

its doors,

anything

what-

Preface.

vi
to

ever

the

general

Socialism

in Contemporary

I cannot

claim

was

duly

the

Mrs

Annie

sense

July

little book,
being

of

the

impulse

its present
to

d'occasion

of

by

Independent

the

the

Miss

defend

as

his

to

view

what
face

to

Ibsen's
to

no

make
plays

face

of the

Grein

with

with
created

Miss

Lea

newspaper
sign

been

ever

the

Vaudeville

and

see

piece

when

frantic

I could

I had,

as

arose
a

sensation

Robins

having

as

the

J. T.

the

and

started

in which

disputants

definitely

Mr

of Miss

that

inauguration

the
by

ance
import-

much

aside

at

in

curious

its turn,

served

Farr,

Gabler,

circumstances,

it

(of

terms

debate

Rosinershohn

experiment

controversy,

of

had

of Ghosts,

Hedda

with

laid

had

internal

purposely

the

attach

lively

Theatre

performance

by

not

the

spontaneous

Havdng

found

somewhat

which

production

by

be

of

in

work

provocative

I did

of

on

first form

the

original

part.

state),

the

Theatre

an

most

may

it ; and

upon

my

the

traces

which

presidency

result

on

it in

couched

the
was

this

which

Restaurant

which

is

After

James's

under

and

on

Ibsen,

on

paper

St

1890,

Besant,

Literature.

my

the

at

read

8th

this

of

that

information

of

stock

forced

up
meant,
some

of

his

any

by

mind
and

to

of the

Preface.

to

fact

the

this

(see

that

the

depends

means

intellectual
the

in

thesis
the

on

they

were

into

that

and
the

that

beauties

what

London,

explanation

Ibsenism,
they

/zm^

can

1891.

of

in

it is not
of

Ibsen,
I offer

of.

his

the

abusive

or

to

could

worshipping

what

going

the

as

might

origin

own

hero

for,

conclusion

well

be

of

no

rate,

clear

came

by

any

the

or

better
the

also
and

work

made

and

have

At

it.

means

enjoyed

of

apologizing

account

reminder

poetic

no

field until

this

of

make

my

in the

With

about

poet's

stage,

or

abusing,

ecstasies

placed

by

whether

apologetic

stage,

of

consciousness

the

or

but

completeness

controversialists,

stage,

not

weight

discoverable

of

due

has

56) ;

page

existence

definite

perfectly

himself

Ibsen

that

advantage

shewn

I allow

in London.

debaters

keenest

vii

found.

book,

the

critical essay

but

simply

it to

the

be

an

public

on

exposition

to

THE

QUINTESSENCE
OF

IBSEN

ISM.
I.

THE

The

whose

wrong

to

any

second,
is the

do

that

do

are

eyes

place,

to

declares
has

one

no

that

it is

hitherto

in.

first, whose
usual

the plains

in the back

are

eyes

who

something

harm

it is right

man

to

march

(so to speak).

head,

in the

of the

of heaven

of his

The

PIONEERS.

is, pioneers

THAT

seen

TWO

is the

man

longsighted

very

declares

who
hitherto

something

regarded

and

that
as

infamous.

The

second

the

army.

him

the

is treated

They

Good

give
Man

by
great
respect
with
him
testimonials
; name

and

hate

him

like

the

by

the

devil.
The

whole

first is stoned
army.
names

They

and

call him

; grudge

him
A

shrieked
all

his

manner

bare

at

of opprobrious

bread

and

Qiiintesse7ice
of Ibsenism.

Tlie

2
.

from

take

me

their

as

was

pioneer

second

the

compare

saviour

life of

and

nothing

pioneer's

effect

by

second

pioneer

he produced
indulgence
as
which
first pioneer.
For example
:

with

preacher

"

Pioneer

Second

kill animals

to

to

wrong
Here

take

the

the

Any

pioneer

and

is it to

declare

the

in

it's in

one

is, not

believed,
else,

so

persuaded

guilty

than

but
guilty

that

any

that

right

that

society

apparently

than
conscience,

move

least

provided

more

the

as

he

that

believe

cannot
can

So

detective,

Just

the

apparently

any

life.

guilty

probable

he

gentle

wrong

with

in

not

unnatural

family

direction."

wrong

liar's punishment

an

Dickens's

to

is

move
a

society

as

which,

possible

is not

as

as

morals

is

wife.

appears

first

the

It

your

public

right
to

as

sister

your

and

easier
wrong

Proposition."

second

of

corrupter

It is wrong

"

them.

eat

and

humanitarian,

much

Proposition.

Pioneer

First

"

else

Shelley

that
or

my

work.

produced

or

preacher

abstinence

from

example

first and

both

Now
as

an

Shelley

pioneer.
did

him

adore

despair.

utter

Let

he

secretly

and

water;

any

easily

innocent
guilty

be
is

act

is

act

innocent.

The
the

English

guilty

newspaper

conscience

which
of

the

best
middle

represents
class,

or

Tivo

The

Pioneers.

3
,

in

factor

dominant

If

Telegraph.
speaking

of Ibsen

to

of Shelley,

speak

that there

Daily

Scott,

Telegraph,
a

to

the

gentleman,

natured

impressionable,

Ibsen

amateurishness,
coarseness,

dramatic

of

nastiness,

uninterest

absurdity,

ing
declarand
suburbanity,
verbosity,
have
has
he
ideas
taken
that
would

inspired

horrible

This

the

of

England,

is to be

the

March

14th

leading

drain,
done

its doors

and

loathsome,

which

occurs

in

first performance

of

Ghosts

in

found

Telegraph

for

in the Daily

is supplemented

and

publicly,
windows

the

or

by
to

play

a
an

unbandaged,

lazar

house

with

Bestial,

open.

all

cynical,

sickly, delirious, indecent,

fetid, literary carrion, crapulous
stuff,

poisonous,

clinical

confessions

in

article

Realism,"

vulgarized
loathsome,

hateful,

dull,

compares
which
loathsome
sore

act

and

poet,

criticism,

1891,

article

disgusting,

in

them

plays.

notice

tragic

great

debased

the

accuses

egotism,

that

"

once

at

critic

emotional,

ludicrous

vulgarity,

dirty

us

used

first pioneer

of the

dramatic

good

sincere,

and

impotence,

open

but

pioneer,

zealous,

to

occur

be something

must

Clement

Mr

and

it will

Telegraph

Review

Quarterly

the

as

Daily

the

Ibsen.

about

not

find

can

we

Daily

is the

to-day,

society

says

as

all these

epithets

descriptive

the

writer,

Ibsen's

of
"

is

are

one

thing

used

work.
;

but

The

the

nostrils

of

before

held

words
of

the

"

this

took

the

be

can

play

difficult

on

and

the

evening

criticism

indecorum
Ghosts

of

the

next

to

decorous

performance

appeared

true

in

putrid

of

visibly

as

expose

almost

the

be

not

stamped

to

As

play."

must

audience

gross,

place

and

the

is

It

nature.

Ibsenism.

Qiiintessetice
of

March,

13th

it is

morning,

have
Scott
that Mr
must
evident
gone
straight
from the theatre to the newspaper
office, and there,
in

hysterical

condition,

of this extraordinary

protest.

an

almost

share

bears

workmanship
however,

which,
the

Ghosts

honour,

it would

approved
But

Mr

world
which

with
moral

Scott's

love,

to

the

on

at

the

and

artistic

criticism

from

simultaneously.

was

hundreds

His

all singular,
of criticism,

playgoer

by

convulsions

witnessed
by

deride

to

seasoned

into

thrown
was

most

at

mock

and

were

enthusiasm,

in tone

appeared

of
by

writer

calls

of the curiosities

one

it does,

as

in the

even

document

as

rank

in

friendship,

distrust

exhibiting,

and

He

stage.

disbelieve

If this

performance

expression

in the

produced

the

on

to

to

fidelity.

the

disorder,

and

the license of the theatre,

cancel
to laugh
that he has been
exhorted

declares

virtue,

heighten

literary

to

authorities

at

haste

horror

passionate

seeing

and

only

The

of

marks

his

penned

with
many

approval,
persons

of

conscientiousness.

hardly

distinguishable

of others

opinion

was

which

the

The

Standard,

the

that

Lord

of

disorderly

his

and

represent

it that

celebrity,

the

teacher,

the

is

then

of

of

pean
Euro-

the

English

him

hail

poet

to

claim

How

they

article

and

as

moral

by
is so revolted
section
him
in terms
describe
which

another

that

they

themselves

by

are,

admit

all but

case,

may

section

dramatic

Mr

with

the

playwright

that

for the

Arnold,

party.

one

posed
pro-

Clearly

for

to

against

Act

criticism,

strongly

whilst

his works

attracts

living

greatest

they

the

so

people

be taken

Edwin

Sir

Norwegian

paper,

houses.

considerable

Ibsen,

daily

Tory

responsibility

accompanied

which

critic

Campbell's

editor

the

rests

whom

Watson,

should

under

suppression

Scott

leading

the

proceedings

theatre

the

Alfred

Mr

opinion.

vulgar

Pioneers.

Tzvo

the
This

obscene?

of

necessities

phenomenon,

Europe
has occurred
throughout
wherever
which
in
have
been
Ibsen's
as
acted,
plays
well as
be exhaustively
Australia,
America
must
and
before

explained

danger

without

in

the

will

Scott's

Clement
least

all that

be

not

as

most

to

Ibsen's

Such

the

that

has

not

an

tion
explanaMr

away.

misled

Ibsen

meaning.

his critic.

confusion

same

first business.

my

explaining

judgment

revolts

be

outset,

an

described

mind.

must

the

at

the

own

reader's

Understand,

be

can

plays

reproducing

of

therefore,

explanation,

the

the

For

him

in

means

example,

in

The

Ghosts,

the

The

in question,

play

fall in

woman

married
woman

love

to

proposes

one

with

her

She

woman.
a

has

and

his

on

crime

her

to

round

believes

By

corrupted.
denounce

opinion

impelled

he

as

does,

to propagate

the

be

the

Which

attack.

decided

you

until

There

are

an

as

many

open

to

these

unsocial
an

to

equally
provoke

which
is right

two

cannot
a

whether

opinions

would

holding

society

conduct
of

that

position.

rake

up

the

By
case

ago

them

Mr

every

the

eternal

the
of

way

of

beating

is

an

ment
incitein

paradox.

of

who

"property"

of

validity

them

illustration,

Proudhon,

denounced

tion
denuncia-

utterance

; and

is

conceive
a

virtues

implicit,

involves

all progress

To

recognized

is not

cannot

who

question.

assumption

virtues

century

people

of the

of any

which

morally

Scott's.

Clement

this

be

being

Ibsen

Ibsen's

agree

brought

are

it is ascertained

holding
of persons
lower
higher
or
than

be

not

convictions

society

to

is impelled

he

of the

her,

round

you

will

was

with

you

this conviction

Ibsen

this

that

does

when

to

virtuous

agrees

Scott

that

as

bring

to

play

Clement

Mr

her, and

with

the

written

his opinion.

Ibsen

part.

husband

recalls her

tells him

afterwards

another.

her

abandon

and

clergyman

live with
He
the clergyman.
her behave
duty,
makes
and

and

Ibsenisni.

Quintessence of

one

nearly
as

Yet
from
may

half

theft.

This

was

ever

man

hazarded

taxation

to

opposition

the

that

the

ones

new

reform
big

our

of

property

is challenged
to

easy

most

; and

the

of

original

replacement

; and

since

duty

established
had

duty

not

at

every

the

by

involves

an

of

man
English-

If the
duty

it,

to

repudiation

step.

repudiated

effect

conforming

of

the

point

institutions

institution

every

involve

must

progress

the

of

recognition

old

of

of the

takes

progress

social

now

are

complete

triumph

stances
in-

multiply

having

is

seize

through

social

be

the

ground

and

of

the

tion
confisca-

all memory
obliterated
The
it first had
to encounter.

paradox

to

the

of

condition

for

proposition

royalties

relation

through
"

"

the

schemes

It would

though

ineffective

of the community

the rest

all hands.

on

the

of

that

obvious

to

mining

of

that

paradox

such

commonplaces

honesty

holders

it seemed

reduced

To-day

city.

are

rents

the

be

speedily

sacked
by

maddest

countenanced

which

would

the very

thought

society

Pioneers.

Tzvo

TJie

absolute

of

to his king, his political progress

would
obedience
had
been
impossible.
If women
have
renot
pudiate

the

duty

husbands,

and

limits

by

would

set
never

Married
to

qualify

of absolute

defied

public

to
modesty
have
gained

Women's
themselves

Property
as

as

opinion

their
the

to

submission

their

to

they

education,
protection

Act
medical

or

the

the

of

the

power

practitioners.

The

If Luther
head

had

priests

celibacy

on

on

his

the

defiance

every

step
a

torn

denounced
as

means

all the

choose

new,

is

reformer

as

an

apostate,

Wollestonecraft

as

libertine, and
in the Daily

as

reformer
repudiated,

every

Shelley

things

the

duty

Luther

virago,

the

is nothing

And

up.

to

chastity,
between

of

by

traitor, Mary

unwomanly
as

to

duty

of

accordingly,

Cromwell

vow

There

progress

of

scripture

Ibsen

still have

profligacy.

in

and

and

would

his duty

trampled

and

then,

an

not

of his Church

our

Ibsenisin.

Quintessence of

enumerated

Telegraph.
This
which

progress
of
crablike
the individual
advances

backward,
lessons

the

newly

to

rob

be

the

far

case
"

at

do ; and

of

precepts

that

the

late

Charles

disciples

of

to

go

in spite

of

all

renouncing

and

obey

be

not

all obligation

the commandments
the

claiming
But

he

what
seem

on

the

conscience

of

which

the

as

Bradlaugh,
Voltaire

and

he

him

than

divine

The

proved.

does

to

reasons

"

right

freethinker

the

doing

admit

the

man

pious

denying

be rationally
to

seeming

and

these

book

is at last forced

of the

the

large.

binding

more

us

in

evolution,

suddenly

to

for

reasons

cannot
man

Bible

appears

murder

to

want

to

the

such,

and
finds

soon

not

revelation,

believe
as

To

freethinker,

supernatural

by

illude

history.

of

made

to

to

continues

social

was

inspirati

pious
in the

for instance
Tom

Paine

do

not

pockets

or

Christian

pick
even

your

doubt

devil

the

saw

This
*

by

falling

from

time
the
when
be questioned.

the

over

binding

the

into

comes

No

object of

greatest

number,

dynamite

grotesque

but

strictly

becomes
into

freed

Its

one.

from

themselves

as

manifestly
by

German

the

hero

his

deathbed

believe

in

Voltairian
*

I had

am

speaking

but

as

to

God,

say

here

warn

of rationalism,
in men.
apparent

and

to

Jewish

worship
as

creed,

having
a

of letters.
can

prove,
composed

sonatas

by

done

was

who

collection

sat

up

such

The
piece

of philosophy
classified in the

students

on
"

beginning,

Beethoven."

despises

as

other

to

men

they

and

not

in

slavery

novelette,
his

is

Jehovah

and
exult

was,

Mozart,

freethinker
better

devotees

by

he

that

Contagious

Moloch,

old

of

good

abominations.

reasonable

musicians,

of Wagner's

logically

acting

result

as

up

sets

greatest

the

the

as

of

to

triumphed

conspiracies,

books

absurd

he

vivisection,

written

such

worship

belief

own

forthwith

the

rationalist

conservatism

has

Dagon,

of books

To

his

duty

in

Acts,

rolled

for

with

Diseases

Reason

same

securing

landed

presently

the

he

the

the

saves

sooner

men

all

to

screamed

really

means

no

than

on

is driven

actually

himself

theologian

the

with

he

than

oftener

his deathbed.

on

experience

throats

cut

Voltaire

whether

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16

The

day

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II.

AND

IDEALS
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IDEALISTS.

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TJie

20

Quintessence of Ibsenisni.

terror
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headed
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congenial

woman's

even

on

acquaintances,

womanly

or

that

love

desired
is

21

pleasure

decency

public

chance

family
really

is

of

once

no

is

them

spontaneously

woman

the

graft

pretending

upon

men

to

try

men

stances

Idealists.

and

ment,
attach-

until

she
if

Now

man.

has been
by the
embittered
childhood
dislike of his mother
the ill-temper
of his
and
for him
father ; if his wife has ceased
to
care
anyone's

and he is heartily tired of his wife ; if his brother

him
division
law
is going
to
over
the
with
his son
in
and
property,
acting
of the family
defiance

studied
hard

him

for

is eternal

Yet
a

then
agree

to

this,

with
and

him

that

discard

his

is thicker

passion

than

water.

the

whole

it for

until

outgrows

the

institution

by

or

Society

else

resolutely

they

mistake,

so

can

must

making

cannot

which

organization

that

comes

either
is

system
one,

social

it ;

itself without

new

It

seems

must

neighbours

happen

in countenance

that

the light of it.

possibly

him

it is

wishes,

the truth, all his life

failure by
that

and

himself

persuade
that blood

tells himself
and

plans

to

and

if he

waste

his

of

far
petuate
per-

keep
believe

The

22

illusions

all the

that

are

masked
For

sake

community

of the

British

Seven

hundred

for them.

must

be

they

since

they

from

coercing

law.

family

is
For

grapes

he cannot

the sloes he

has

the

happened.

conventional

the

fox

get

not

are

The

happens
and

not

holy

enough
to

suit at
natural

299

face

the

failures,

sour

family

their

that

the

he also insists that

it happens

all.

the

tion.
institu-

natural

as

the

own

be,

observe
it really

legally enforced,

for

to

try

may

Now

sweet.

the

with

declares
:

ones

satisfied

whatever

are

The

accordingly

holy

arrangement,

because

good

700

only

are

to

conformity

and

majority,

think

occupies

arrangements

get

can

the

will

beautiful

person

irremediable

"

that,

domestic

particular

they

courage

into

They

enough
find it

it since

presently.

prevent

themselves

persuade

with

the

them

find the

ninety-nine

remaining

failures

are

cannot

marriage

up

have

present.

good

quite

explained

not

will

it at

will suppose,

and

put

The

to

fact that

we

hundred

minority.

failures

know

we

organized
the basis

on

species

arrangement

Two

position

as

of them,

failure, but
a

been

imagine

us

persons,

of the

family

family

let

thousand

of

perpetuation

in

has

it

which

precision,

of

for the

with

realities.

the

British

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

to

minority,

The

institution

family

what
is is a

which

suit

them,

it
whom
tiful
beauas
a

is only

fancy

Ideals

picture

as

minority

of

fancy

of

forcing

that

ideals

absolutely

as

or

conduct

any

and

Our

299

idealists

oratory,

to

as

marriage

far outdo
as

marriage

the

of calling it
beautiful
and
opinion

poetry,

matter
"

an
one,

The

by

them

calling

classified
idealists, leaving one

the

is strong
who
idealists are
"

marriage,

This

It is insufferable

IDEALISM.

become

the

proclaiming
and

platform

they
accept

dreaming

never

less

much
pretty

holy

plainly

of

fuss about
crackbrained
idealists, hurt by this, will retort
Philistines.
VVe then
have our

society

man

is

of

comfortably

being

countena
dismay

conversation,

course,

and

contrary

immoral,

pulpit

institution,"

that idealism

nothing.

in

who

of

conduct,

therefore

are

private

700

and

it being

policy

; and

serious

and

the

failures

fiction,

in

ideal

will

domestic

recognize

of
as

punished
as

policy

assumption

moral

advocacy

if

the

circumstances,

all

be described

therefore

to

standard

under

valid

the

on

act

by

the

; and

real, and

action

such

to

are

them.

IDEAL

be

to

in its
which
We
call this

reality,

to

an

picture

individuals

all

accept

for the

mask

is intolerable

nakedness
sort

have
would
suited, invented

be

to

was

everybody

23

family

every

of what

Idealists.

and

700

as

Philistines

man

299
and
He is the

unclassified.
to face the truth that
enough
He
flatly of
says
shirking.

thing
that

is
two

failure for many

human

beings,

of

us.

having

The

24

into

entered
can

or

exist,
arisen.

not

ends

only

should

be

warm

have

Let

us

they

for the

maintain
to

ceased

have

never

and

ideal

is based

false

that

the

of satisfying
for the social

purpose

otherwise

provide

to

attractions

it is historically

founded

affection

forced

family

the

which

; and

was

them.

which

such

upon

exist

family

Ibsenism.

affections
in spite of the fact that
The
natural
alleged
after

repulsions
do

relations

tolerable,

render

them

Quintessence of

then abolthe family subserves,

and
ish
which
What
its compulsory
character
altogether."

will be
man

the
The

measure

at

"

rest

will

idealists will

the

at

thought

the

Philistines

But

mad.

of

attitude

the

proclamation

the

presence

to

this outspoken

him
think
simply
be terrified beyond
of

of

their
traitor

the

hidden
among

the conspirators
at the rending
of the
of silence
beautiful veil they and their poets have woven
to
"

face of the truth.

They
will
unbearable
ideals of
crucify him, burn him, violate their own
from
family
affection by taking his children away

hide

the

him,

him,
ostracize
filthy, and

Philistines,

despised
occasion

SOCIETY.

him

depends

theirs.

At

paradoxer

against

and

as

to ruin

him

if not

brand
appeal

immoral,

as

against

him

profligate,
to

the

for the
idealized
specially
far they will proceed
How
how
far his courage
on
exceeds

his worst,
at

him

his best

to take

they
they

cynic
call him
do their utmost

his life. Thus,

purblindly

Ideals

courageous

without
and

who

their

denying

the

indeed

depend

is
which
But take

to

being

illusion
that

his

ideals

Tennyson

ideal

was

Shelley

his enmity

dwelt

our

seen

hoof,

marked

enemy
"

with

against

upon

cloven

have

are

lyrics

the

pretence

himself,

those

with

neither

of

ever

of whom

highly

some

said

"

idealist

identical

respectable

two

the

of

examples

human

hate

So
that

or

the

and

horn,

or

external

to

stages

of

were

and

we

has

absolutely
to

describe

flames

from

{Literary Gazette^
angel,

to

natural
superby

him

beating

friend,

asked

19th

his

impression

this

the

had

gratify

if the

as

of

appearance

ineffectual

him

heightened

only

strongly

fiends

of the

enable

race,

this individual,

of mankind."
beautiful

body

human

the

minds

darkest

of the

one

atrocity of his
do
to
injury.

had

who

"

clothed

power

him

implicit.*

criticism :
if
feel as

We

been

not

an

in which

following

The

"

line

bottom

Longfellow,

idealists

called

his

of

than

be

must

and
a

wrote

at

was

already

illusion to enable

new

less

nothing

he

since

they

cynic

beauty

the

enjoy

make

idealist.

The

Shelley.

invented

until they

to

zealous
has
who

man

"

the

of

example

ideals

nothing
off with
of
cynic, the free use

the

of

Shelley

call

them

case

an

as

us

served
did not
fiend

the

ideals,

get

of

mark

facts

current

of

those

on

La-

and

unpleasant

validity

name

familiar

state

piquant,

this

than

25

Mandeville

merely

who

statements

worse

like

moralists

rochefoucauld,

Idealists.

and

to

us

must

mouth,

bitter

so

May

if

as

"

182

in the

an

1.)

void

The

26

Here
was

the

And

argument.

ideal

thought,
and

poisonous

and

indeed

have

ideals,

and

masks

depict

the
by

are

man

his

luminous

tearing

his

preface

to

the

by

cross

in

the

selection

name

the

pen

poems

"

you

if,

their
with
future
thing
be

cannot

at every

by

the

tutions
insti-

the

and

(Matthew
of

called

with

one

position

purposes

existing

existing

realize

mask

we

which
ideals

called

mortal

vain."

effete
be,
may

be

to

identity

to

the

then

described

wings

be

under

is striving

will be at

reader,

to

an

the

possibilities

confounded

asunder,

If
are

their

maintaining

who
possibilities by

intelligibly

an

is defending

who

man

masked

also

be

of

mask
image
of what

on,

masks

confusion

may

its place.

future

the

is to be

masks

in

their

with

again,

is,

self,
it-

mask

the

whilst

generally

fain

would
facts,

one,

the

and

institution

the

since

its verbal

this word
institution
the

desperate

producing

whole

use

both

masks

realist,

the

spoils

denote

to

the

spoil

unfortunately

ideal

the

thereby

the

we

indifferently
which

to

seems

it certainly

For

consistency.

Shelley,

that

admission
idealist too,

an

Ibsenisin.

Quintessence of

and

I,

sentence

Arnold,
Byron,

in

dated

1881.)
The

Further
Salt,
true

one

88

is much

sillier than the 1821 opinion.

in the articles of Henry
samples
will be found
Shelley
his
of the few writers on
understand
who
1

position

opinion

as

social

pioneer.

Ideals

Idealists.

and

27

like
to distinguish
pioneers
allow me
Shelley and Ibsen as realists from the idealists of
imaginary
If
thousand.
my
of one
community

unless

you

you

ask

other

I have

why
and

way,

not

Shelley

called

terms

the

allotted

Ibsen

and

the

idealists

realists, I reply that Ibsen

and the conventionalists
he has not
formally
himself, though
the
made
has

distinction,

if

now

were

harped

repeatedly
as

conventionalists

and
that

so

on

ideals

idealists

and
to

perversely

conventions

them

call

readers
confuse
realists, I should
of
Duck
I
RosDiershobn
more
than
and

realities and

Wild

The

help

should

for

the

Doubtless

puzzling

by
people
ideal.
term

of

meaning

ask,

is that
to

if I follow

the

custom,

only

If the

account

of

recommend

associate

Philistines,
verbal

term

violently
realist is

else

(I

us

do

than
not

with

return

299

to

and

our

idealists,

ambiguity

in

deal

Zola

compared

produce

indiscriminately

incompatible

objected

against

on
can

it

associate

of

to
definitions),

Maupassant,

community

and

to

description

own

what,

word

must

my

reproache

limiting

associations,

if you

you,

it, not

with Plato.
let
Now

two

But

the

use

of its modern

some

with something
its meaning

mere

its

thus

I must

tangle
and

be

shall

perplexity

passing

inextricable

in
senses

the

inevitable

the

them.

but

of

The

realist.

which

700

have

The

28

is

just provided
comes

of any

these

three

the

of
The

at

ordinary

him

as

than

of evolution
and

rancour

and

duty.

and

highest

the

The

the

man

who
fear that his

the

and

strikes

of which

is guiltless.

the danger

risen above

reason

of

hates

dread

which

the relations of
they are, in terms

in the ascent

yet

that

express

simple

Philistine

easy-going
has

to

systems

higher

with

beside

nothing

attempt

Philistine,

the

as

sections,

ideaHst,

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

will lead him to theft, his temper

his affections
debauchery
to
to
murder,
and
is denounced
an
as
this is he who
arch-scoundrel
acquisitiveness

libertine,
and
lowest because
the

but

ignorant

and

cultured.

speaks,

he

is proved

and

idiot, not

by

those

of how

read

have

have

foolishly

themselves

calumny

burnings,

of the

and
pioneer

It is from
we

Shelley
Robert

men

learn
was

Owen

have

the

Siberia

the

ostracism
as

well

of

have

by

was

man

crucifixions,
headings

living

who

been

the

the lot

follower.
the camp
literary reputation

of established
Blake
that William
spoiled

who

the

transportations,

which
as

never

those

the

stonings,

both

tions
demonstra-

on

volumes

written

hangings,

and

such

error,

the

be

to

who
learned

the

it is not

When

off in the past, but by

come

the

that

and

with

this

maintain

who

the

prophet

rascal

confounded
highest.
And

stupid

literate

the

true

thus
and
he is the

in

did

was

mad,

low
not

set,

know

that
that
the

Ideals

that

The

great

"

is

Ibsen

and

of comprehending
blackguard,
is a mere

that Zola

economy,

poHtical

29

is incapable

that Ruskin

world,

Idealists.

and

Zola

with
by

accepted

musician,

the

listener, is vilified by

his fellow-musicians

the

of

musical

Wagner

culture

The

it

is

not

and

Stone

Marcus

Mr

above

Academy

be

to

not

"

Burne

it should

the

among

Royal

the

to

something
self in

us,

ideals

the

ashamed

have

because

he

himself,

of
the

much

who

better.

deep

The

to

by

it

has

corrupt,

is only

the

last

denying
these

of

years

conformity
ideals

are

the
to

only

Roman

the

the

swaddling

come

much

so

to

the

naturally
excesses

empire

by

To

the

ideals.

is

faith in the

and

from

is

and

all this

that

realist, who

back

refuge

himself

worse.

held

ing
resist-

committing

it so
of his own
will, thinks
human
To
the one,
nature,

validity

of

taken

hates

us,

murder

instead

for himself

respect

The

blind

to

has

thinks

that

ideals altogether,

something

idealist,

"

rational

something

whereby,
disarm

can

we

Hodgson

for all that.

so,

with

us,

numb

The

suicide.

only

something

death,

with

them

Mr

Mr

places

It is not

it is

; but

in the street

men

mention

Jones.

so

in

sees

pronounced

which

realist at last loses patience

and

that

unskilled
: it was

Meyerbeer.
inferior of Mendelssohn
and
the
great artist finds his foes among

the

painters,

Europe

leg."

wooden

clothes

of

selfother
which

The

30

has outgrown,

man

his

Quintessence of

movements.

The

agree.
egotism

and

which

No

wonder

idealist

; and

that

insufferably

"

says,

he

is morally

means

depravity."
a

when
free in

dead

cannot

Realism

man

and

The

the

abnegates

be
a
will to live and
world
to
and free, seeking
only
conform
the sake of being, not himself, but
then

impede

two

the

means

egotism

realist declares

Ibsenisin.

living

of

the

to

ideals

for

"

rotten,

man,"

good

be

must

and

left unheeded
his resurrection,
to abide
if that by
luck arrive before
his bodily
death.
fortunat
Ungood
this is the sort
but

amusing
actual

realist
as

well

example

understands.
as

of

more
an

that

of speech
It

be

will

convincing

nobody

to

idealist criticising

more

take
a

an

realist.

III.

THE

WOMAN.

WOMANLY

EVERYBODY
Marie

Revieiv

of

Stead,

WiUiam

character,

object

of

"

"

as

purity
retains

his best

qualities

make

his ideals

is an

of that ideal
believe
any
grotesquely

given
with

himself

sexual

As

life.

"

he

ness,
wilfulhe

Prominent

can

among

In support
ideal of womanliness.
he will, like all idealists, make
and

however

statement,

dilemma

of

account

his

that

found

and
Marie

utterly

incompatible

obviously
he

When

account

the
with
by
to him
the

heard.

unreal.

Bashkirtseff's

of

unscrupulousness

conscientious

always

ideal
public

the

with

faith in himself,

"

to

scandalous

campaign

of

condition

had

he

which

the

establishing

tate,
the Aposfollowing

somewhat
a

upon

entered

editor, Mr

immense

in rendering

realistic feat of

was

an

gained

service

public

perform

of

of it, with
in the
given

(June 1890) by the

JuHan
sort of modern

having

who,
by

Reviezvs

Diary

outline

commentary,

running

"

the

remembers
An
Bashkirtseff."

herself
a

of

ideal,

he

either

woman's
was

Marie

mind
confronted
was

not

The

32

woman

or

"

antithesis

by

been
to

by

Let

been

have
would
Nevertheless
he had

otherwise

ideal.

she

thinks

that

is

this

no

evidence

of self-control just try it for six months.

"
Stead's verdict
No
was
nevertheless,
self-

Marie,"

came

he

philosopher,

find

lover

was

student,

that

doubt

be

if there

following

lines.

musician,
like

you

heart

to

Now

of

wit,
but
a

love, and
a
soul
in sacrifice for
satisfaction

child."

abominations

artist,

anything
a

with

for

the

quarrel

"

its supreme

or

fundamental

in

out

said,

woman

natural

his

However,

Marie

with

to

have

any
without
compulsion
herself a highly
made
skilled
hours
day for six years.
ten
a

who

control."

"

Stead's
being

self-control,
not

the

was

Mr

woman."

says,

she,

working

anyone

tive.
alterna-

he

She

ideal, could

his

circumstances,

artist

Mr

Marie

that

record

from

in his

like

more

former

the

womanly,"

that

was,

quality

possessed

true

to

correspond

little trace.

of

not

accepted

but

difficulty

leading

did

distinctively

the

is in her

next

ideal

actually

Of

"there
very

his

else

He

nature.

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

society

make

any

so

mean

as

all

the

idealist
I

pestiferous,
that

of

forcing

a
woman
that
self-sacrifice on
under
pretence
to contradict
she likes it ; and, if she ventures
her no
declaring
true
In
the pretence,
woman.

India

length

carried

this

piece

of declaring

that

they

wife

of

idealism

could

not

to

bear

the
to

TJie

her

survive
her

husband,

her

but

life

the

on

astonishing

sooner

than

be

branded

that

British

Philistinism

Stead,

by

of
Imagine

MYSELF

The

woman

young

were

given

that

own

her,

in

"

She

again,

was

was

she

Marie

result.

less agreeable
to

conformer
conspicuously
wrote

and

Mr

as

one

pleased

the

swear

is

Now

ideal
reverse.

of

with

by

famous."
to

that

powers

opinion,
solely
for her lover or
to

exclaim
doubt ; but

no

this notable
a
of being
female

ordinary

Stead
her

representing
C

Christ, by

was

womanliness,
Mr

on

proposing

driven

the

is

solemnly

be

observe
instead

than

diary,

of

I will

clever,

infatuated
himself

them

Bashkirtseff,

the

woman's

Stead's

very

person

all the

sake

not."

children,
his feelings

positively

sacrifice
he
wonder

No

child !

alive.

the

passion

years

might

she

woman

the

was

her

for

exercise

"

this,

four

in

that

"

in

entry

by

drink,

with
burnt

it still survives

of

rescuer

Or

Gospels,

wretches,

idealizing
widow
is abolished
in
suttee

form

myself"

the

unsexed

stupefied

; and

this

across

coming
"
I love

women,

down

put

the

offer
his dead

that

condition

of its high-priests.

one

"

be

unwomanly

with the strong hand

The
English
India.
Mr

as

to

themselves

allowed
in
and

to

nature

is

thing

by

prompted

consumed

which

The

33

be

would

beautiful

pyre

body.

and

Woman.

faithful, loving,

own

up

Womanly

himself
diary,

mere

her

as

Quintessence of Ibsenisni.

The

34

fascinated

a
was
and
everybody,
her by the mere
to all about
source
of delight
hope-giving
of her
and
atmosphere
exhilaration
The
truth is, that in real life a selfwilfulness.

person

who

or,

woman,

sacrificing

is not

woman,
womanly
of, but disliked

in

view

is he

man

manly

of himself.

who
But men
No

this account.

on

the

side

of

the

sacrificer

is

always

an

reproach,

with
those

help

no

others,

to

less loved

the

the

whilst

by
selfa

responsibility,

trouble
unnatural
live.
Only
soul can

and

strong

helped

and

drag,

the

feels helpless

ever

self-helper

would

Bashkirtseff

the
not

are

man

satisfaction

weakling

takes

one

really

have

who

No

affectation

and

ev-erlasting

whom

advantage

as

an

it,

put

would

taken

only

self-sacrifice : such
him
as
a
coward

stamp

Stead

well for her pains.

his soul finds its supreme

that

pretends

Mr

as

know

themselves

respect

their

right

how
to

to

help

themselves.
Although
on

as

self-surrender

true

The

instance

extreme

in

the

practice

effect
by

both

is wellsexes.

is the

reckless self-abandonment
infatuation
of passionate

becomes
the
who
object
from
it instinctively.
shrinks

Everyone

sexual

desire.

of that

infatuation
loses

in

feared

and

seen

Love

an

insist
generally
indispensable
in
element

love, its repulsive

womanly

known

idealists

romantic

its charm

when

it is not

free ; and

Womanly

The

the

whether
law, or

no

withhold

is the

alike,

Such

by

sex

either

are

for it is the

intense

in

go

not

marriage

of

of perpetuating

by divorce
to

of

indispensable

it remains

by

and

comply

conjugal

the

disappearance

the

as

by

the

of marriage
a

means

for refusal

of penalties

abolition

for restitution

finally to

and

rights;

to-day

conjugal

as

judicialorders

with

out.
with-

its modification

to

; then

society

for

offered

inspired

of the legalized
character
that leads, firstto the idealization

whilst

both

out

compulsory
relation

to

power

stand

repugnance

it

inspires

evidently

legal

the

and

same

failing them,

and,

conditions

the

can

who

conditions,

custom

wooer,

successful
one

of

is also

there

the

and

honourable

to

The

unless

35

effect is the
desire to give

the

valueless.

affection

sexes

is that

compulsion

of infatuation,

becomes

Woman.

its disuse

for the

responsibility

and

tenance
main-

of the
rising generation
and
education
is shifted from
to the community.*
the parent
"*

the

of

far out

out

dissertation

of

the

main

in

the

text

in passing

to

already
at

and
forced

woman

with

its present

course

of

those

to

husband

may

saddle

him

it may

with
court

wife, the
with

impossibilities

be

to

be

well

to

marriage
that

all the

as

too

duced
intro-

point
violable
inan
has

necessity

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in the kingdom
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would

argument

institution,

tamper

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regard

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us

my

; but

above

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anomalies

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the highest

this moment

face
a

law

marriage

the

on

demanding

extent

that

is face

to

whether

responsibilities

of

TJie

36
Although
Church

England

likely

not

obligations,
of

the

explain

trust

and

love, until the

on

practical

factor in society,

the

higher

That

of

in the case
us
occurring
shews
in Rosmersholm
is only known

as

their biographies
by

not

sustained

husband

it is

then

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men

to

if it says
for

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at

delay
heart

pursuing
to it.

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wolf

by

by

us

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it,

by

brief

first-fruit of

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only

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to

other

commit

must

is made
the

be

tolerabl
in-

possible
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made

institution is

to

be

until its social function

is thus, by force of
Marriage
buy
to
of life by
extension

it must

compelled

of divorce,

West
of

often

provision
if the
marriages

for.

provided

Ibsen

themselves,

this exhausts

that

all, which

appetite.

most

wife, marriage
as

; and

of such

circumstances,
extension

the

her.
If the court
upon
is made
intolerable for

rape

marriage

to

women

dissolution

maintained
is otherwise

Yes

it is clear

alternatives,

and

husband,

the

as

live with him, and

her
husband
allows

the law
whether
imprisonment
abduction,
Yes

Love,

to

refuse

asking

says

longer

which

but

never

no

mere

who

have

experience,

And

glimpses.

to

and

permanence

Rebecca

of

poets,

prove,

it

of

great

ties

society

is still

development

of

the

nursery.

private

the descriptions

legal

to

continuity

depends

which
institution, we

with

wholly

led

passages

the

object of
dispense

to

has

service

those

omit

face the

to

repugnance
marriage

to

celebrants

frankly
are

the growing

of

many

Quintessence of Ibsemsni.

as

be

if

throwing

fugitive

try to
should
of his own
portions

The

love

Tannhauser

affairs.
that

St

with

but

hours

for him

Tannhiiuser's

higher
The

is the

passion
When

Blake

told

would

learn

moderation,

for the
that

the

race

would

individuals

some
we

all shall

he

be

But

current

for

on

as

to notice

credit

the

other

facts that
a

crazy

criticism

Rosmer

time

the

the

the

love.

the

way

Venusberg,

the
way

when

and

there

perish

as

Puritan

fears

round.

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our

children

side of it, and

so

be

fiery purgation.

the very

regarded

even

foresaw

born

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spared

find

we

once

they

excess

that

not
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knew
the

assuredly
have, and

unless

doubt

no

would

to

lay through

present

bourgeois

is at

through

he

ment
develop-

passion

more

that

men

the

of
the

of

relapses.

Philistinism.

than

germ

germ

began

once

idealism

just as

is the

fondness

is

at

dangerous

more

and

with

of the

development

dangerous,

more

and

Venus

love

for Venus

fondness

conviction

its earlier tentatives

attended

passion

for his Gill,

Jack

were

humdrum

the

of

the

with

fact that

that

and

the final goal

towards

spent

alter the

Venus,

with

he

passion

not

in

he felt
of the emotion
fuller and
happier
than

was

of

37

die

may

moment

does

that

Now

one

Elizabeth

all the

Woman.

Womanly

of

Blake

visionary,

RosmersJiolm

the evolution
into
her love
moral

is still commonly

and

that

entirely

the
fails

of Rebecca's
passion
for him, much
more

transfiguration

which

accom-

The

38

how

it, shew

panics

Ihsenisifi.

Qimitessence of

be

it would

absurd

to

tend,
pre-

for the sake

of edification, that the ordinary

William
between
is a union
a
of to-day
be
West,
Rebecca
or
a
that it would

marriage
Blake

and

deny

if it

even

possible,

were

of the sexual
satisfaction
have
that
not
reached
who

the

persons

overwhelming
are

not

of

majority
de

purely

to

appetite

An

stage.

as

marriages

such
are

convenance^

to

policy,

enlightened

into

entered

in
either
appetite
of that
gratification
by those
istic
idealform
its crudest
or
veiled only
imagination
illusions
the
youthful
which

for

the

so

weaves

desire, and
This

at.

society,
to

being

does

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instead

means

right
to

means

those
any

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deny
who

loathe

or

an

end

as

enable

Woman,
so

rebel.
her

to

deny

to

be

as

person

treated

that
a

as

intercourse

with
to live is insufferable

sexual

right

is being
else

to

likes,

husband

is

end

And

live.

one's

she

herself

circumstances

an

of

herself

of ministering
is one
who
wife

treat

to

in

our

comes

men,

end

ideal

the

Now

being.

human

fact that

to

means

ideal

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else.

nothing

as

solely

appetite.

person's

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an

as

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directly

of
laugh

stimulus

indulgently

people

it is not

so,

everything

and

older

Woman,

Man,

his

to

to

being

regard

like

which

the

under

wonderfully

if she

treated,
As

rebel

face

dares
must

either

rule, when

successfully

"

for instance,
her

to

values
do.
seldom
means

"

Docs
:

by

fashion

39

enables
of genius
losing her
without

accident

character"
or
cutting herself off from the society
rebel ; but circumstances
she does

employment

no

the

when
her
"lose

she

Woman.

Womanly

TJie

herself

deceives

she
denying

in

idealist

the

her

the love which

that

By

herself?

loathe

then

she

suitor

at all.
appetite
sexual
offers her is tainted with
It is, she declares, a beautiful, disinterested,
pure,

devotion

sublime
life is

to

by

another

which

man's

a
woman's
and
and
purified,
exalted
And
blest.
the
cynics,
all the
of
rendered
is the one
in the
filthiest to her mind
sees,
who
honourable
to his future
man
proposals
making

but

wife, nothing
The
female.
in

her

him

not

the

germ

are

as

of
yet

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highest

it is

no

so

up

of the romantic

the

two

romantic

the
is

plan.

that

ideal.
The

neglecting

more

love

is in

than

the appetite

has

who

to

point

marrying

illusion ; and
marriage

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young

her

wife

for

sequently
Con-

in

terms

between

realize

the

breakdown

finds that

his

they

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woos

shall

tie,

all,
both,

them

it is agreed

the

comes

to

themselves.

stockbroker

their

confirmed

affectionate
bargain.
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every

his business

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seeking

is unbearable

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form

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wants

drive

to

and

though

he

the

male
keeps

himself

man

illusion ; for

too

human

the

business

of

her husband
;

that

his

The

40

Quintessence of Ibsenisvi.

interests, his activities, his whole

life except
that
one
part of it to which
referred
only a cynic ever
her

before

lies away
from
marriage,
business
is to sit there and

her

that

is wanted.

she

Then

he,

complains,

her ; whilst
position, her

her

home,

name,

to

her
do

things

as

not

very

her

by

most

mother,

in

to

the

wretched
she has lost

as

community

in

the

house,

wanted

by

the

children ; and
her
husband

thinking

his ideal

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so,

the

on

turned

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all day

though

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would

badly

an

the point

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away

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is

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instead

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of

presence
nuisance.

disillusioned
it has

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instead
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intolerable

all, she

"

the

shares

the

point

favourably

love, yet, since

after

illusion still from

useful and harmless

use

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regard

displeasure

woman's

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this

in

and

of

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her

is

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this

wife she

wanted

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of

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most

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her

in society,

compare

wanted

city,

him

in

capacity

which

because

on

without
for her

first burst

of

weeping

do

bread.

those

with

can

place

the

until
If she

provoke.
for ever
at

remain

self-respect
a

her

her

complaints

the

perhaps

self-helper,

livelihood,

mope

she

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she

home

brought

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the

; and

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what

home

And

that

it is

boys

and

this

con-

The

is the

viction

the

to

get

This

prosaic

certain

limits.

It depends

domestic
is

idealist

as

lack

them

are

not

the

of

if this

third,

Bashkirtseffs
a

men

domestic

women

than
men

every
on

to

It
women

the

risk

be

called

care

of

is

for

children

women

all, but

at

who
members

Even

sex.

that

obvious

it

bodied
her

to
course
are

more

life

if

the

quite
to

life

true

in

that

children

to

that

be

called

childbed
every

all

necessary

should

in

to

is natural

be

may

that

his

natural

career

woman

risk

kind

no

military

necessary

on

is of

is

career

although

able

may

it

Hence

vocation

Bashkirtseff

or

natural

to

are

The

all

that

women

the

upon

be allowed
have
to live, they
institutions
to
just as much
suitable
But
it is not
true.
women.
and

right

as

the

and

true,

were

that

and

women,

within

livable-with.

illusion

to

only

and the care

husband
being

the

on

and

management

natural

to induce

some

management

as
children,
well
fairly good-natured

the

hard

having

of

arises

marriage
about
she did six months

altogether

woman

for domestic

vocation

much

feels

she

all.
solution is satisfactory

the

of

as

because

at

married

accident

her

41

her wedding
as
have been extremely

after, it would

her

Woman.

in

stronger
had known

if she
day before

that

Womanly

man

the
the

and

just

as

it

be

should

battlefield.

majority
prefer

of

their

The

42
to

own

other

is true

thing

do
is the

not

The

dogs

own

that

proposed
to

activities
to

come

done

parrot

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to

because

they

No

doubt

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kind

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hempseed

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the

idealist parrots

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to

"

that
of

Pretty

true

parrot

there

are

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because
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rationalist

persuade

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parrots

selves
themminister

by whistling
it is in

that

altruistic

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pursuit

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far

to

There

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is the
;

parrots

is plenty

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imprisonment

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it is better

family

of

Philistine

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go

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we

there.

this

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sphere

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are

Polly,"

I will

its soul.

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sacrifice

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mission

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and

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their owners
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their

children

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and

; yet

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sphere
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nevertheless

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exactly

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are

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think

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prefer

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But

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Ibsemsm

Quintessence of

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am

to

affirm

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confident
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demon-

The

Womanly

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strate

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parrot

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forget

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and

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you

of your

conclusive
will have either

her

Woman

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duty

society,

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to

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her

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and

herself,

emancipate
she cannot
herself is no
duty
to
at

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debt

is

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womanliness,

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But

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pendent
inde-

the

aping

unparroted

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the

of

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children,

everyone

gratification
fond of it
is so

if it persists, you
kill it.

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sum

repudiates

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or

selfish bird,

happiness

mastiff.

parrot

; and

let it out

to

of

bird

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respect

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own

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nature

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of

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that, in

one

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first condition

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as

to

struggle

with

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number
spirit

and

family

the

even

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let out

its naturally

parrot

only

let

least

at

unprotected

sympathize

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of

to

coarsen

itself agreeable.
one
that puts its

say

may

you

an

or

cats,

and

in

being

on

its making

of

"

can

person

insists

to

43

kindness

cruel

Still, the

existence.

souled

prey

fibres

delicate

for

Woman.

is

the

cancelled
same

individual

restriction,

will

as

debtor

Its payment

person.

of the

the

when

will, upon

founded

naturally

malign

on

the
and

The

44

has

Woman

Therefore

devilish.

In that
altogether.
freedom
; for it is false to

duty

directly

now

the

is

duties

hers

strewn

She

proving

in

often

done

for

these

discarded

by

To

are

as

ideals
by

sake

idealist

with
as

of the

the

be

not

most

Those

breakage

who

may

her

her

for

as

will

emancipation.

every

new

;
supplanted
denounced
ideals, though

is in fact sweeping

My

of

such

clatter and

the reflectio
with
of the broken
goods
It is always
a
case
"

And

is, that
of destruction
of the work
illusion than
ideal is less of an
the

it has

one

proofs

basketful

and certain.
will be prompt
"
The
ideal is dead : long live the ideal !
of

advantage

fortified

themselves

comfort

that the replacement

the

be

all

will be smashed
for women
and

of equality
from

has

Man

life, that

whole

quality

shrink

must

is to Paderewski.

the piano

sacred

so

logic, such

the

iconoclasm

quiet

by

true.

achievement

men.

to

of

on,

fashion,

mediate
im-

path

wreckage

mask

turn

playing

man's

conceptions

person

is the

she

as

is

Woman

trampled

of

of shattered

it will

But

the

the

rationalist

instead

easy

Man

indeed

may

repudiate
lies her

that

say

; and

with
he has

ideals

and

be.

duty

to

repudiation

of

slave

of

slave

freedom

Ibsenisvi.

Quintessence of

digression

the

is

now

that

so
as

world

over.

an

the

destroyer

enemy

of

of society,

clear of lies.

Having

traversed

loop

my

I promised,
by
of duty

as

repudiation
at

last

to

proceed

account

the

many
now

we

tramples

through

plough
of

laws

the

he

that
new

and

"

old

truth

more

what
to

given

if any

And

foresee

the

all

and

does

man

harvest,

in all sincerity

last

we

any

other

honest

come

generation
not

what

against
to

street

cry, albeit

know

the

cry, and
a

do

to

understand.
and

but

destruction,
of
bear

cry
to

false alarm.

less ;

no

it is not

does

understand,
he do
can

such

roots,

putrefaction

can

he

else

what

his

of

He

true."

the

on

the

proclaiming
beautiful, the

everywhere
and
longer
is no
beauty

longer

no

for

trespassers

matter,

the

his

in spite

weeds

feed
which
of the worms
protection
letting in light and air to hasten
the
of decaying

sacred,

driving

always

against

made

duties,

was

what

of pretty

gardens

necessarily

repudiates

profanes

For

type.

must

infamous,

was

sanctifies what

particular

it is the

as

ideals,

on

more

pioneer

outcry

such

provoke

I may

further
occupatio
prewithout
Scott's protest, or
Clement

the

that

see

of Woman's,

some

Man's

to

way

of which

others

back

come

work

Mr

with

45

and

give

Ibsen's

of

Wonian.

Womanly

The

the
with

cannot

out

cry

until

like

blind
it

at

as

an

IV.
THE

PLAYS.

BRAND.

now

are

WE

that
in

the

which
woman,

It follows
of

that

Lane

type

forge

or

virtue

of his determination

Therefore
sometimes

that

the

that

actions

soul

furnace.

the
are

comes

In

he

since

of Ibsen

are

to

heroine

nothing

wrong.

have
playgoers
him as to suppose
"

rather

than

ruin

purified

the

unwomanly

villain
villain by

out

was

an

one

the

but

beginning

is

idealist.

an

which
from
the tribulations

fact, the

reputation

and

is

do

not

"

examples

mischief

does

nor

far misconceived

so

his villains
and

their

assassinate,

readers

villain
lady is not

leading

the

is

"

"

giving
mis-

play

lady"

"leading
the

without

Ibsen

typical

and

Drury

the

learn

to

prepared

as

gold

warnings,

attend

which
from
the

of Ibsen's

pean
Euro-

with
edification
which
his great
matic
drathe pious of Scandinavia
received
Brand.
Brand
the priest is an idealist
poem
He
of heroic earnestness,
strength, and courage.

Brand.

declares
they

himself

of things

by

be

to

ought
men

man

Brand
is

Adam

fall in
to

urges

his

duty

man

cross

ideals

nor

in

him

clown,

fiord

in

storm

reach

"

series

of

committed
from
consolation
"

alone

someone

he

whom

the old

to

and

idealism,

and

in the

deeply

Adam

the

go.

hold
the

manages

of

priest.

must

whilst

estimate

woman,

attached.

sail.

does

fog

not

only

to prevent

Brand

knocks

man

murders,
Brand

who,
wants

cannot

go

of his boat
fisher folk, in

rudder

The
do

not

adopt

his

ends

in their marriage,

they become
child to which
Then
Brand
from
aspiring

reof the situation, and

fuse
fascinated
by his heroism

That

goes.

birth of

the

is strong,

gravity

perfect

whom
it is
because

dying

to

having

else.

ness
with fierce earnesthas to cross
Brand

Presently

scorn.

and

it

as

him

sermonizes

and

man

the

forcibly

own

be,

can

peasant

life.

his

perfect

Adam

Brand

risking

or

"

daughter,

from

ordered

anyone

visit his dying

flatly declines, but endeavours
to

but

this conformity,

on

views.

glacier

is

as

they

as

the

he

as

self

these

made,

as

of

is nothing
The imperfect

with

ideal

himself

is everything.

not

he

nothing

things

all the
In insisting

neither

be

Things

to

be.

to

spares

Life

is not

conformed

is his duty

his

to

again,

who,

him

things

of

can

be.

to

for

mean

they

as

ought

conformed

Adam,

but

they

as

not

champion,

of things

nor

are,

the

47

The

48

height
from

height

to

depth

of devotion

leave

his

to

child

gipsy

in his place.

preacher

to

give

whose

the

of the

the clothes
baby
needs

them.

does not grudge

the gift ;
mother
little garhold back
to
wants
ment
only one
But
Brand
sees
a
relic of her darling.

The

bereaved

but

she
as

in

his wife

to

exposed

congregation
inferior

an

peril of getting
he forces
Then
dead

his ideal, plunges

First
cruelty.
of murderous
die from the severity of the climate
flinch from
the post of
not
must

child must
because
Brand
and

to

depth

to

the

duty

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

perfect
the imperfection
of the imreservation
forces her to regard
He
Eve.
the situation
a
the relic and his ideal.
choice between

this

as

sacrifices the relic to the ideal, and then dies,

killed her, and thereby
Having
broken-hearted.

She

idealism

upon

having

"

she

people

as

church

too

own

them

the

their minds,

themselves

and
stone

avalanche.

immolated

to

mountains.

the

her
bed
death-

with his principles

he is hailed by the

saint,

him

doubt

to his mother's

property,

small
to follow

temple,

has

to

finds his
and
for his congregation.

experience

an

to go

compromises

of her

in disposing

daring

ever

altar he

whose

also refused

because

upon

beyond

himself

placed

worship
After

newly

So

God
a

built
he calls
in His

brief practical

they change
of this arrangement,
him.
The very mountains
stone
him,

indeed

; for he

is killed by

Gynt.

Peer

GYNT.

PEER

Brand

dies

talented

he

Gynt,

by

the

this

he

know

who

it

or

no

it

was

two

men

he

and

for himself

women
:

or

indeed

all

be

to

the

scapegrace

wife to the
his ideal on
his

implicit

be unique
it should
have
the force to realize
"

ideal
in

the

that

he

it.

For

of the
self-realized
indomitab
the saint, but the demigod
whose
destiny,
than
the
will is stronger

is not

master,

resist, the

thousand

by

whether
Brand,
than

Peer,

mother

it is

first boyish

fighter, the
can

alone

should

Peer

self
of him-

force
would
Peer Gynt
keeps

Brand

alone

man

than

was,

itself that

poem

that

better
of

sweetheart

ideal

Peer's

leave

indeed

and

will agree
Gynt
to be Peer

all question

the

as

points

plays

better

Brand.

saintly

all

himself

the

or

liar

and

would

beyond

mother

not

of his own
satisfaction
will.
be on
to
to
seem
the path

utter

was

with

avoids
who
his ideal the realization

Ibsen

which

done

rascal named
Brand's
errors

accomplished

as

up

most

dramatic

another

idealist

an

setting

In

an

the

does

Ibsen

In

inferred.

us

gives

than
have

possibly

tense
in-

more

caused

saintliness

opportunities.

be

this to

his

could

sinner

his

twice

having

saint,

by

suffering

49

notion

the

man

hunter,

mighty

adventures,

"

the
D

no

whom
the

model,

woman

knight
in

of

short,

of

The

50
lover

the

boy's
or

in

lady's

did

make

for anything

way

he

that
tram

hold

cannot

car,

human

less

much

or

will and

street

crossing

world

against

is

ideal,

illusions

the

hide

to

he

can

has

door
feats

no

the
can

guests

he

yet

which
which

off the bride

him.
snub

enjoy

even

he

in the

from

Only

as

cannot

the

in

he

mountains

force his way

him
withstand
he must
him
that

as

an

th"

turous
adven-

bravado

mountains

by
finds

through,

round.

street

at which

the

spirits with

go

wedding

his illusions undisturbed

in

military

than

by

he

as

mountains.

his

gain

persuade

countryside

his reputation
to

find

to

to

foundation

has

conceive

Himself,

of

invented

are

to

shabby

of his hut

; and

he

the

by

However,

and

Emperor

solider

fight with a smith

daredevil
of carrying

Gynt,

Gynt,

the

over

genius

persuade

enough

its unreality,

Peer

that

hunting

His

whole

into illusions to

imaginative

also

loafer, is Peer
writes

against

is a wheelbarrow.
than
circumstances
Peer Gynt, being imaginative
enough

himself

finds

soon

to

his will is a force that can

overcome
forces, or that it is less conditioned

all other

his

man

refuses

anybody,

plunging
fact gives
the lie

every
which
himself
that

The

exist.

by

Only

race.

can

exists,

person

such

indomitable

an

cultivates

who

ever

or

exist,

no

in

hero

the

or

novel,

Now,

romance.

ever

Ihsenisnt.

Quintessence of

ridicule

obstacles
obstacles

voices,

telling

he

will

But

Gynt.

Peer

not

he

in

in hand,
sword
he
has
to
go

means

to
a

our

amateurs

into

enter

he

pig,

princess

conspiracy

When

repulsive

is ready
a

on

to

noble

the

ravine

as

steed,

and

their obscene
their discordant

on

as

is willing

will

He

she
farmhouse,
up

with

will go

with

that the gruesome

pretend

hold

of

hear
even

in

but

as

them,

he

has

; he

ambrosia

will
dancing,

antics as exquisite
din as divine
music

he draws

in

been
back,

highly

respectable

man

and

; but
so

that
they

as
see

to be
resolved
He
leaves
the

self-deception.
a prosperous
and becomes

America,

to

pretending

filthy

their

to slit his eyes

they finally propose
when
hear
he may
these
see
things, not
and
are,

is

their orgies

partake
and

beautiful

stopped

castle.

on

that

condition

panes

it nectar

applaud

Still,

riding

tumble-down

they

declare

and

her

in which

food

he

accept

and

; he

find that

pretences.

creature

the Trolds,

palace

him.

up to
of make-believe
king's daughter
the Trold

splendid

glorious

is

transmogrifying

the

ragged

mother's
broken
window

old clouts,
her among

to

thaumaturgy,

his

accepts

with

as

appears

same,

within

only

lies and

of

point.

certain

by

realities

path

world-will

as

well

than

more

nothing

of squalid

like

as

the

he tries the supernatural,

Then
it

for

round

he

spite

Gynt

Peer

without

his
will cut
All the
of fate.

forward

will go

51

and
himself
mountains

of business
ready

for

The

52

trade,
In

speculation

profitable

any

trade,

whisky

this

phase

himself,

like

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

he
Mr

trade,

missionary
to

takes

Stanley,

piety,

persuades

is under

the

is shaken
This
opinion
of God.
in which
he is marooned
on
an
adventure
it is not
African
coast
; and
restored
until

friends

treacherous

who

his eyes

before

him
marooned
by the blowing-up

when

is

Father

desert,

him

moves

really worshipped
people

Arab

an

declare

to

only

finds

He

is accepted

and

by

Messiah

the

after all ; but

me

is not."

certainly

in the

to

for

of his money.
reflects, his eminence

him,

his falling

after leading

in

him

love

with

into

every

rica
in Ame-

breast-pin,

the

too,

mere

he
as
a
prophet
whilst
fitness for the post.
natural

pure

matter

is eminent

This

is ended

dancing-girl,
sort

more

horse
the

and

practical folly of giving

finery,
all his prophetic

spoil, and

leaves

him

once

more

he

of
by

who,

of undignified

from
ludicrous
ranging
extravagance,
and
hailing her as the Eternal-Feminine
of Goethe
the

Ah,

which
last he is

commerce,

was

"

success

whereas

chance,

by

of the

economical

at

his
In

symbol

now

respected

stroyed
de-

horse
white
its account
as

tribe,

himself,

the

on

that

the

are

have
they
just stolen from
yacht
his celebrated
he utters
exclamation,

steam

he

by

care

special

God

anything

and

he

that

Bible

trade,

slave

"

her
runs

his
to

his

white

away

with

helpless

and

Gynt.

Peer

in the desert.

alone
to

the

Sphinx

the

in great

gentleman

immovable,
his

ideal, is able

own

that

once

at

dazzles

explanation

realization,
a

invites

of learned

club

this

on

man
gentle-

after

who,

to

some

self-

of

him

accompany

Cairo,

are

who

German

to

ripe
Peer,

question.

very

the

club,

in which
be a madhouse
to
turns
out
which
locked
lunatics
have
loose
broken
up
and

the
their

keepers.

It is in

these

madmen,

that

accompanies

he

As

Peer

lies in the
an

old

of his

scenes

the

prospect

madhouse,

Gynt

threatens

self

by

crucible

with

Immediately

is

fainting

dust

early

adventures,

with

Gynt,

Peer

to

into

button-moulder
commit

and

by

last

crowned

their homage
terror.

to

returning
is troubled

certain

button

the
with

moulder

of his realized
short work
it down
into
buttons
in his

make

heap

of

an

button-material.

other

the old exaltation

is changed

at

receives

man,

melting

will

He

of meeting

who

Gynt

this

of Himself

Emperor
as

the

This

itself.

philosophy

in

men

for enlightenment
delighted,

is

Gynt

Peer

of

symbol

Sphinx

the

of

German

the German,

discussion

further

to

the

figure,

tell the

to

who
passive,
that im-

in

seeing

to

as

perplexity

majestic

comes

finds

he

which

Gynt,

Peer

is.

until he

wanders

beside

Sphinx,

great

German

He

53

of the self-realizer

unspeakable

Death,

to

any

act,

avoid
even

dread

of

whom
to

pushing

the
Peer
a

The

54
drowning

from

man

shipwreck
At
two.
his youth
in him.

last he

into the

commonplace

the

confederate

crowningly

he

has puzzled

Gynt

fantastic

thesis.

It is

its suggestions

and
far

the

recognizing

treatment

of

be

to

proposition

he

who
dismisses

is perfectly

that

"

it

as

the

reader,
less formulated

in metaphysics.

it is idiotic
term

ambitious
him, much

one

in
he

the
finds

common

When

does

it

its

familiar

the

by

by

the ideal

may

it is because

because

people

many

good

subtle

by some
it is stated to him
it, he unhesitatingly

of

and

can.

all understood
as

in

bedlam

the

difficult play, that

self-realization, however

so

of unconditional

at

best

as

Ibsen's

sense

sham
the false

speculator,

self-seeking

button-moulder

"

of

shirking,
by the
only
and
sensuality,
veiled
With
liar.
born
fancies
this
of the
unreal realization he is left to face the

romantic

so

in himself,

; whilst

dupe,

woman

old

"

cowardice

and

of
sweetheart
still believing

Gynt

Charleston

in

to

man
the selfish thruster of the drowning
is nothing
heroic
waves,
there
nothing

emperor,

is not

deserted

dancing-girl's

the

prophet,

Peer

braggart,

the

magicians,

Peer

is cHnging

suffice to support

not

finds

ideal

loafer, the

but

he

spar

for him
still waiting
and
In the imagination
of this

finds the

the

the

lest it should

he

Quintessence of Ibsenisin.

as

understand
idiotic ;

right

in doing

most

accurate

such difficulty
ideal of his

Gynt.

Peer

own

the pushing,

prototype,

loving

man

There
method

is nothing

novel

reducing

these

of

Exactly

Cervantes

as

chivalry, and
to

as

act

ideals of Brand
in the very same
if he

were

distressed
in

land

acts

world

where,

to

by

spirit

tower

of

restoring

man

the

walked

with

tries to

act

Babel

God

be

could

over

all other

only,

signals

resolution

are

Cervantes

man

straight
prevail
nor

their

the

against.

Ibsen

force

special
as

to

prevail

the

they
eyes

rocks

Observe

is incredulous,

real

are,

disregard,

may
on

he
which
Peer Gynt

in

where

as

be, thereby

ignore

shutting

brave

can

and

between

structure

to

so

They

forces.

promise
all com-

bridge
a

in him

had

immediately

; and

garden

concentrated

steering

neither

in the

they
what
like Nelson,
that

condition

if he

as

that

ignore

the

to

man
gentle-

wenches
in
Adam

was

was

and

of giants

rejectionof

enduring
intended

as

acts

farm

rainbow

as

them

treats

perfect

it

the

takes

country

"

the
into

of

attempting

Quixote

and

resolute

change

man

world

the

were

ideal

old

and

of

imperfection,

"

flesh and

instead

if he

with
possible

in

knight

absurdity.

Ibsen

so

Don

innkeepers

of

as

of

Gynt,

Peer

to

the

real,

manner.

perfect
damsels

Brand

ideals

came

were

and

world.
of the modern
dramatic
in Ibsen's

took

what

shewed
if it

success-

competitive,

is the hero

who

55

"

not

to

but
that

the
insanely
no

that
in the

The

$6
Philistine

all three,

ideals

to

as

way,

Don

men.

the

men

of action

in deeds.

power

Brand,

Quixote,

to

are,

their

realize
Don

ridiculous
dislike

cannot

over

Gynt

Peer

seeking

you

ideals

of

and

However

himself,

makes

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

ote
Quixdespise

or

him,

have
less think
been
it would
that
much
like
better
for him
have
been
Philistine
to
a

Sancho
is not

Gynt,

Peer

; and

selfish rascal

Brand,

unlovable.

he

as

by

terrible

made

is,
the

to others, is heroic.
of his idealism
Their
beautiful
more
than
castles in the air are
live
cannot
mortar
; but one
castles of brick and
in them
into pretending
men
they seduce
; and

consequences

that

hovel

every

Gynt

is such

that

pretended

the

castle, just as
Trold
king's den

Peer

was

to

the

palace.

AND

EMPEROR

When

Ibsen,
impulse

creative

Bi'and

produced
does

case

Peer

and

come

the

poet,

save

died

in

would

great

only

he,

have

gone

rationally

Gynt,

he

more

that

like
to

rein
had

nature,
was

produced

forty.

nearly

work, had
for his intellect.
In no

puzzle

out

1867,

poetic

his imagination

difference

the

intellect

his

the

giving

merely

of

will, in setting

His

ever

by

GALILEAN.

between

to

the will and the

in that of
than

clearly
of the lover.
many

his

understood

another
grave

his

Had
great

without
own

Ibsen
poet,

having
meaning.

Emperor
Nay,

if in

that

commentator,

and

he

him

offered

himself

the

as

maiden
to

her

dreams

only

the

The

her

give

the

to

goes

naif who

fairy

the

constructed

would
disgust

much

brutal

were

It is

prince.

artist with

creative

in receiving
confidence
absolute
his " What
does
mean
this passage

of

rationale

physiological
a

he
he

Duck,

Wild

meeting

of

which

before

at

"

Ibsen

to

of Brand

arrived

and

expert

gone

it with as
repudiated
feel if anyone
would

have

enough

had

"

explanation

have

must

Ghosts
perhaps

call him

we

57

intellectual

an

year

as

Galilean.

and

an

to

answer
"

is

That

intellect,
the poet's own
which
had no part in the conception
of the poem,
which
him.
And
be asking
this curiosity of the
may

the

question

very

intellect

this

"

it from

dead

of the greater
a

drama

him

yet

and

Cressida,

he

rose

up

the

marks

in Hamlet,

made

of

Shakespear,

the

so

troubles

which

one

that

self-questioning

tiates
differen-

in

came

equally
Dante

Goethe.

did

greatest

took

poets

many

volumes

has

left musical

of

of

criticism

scores

; and

has

day,
of
he

art

Troilus

understand
Wagner,

Richard
own

purpose

of

to

pains

our

as

well
of his Henry

pessimism

vulgar

upon

alarm,

the vulgar optimism

it to no
better
mend
could

by

of the

and

against

than

himself:

it which

little, is

his intellect

when

F., and

but

sort.

of the

it might,

as

machinery,

lesser artists

our

life in

restless

and

has

one

left

us

life

as

expressly

58

The

Quintessence of Ibsenisni.

described

how

the

brought
in

to

the

find Ibsen,

their

on

entering

intellectually

conscious

have

that

seen

became

effort
drama

of

thing

itself creative

occurred

he

this

harked

with

piece

dilemma

that

he
he

who

moral

free-will

have

comes

life, though

he

cannot

of death.

Judas, who

necessity,

wants

Master

This

chose
part

of

the

dogmatic
doubt,

know

chose
drama
has

evangelicalism

it was

could

what

still a
not

the

"

God.

because
because

slay

to

stage
the

claim

ground

is the

ground

the

under

of

same

the
since
whether,
him
foreknowingly.
no

invent

to

evangelicalism
whilst

death

he

It is easy

Julian.

above

to

the

betrayed

the

on

presupposes

man

willed

say

to

him,

dramas

willed, willed

upon

same

abandoned

freethinking

sets

he

first preoccupied

at

is fertile, and

murder

an

responsibility

must

and

the

Emperor

the

of
him

because

himself,

was

that

that

slew

must,

huge

an

such

produced

to

of old-fashioned

free-will, and

Cain,

back
two

find

we

work

done.

Ibsen

With

questioning.

had

and

matic
dra-

become

to

Shakespear

with

projectof his, and wrote

subject of the apostasy
In

he

do

so

great

struggle

of what

was

Just

his two
a

he

which

dramas

creation.

after composing

poems,

We

activity

of his music

analysis

during

abeyance

we

intellectual

cannot

nine
solve

very

deep

conundrums
answer

days'

significance.

which
; and

wonder

all enigmas,

no

that
such

Emperor
invention

the
to

seemed

Galilean.

and

be

chess-play
the nine days

that

now

deeper

much

something

intellectual

mere

59

it is

which
are

than

In

past.

for such
occasional
weakness
conundrums,
later on
in his harping
on
the hereditary
of disease,
busy,
own

of

not

only
plays, but

the

middle

advanced

Leben

Helmholtz

and

our
was

in

this period
knew

the

cares

of

crushing

fell on

for the

moment

of

the

traces

well

the
which
for money

struggle

of
he

sordid
and

to

mean,
an

not

effect

the growth
the

of

survival

fittest brought

by the destruction
about
frightful examples
most

prominence

Church
the

with

ings
sweep-

how

show

unfit, all the

destruction
systematic

utmost

weapon,

The

with

but

man,

of the
of this

protested

the

with

writings

ley,
Hux-

and

vainly

omnibus."

of

the romance
when
discredited,
and
progress

was

spirit

reading

the world

creeds

of the

the

peopled

ordinary

respectability

by

Tyndall

novels,

weight

his

typical

the

"

as

Ibsen's

the

the

Eliot's

to

popularizations

by

Darwin

intellect

pessimism

and

when

the

transmission

peculiar

attainable

Jesu,

his

and

active

problems
fatalism

century,

Pentonville

of

the

the

Ruskin

by

against

of

with

George

and

seemed

the

culture

Strauss's

of

with

of

Ibsen's

see

we

seen

by

those

Mill's
with
incompiatibility

divine

being
who
favourite

benevolence.

of

thrust

His

ing
fight-

were

divine

into

dialectical
tence
omnipoplays

are

6o

The

full of
the

for

self-assertion

intellect wholly

from
That

validity.
at

increase

in

existence,
reverse

the
that

"

as

it has

is

true

by

stopped

his

too

that

with

genius

far

as

ridiculous

be

pessimism

of

him

past

it ; and

reducing
can

one

been

he

guess,

demolished,
by

ease,

the

"

to

it is impregnable,

that

it has

place

completely
It
himself

pushed

as

just the

himself

fortress

intellectually

result is, that

believes
to this day

as

allow

gloomy
:

of

Huxley

not

of

conditions

Ibsen

Professor
did

continuous

taking

actually

escaped

the

dreaming

an

was

this

materialism
it, but without

the

assumption

he

and

of

is, on

escaped
that

hypothesis

of

what
have
to

appears

scienof its tific

for progress
accounted

severity

of

his

freed

acceptance

it only

the

on

all

an

fatalism;

numbing
have
to

seems

of
into

individual

the

this

never

sense

overwhelming

rousing

against

he

yet

his

of

evidence

necessity

and

Ibsenisin.

Quintessence of

and

mere

not

that
march

by its
class, which,
freedom
from the characteristic bias of the middle
illusions,
their characteristic
classes, has escaped
behind

him

of the

working

many
and
of
solved
found
insoluble because

His

so.

growth

prophetic

of the

reference
; but his

the

the

they

belief

will makes
to

enigmas
wished
in the

him

operation

impression

of

which

the

to

find them

spontaneous

meliorist

of

they

natural

light

out
with-

selection
by
thrown

Emperor

life
at

be

to

seems

he

which

the
have

must

most

one

period
in
his education

nature

often

destructive

and

ruthless

of

the

of

received

External

facts

the

on

science

gloomy

departments.

these
her

biological

and

physical

6i

Galilean.

and

plays
his

in

part

fascination
have
an
extraordinary
which
works,
for the pessimists
of that school, in spite of the
incompatibility
that
with
of his individualism

Man

ethic

utilitarian

mechanical

the

as

treats

circumstance,

and

every

of

sport

of theirs which

his will altogether.

inessential but very
Another

ignores

in

dramas

Ibsen's

anyone

own

has

who
faith

stage,

doubt

as

wrongly,

until

such

conscience
appeal

to

found

The

he

Scripture

finds

In

simple

the

the

man,

acting

by

text

seldom

against
to

the

justifya

in practice to be

an

in

when

the

endorses

which

conduct
to

excuse

Bible

the

except

of

or

rightly

contemplated

attempt

revelation

searching

arise

point

rule

theological

as

pious

; and

of conduct

the

is

secular,

rationalist, for whom

misgivings
revolts

or

pious

he is
whether
his migivings
quiets

his action.*
As

the

will,

our

about

is accepted

Bible

of religious

change

concern

standard

to

Scripture

"*

the

God's

of

ideal,
a

as

our

unquestioned,
to it.
conform

is to

when

how

by

easily

understood

observed

An

used
practically
it remains
whilst
right

be

intensifies

salvation.

of

will

feature

prominent

the

when
action,

an

is generally
a

crime.

The

62

has

no

tests

did

if everyone

be

as

by

the
calculating
happiness
greatest

by

judging

"c.

Most

"c.

pass

to

in

men's

perfected,

in

and
a

Life,

activity.

Emperor

Julian'scase
It is compared,
with
men

the

the

being
wrath

necessity,"
are

find

the

regarded
in the

cases

manner

Cain

of

as

so

theatrically

exciting

suspense

to choose

between

forth.

effective
as

to

right-

keeps

them

casuistry

drama

conscience.

Judas,

"corner

The
in

Christ and

described,
the

three

stones

under

freedmen

under

qualms

producing

whether

of

first with

already
and

yet

the

of

"great

necessity,"

and

to

at

case

as

not

is

of intellectual
is very
Ibsen,

occupied

introduced
of

Bible

double

great

Galilean

and

the

which

by

depicted

as

We

full of it.

as

do.

instance,

reason

of

branch

important

most

of

amid

perplexity,

in

for

of their actions

wrongness

the

that

to

to

want

as,

uncertainty

continual

seems

in

is

others,

of

enough

really

infallibility

the
faith

and

shattered,

ness

in

faith

when

he

or

successfully

transition,

of

action

of

kind

they

everything

ingenious

this

the

number

liberty

equal

of

periods

greatest

are

examinations

respect

But

the

men

such

on

action

liberty

the

infringes

claiming

the

of

his

of

effect

whether

to

conduct

it would
how
after Kant,
he proposes
do ; or
to

himself,

asking

his

brings

authority,

as

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

he

the imperial

of

Julian

the
will

most

dare

purple

Emperor
but

the

mere

he

when

Emperor

Maximns

forces

the

Christianity
longer

no

longer

back

"

"

"

The

empire

of

of his

Man

not

God

is

be

nailed

he

between

this

He

in

the

nor

unknown,

will tortured

and

baffled.

first part

of

the

double

prompted

step

he

and

by

step
not

the

no

going

can

the

eternal

but
build

selfheart.

for

"

the

validity

that

cross,

to

or

at

looks

see

man

not

in

on

self
him-

Brand's

the spirit, establishing

the

which

flesh

spirit

starved,

Thus

the

ism.
sensual-

rotten

drama
to

no

Julian

Christian

he

flesh and

empire

is

pagan

the

who

is the

the

third

that

of

is what

to

is

that

and

there

is

that

"

asserting

will.

Olympus,

bridge

empire

own

Christ

is already
"

third

truth

that

and

beauty

new

empire,"

second
idealism,

The

not

knows

as

who
between

Paganism

old

the

first empire

the

abnegatory

the

between

Maximus

to

"

and

but

Maximus

between

"

between

true,"

is

It

been

Mistake

The

named

Pretenders.

have

might

had

The

or

Julian, not

on

beautiful

himself.

Galilea7i

principle

"

to

Brandy

of

Emnerne

Mystic.

choice

and

ambition

Kongs

and

the

struggling

production

if prosaically,

appropriately,

of

the

his

wrote

man

his creed belongs

interest
Ibsen
which

before

even

passed

63

and

intellectual

of

phase

of

exhibition

his ambition

between

Galilean.

and

nor

throughout
we

have

stupendous

Galilean

shall

is God.

the

the

Julian
tion
convic-

His

The

64

Ibsenism.

Qiiintesse)ice
of

final resolution
is expressed
to
seize the throne
in his interruption
he
of the Lord's prayer, which
hears
by
intoned
in church
he
as
worshippers
in the

wrestles

gloom

fears and

own

At

but

deliver

with

his

into

not

he

evil

he halts

Yet

follower

adding,

the

and

the

on

the

on

dazzled

Julian

throne

its rites.

he

half grasps

relapse

becomes

Has

that
he

only

did

he

Plato
any

eye,"

"

god

by

mean

long

Plato

not

that
?

mean

can

Far

incomparable

individual,
"c.

In

even

ago

me

though

the greatest,

this frame

vanity.

of mind

this,

as

truth

the
?

men

it from

sage

grotesque

ludicrous.

most

Answer

saying?

be

to

only

enunciated
over

rule

exaltation

speeches
his

at

mity
confor-

monstrous

such

mere

nically
mecha-

Maximus,
it into

and

Gynt

of

of

pervert

making

Peer

of

worthy
"

meaning
and

him

have

We

the

moments

superstition

of

mixture

his

In

presently

and

glory."

trying to revive Paganism

pedant-tyrant,
by cruel enforcement
of external
to

the

points

kingdom,

the

church
is the

mine

Sallust

and

"

the

threshold,

*'

by

power,

Once

his

as

For

exclaiming

of his
decisive

temptation
to

rushes
"

soldiers,

declaration
the

us

final

the

his

with

threats

and

take

"

from

light,

the

to

Lead

cue

us

kingdom."

by

"

the

catacombs

entreaties

him

urging

soldiers
step.

the

the

of

What

did

me:

to

he

what

that

assert
was

"

had

in his prophetic

Christ

appears

Emperor
him,

to

Maximus
over

to

think

hearts

lip honour

that

excesses
wildest
his saving
sense

demands

Galilean

the

of

as

"

Tell

can

only extort
force ; for in his
he

loses

so

never

of things
for the
of persecution

me

who

the

"

fruits
he

conquer,"

shall

"

to

as

realities

Maximus,

of

in the

still reigns

egotism

of the

the trophies

faith.

of

himself,

of

prototype

whilst the emperor

from
by brute
them

men

of

mistake

65

have
him feel, but as a rival god
would
he must
It galls
prevail at all costs.

whom

him

the

as

not

Galilean.

and

the

or

emperor

Galilean?"
"

Both

the

succumb,"
time
so

emperor
Maximus.

says

in

or

hundreds

Galilean

the

and

I know

of years

He

child
man

yet

know

neither

I have
You

emperor.
child
prey

in the youth

succumb

the

never

empire

"

from

of
to

tried

of

becoming

and

the

man.

You

policy

your

as

the

make

hinder

to

emperor

perishes.

youth

of the spirit.
final, any more

of the spirit is not

is.
You
have
tried

growing

nor

empire

Julian.

Both

approved

have
The

again.
to

child

; but

;
shall succumb
Does
the
not
perish.
in the
and the youth

therefore

shall not

you

"

not

our

comes."

both

up

shall swallow
who
Galilean," replies the seer.
but

in

"Whether

it shall be when
the right man
is the right man?"
"Who
says
"

shall

youth
flesh is fallen

But

the

empire

the youth
from
youth

than
the

Oh

fool, who

a
a

66

The

have
be

drawn

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of
sword

your

that

against

is to

which

in which
the third empire,
the twinhim
For
a
the Jews have
shall reign.

against

"

natured

call him

They

name.

Messiah,

are

and

waiting

for him."

Still
idea

Julian

into

entering

without

the

on

stumbles

threshold
He

it.

of the

is galled

out

by
the
of all comprehension
rivalry
of the
Galilean, and
asks despairingly
who
shall break
his power.
Maximus
Then
drives
lesson
the
home.
Maximus.

other

Julian.

that

or

The

the

and

Maximus.

Maximus.

Maximus.

God

in

God,
of

that he

begotten

the

spirit

the

in the

man

Maximus's

use.

relations

persistence

shews

no

exactly

Julian is

empires,

in Logos.

Pan

is self-begotten

He

"

of

this

God."

am

two

of the

in Pan,

is he

it is of

But

preach

Emperor-God.

How

"

not

God-Emperor.

Logos

"

Julian.

is I

God

Messiah

The

The

"

did

Nazareth

of

"

"

Julian.

none

is what
the emperor
makes
less.
power?
?
The
Not
Messiah
the Jews'
empire

the

world

have

that

third
but

seer

said

And

shalt

yes.

"

"

he

Julian."
Messiah,

yes

The

"

Thou

written,

me

Yes"

"

Maximus.

god

"

but

gods

"

it not

Is

"

in
same

which
sense

idea

not

only
as

that

who

is

wills.
a

synthesis

is Christ

in which

but

Julian is Christ as well. The

Julian'sjealousy of the Galilean
has

not

comprehended

the

syn-

Emperor
all, but only
flatters his own

thesis

is only

part

and

Maximus

as

valid
has no

in
such
and
parable,
know,
How
do you

him

only

fleet

to

on

earth

lives within
the

my

will
burning.

In

that

were

not

He

can

winds,
his
of burning

has

than

the

swirling

is burning

to

become

lies within

creation

glowing,

Galilean

crucified

as

to the

spirit

flesh spirit. All

More
and
power.

flesh and

of

third empire
the Messiah
of the

The

me.

sort

"

commands

I feel that

is here, Maximus.

it,

does

vain

you

persecute

utter

synthesis,

questions

in the excitement
exclaim,
"
The
the borders of Persia,

to

and

him

wreak

this

from

every

Julian,that

now

you

whom

in

In

it

of

the

of

pregnant

"

in

since

Julian.

lesson

his

And

isolated

reality when

repeat

part

constituent

itself convince

by

it cannot

egotism.

6y

that

on

seized

at

which

Galilean.

and

ashes

fleet

is

pyre

the

; and

the

is burning
the Galilean.
with
emperor
earthly
But from
the ashes
the
shall arise, phoenix-like,

God

in

one,

has

one,

in

that

the

and

Persian

he

and
is

is

point

whose
burn his

to
a

manifest

broken

when
his first desperate
the

the

refugee

last emergency,

sacrifice to

of

which

him

the camp

moment

his camp,
to

At

one."

emboldened

fled from
that

the Emperor

and

of earth

Persians

To

is informed

tion
informa-

In his next

exclamation
"

gods.

he

ships, has
From
spy.

man.

the

in

spirit

what

fall upon
is

gods,

vow

oh

68

TJie

fool ?

"

and

they

that

god

"

"I
I

"

hear

me.

and

from

response
he

to

or

; and

himself

must

other

fight, clinging,
leads
oracle which

into

the

him

only in the Phrygian

he
He
imagines
defeat.

suppose

he

need

fear
in

the

fighting

madly

to

his
"

his

believing

the

Julian has
is

follow

who

fly in

back

from

hast

reply
nothing

to

the

side,

Jovian

as

all directions
a

vain

dies

Cresar

charges

whilst

free

pagan

Galileans

the

that

their

of whom

The

and

is

open

with

Galileans

of

on

what
are

rescue

god

he

down,

soldiers.

he

is

the

the enemy,

Julian, sinking

effort to rise, exclaims,

"

Thou

Galilean."

oh

conquered,

Julian

that

out

Roman

strongest,

the

slave-soldiers.

crying

own

heavens

rallies the

in

; and

Jovian, calls

give

the

to

coming

made

the

on

to

the

sees

is struck

of his

general,
"

regions

enemy

he

one

that

fire, he

of

legions,

him

brethren

angels

swords

reach

Declaring

Caesar's.
and

of

Christian

one

the

ranks

of Christ, by

name

Then

ambiguous

that

Nazarene

in the

surely

this encouragement

with

to

to

he

many,"

like Macbeth,

an

this god

sonie'Jiing zvitJiout me
to him
seems
of lightning

Hash

above

throws

to

; and

on

call

me''

above

One

they

are

sacrifice

"

must

Where

will sacrifice

will

desperately.

answers

"

cries Maximus.
are

what

Ibsenisni.

Quintessence of

in

quietly

Christian

to

repent

friend's
"

of

his

The

tent,

averring,

inquiry,

power

that

which

he

in

has

circum-

Emperor

which

of having

have

never

they

that

should

measure

He

"

the

power

the

Being

to

man

felt the

eye

Phrygian
an

itself will ; but

the

who

had

been

as

heaven

is

way

to

in

others

within

that

full truth.

until

conviction

filled by

he

But

man

believes

in

of the equal
the

"

say,

YOU."

overflow

worth

of

that

seen

his

than

inasmuch

as

his

half

in

he

had

others.

conviction,

within
by
the
The

was

He

the

to

that

of which
rival will, he

vanquished

able

with
in his

for him."

third empire.
in himself,
but not

utterly

eye

whole

to
say,
able
with
kingdom
is
of heaven

been

great

region,

stronger

found

flash of insight
learns that the village

found

part, but

godhead

had

to

he

as

only

The

be

some

ings."
undertak-

Julian

it, not

conceived
but
will was

in

for

was

will

skill.
If

ambush
to have

which

he

"

is

he

when

something

individual

not

see

not

fell is called the

has
laid
world-will

was

of my

which
human

of

he

the

It

him,

to

remark

issue

there

though

us,

outside

still does

Maximus,

conscious

am

fulfilled all tions,

expectain justicereflect that there is

the

governs

anyone.

wronged
I have not

pov/er

mysterious

where

best

the

wittingly

think

should

to

"and

says,

divinity,

of

used

6g

he

hands,"

in my
placed
is an
emanation

stances

Galilean.

and

he

ME,"

Galilean

kingdom
was

cannot

himself;

the

on

believe
for his

of his fellows
his conviction

of

must

of

his

The

70
own

of

Against

worth.
asceticism,

incited

rightly

less

much
was

able

to

tell the

the

fire,

rebel.

But

Maximus

even

to fulness,

at

the

for

him

bedside

be

can

that

As

prompted

the

point

the

the

be boiled

can

and

enlarge

he
which
by
himself

at

in

Emperor-God
"

can

Julian

himself

upon
water

the

What

misled

stimulated

his individuality
to assert
without
fill a half-empty
boiling
can
stimulus

is

Julian'ssoul.

bring

to

Judas.

and

Maximus

and

is his having

mystic

man

external
to

Maximus

answer

encouraging

no

; and

conscience
priest

shall

fate of Cain

as

prior

rebelled

prior conviction

peaceful

troubles

from

indispensable

to

world-will

by

Christianity

; for the third empire

overflowing
is not yet.
Still the tyrant dies
yet, and

not

with

Ibsenism.

spurious

that

rightly
him
to

fillthe

not

could

the

starving

JuHan

conviction,

by

Quintessenceof

; but

just
no

well,

spirit of

man

the

can

self-beget
At
willing.

that

"

it is with
; and
will is to have to will
his lips that Maximus
leaves the
on
these words
is to come.
that the third empire
stage, still sure

point

to

It is not

Emperor

necessary

and

All the

intellectually

into

idealism
is

difference

instinctively

translate

Galilean

between
in this respect,

to

the

terms

of

reincarnation

projected
constructed

in

the

the
as

of the

of
antithesis

Julian,

realism.

and

is that

scheme

Peer

Gynt.
was

subject which
earlier

well

in

poem,

the

is

later

Emperor
history,
Peer

Julian
one

plus
did

Ibsen
interest

the

the

acceptance

Of

well

these

second

view

pin

stupid.

after the

been

aptly

often

his

all dealing

original
sayings

but

nothing

reject
Those

that
consider
from
attaching
at

words

their faith to

such
any
so

all, and
or

stock

stone.

first is superficial, and the

Ibsen's interpretation,
whatever
the

"

current

now

written
the

with

egotists
This
excitability.

of
he

hold

field

the

Crosstianity,"

called, becomes

had

current

who
of Christ's divinity.

its validity, will certainly

long

Ibsen

now

than

of those

most

them
to

attitudes

be

may

view

absolves

as

might

to

meaning

sensible

The

of
deepest

are

gospels

that

accept

who

him.

The

being

better

interpretation

paradoxes

superstitious

him

created

is obvious.

in

71
Mystic

the

understands

who

Christianity

eccentric

Maximus

plus

he
when
Ibsen's
of

recorded

Galilean.

and

it has

as

unthinkable.

three

effect

of

immense
idealism

intellectual

individua

on

imaginative

exceptional
was

dramas,

able to do
of his theme

whilst

his

was
consciousness
yet
by simply
incomplete,
self.
portraying
sides of himhas put himself into the skin of Brand,
He
Gynt, and
figures
these
of Julian ; and
of Peer

have

accordingly
belongs
to none
the

male

sex.

certain

direct

of his subsequent
There
flashes
are

vitality which
creations

of

it in

of

Rell-

The

72
in

Lovborg,

; but

they

ing,
sea

in
are

his

really vivid
having
For,
at

analysis

of

methodical
of,
personal
yet

as

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of
Ellida's

flashes

only

are

his

completed

the

henceforth

figures

solar

and
last

from

stranger

all

women.

intellectual

he

idealism,

now
construct
could
illustrations of its social working,
stead
inbefore, blindly
imaginary

projecting

he himself
which
in interpreting.
Further,

had

experiences

succeeded

he understood

he could

the matter,

see

not

that

now

plainly

the

effect of idealism as a social force on

people quite
unlike himself : that is to say, on
everyday
people
in everyday
life on
bank
managers,
shipbuilders,
"

parsons,
romantic

adventurers,

thus

eyes

idealism

began

doctors,

and

and

deliberately

to

as

used

and

effectiveness
idealism.
No
more
the

sake
laughter,
of

art

tears

of
no

more

forms

fill the

public

critics,

it is

in

With

his

mischief

of
he

the

so

rapidly

that

their

for

verse,
or

life,abandoning

that

with

soon

secure

detailed
no

more

for

comedy

order

belly

to

to

produce

literary

the

east

declared

by

moral

of modern

only
his

seeking

true,

saints,

of art for art's sake.

his genius
as
an
and

playwright

thenceforth

were

on

of

inculcate

plays

realistic prose

all production
skill

him

upon

as

well

emperors.

instances

opened,

crowded

writing

as

His
artist

attention
on

attack

for

tragedy

the

sake

of

specimens
critics

might

wind.

The

that

he

had

The

be

to

ceased

with

definitions,

took

his

something
fulfil critics'

to

than

of them,

notice

important

their ideal sufficiently

y^

he, having

talent

no

Youth.

of

artist ; but

an

do

to

else

League

thinking

not

to

write

play

about.
THE

OF

LEAGUE

first of the series of

is called Pillars
Society
The

of

this,

work

which

which

the

later series

egotist

snub

took.

Between

lawyer-politician
from

local

the

by

echo

the

form

Gynt

Peer

let fall

an

Youth

of

the

imaginative

an

ambitious

as

and
such

under

smarting

who,
landowner

relieves his feelings with

eloquence
explosion
of Radical
to

previous

the

League

which
farcically

reappears

had

Ibsen
The

called
Forbund) in

Unges

young

have

about
determined

Galilean,

and

plays
realistic prose
ing
describ; but before

said

comedy

amusing

{De

to

seems

Emperor

and

be

must

word

YOUTH.

nate,
mag-

county
a

passionate

that he is cheered
Intoxicated

party.

progressive

himself
he imagines
a
this success,
with
leader of the people
of the
and a wielder
great
He
to a
narrates
engine
mighty
of democracy.
kings
he saw
in which
friend a
dream
swept
helplessly
mighty

with

over

the

surface

wind.

He

has

when
the local

he

receives

magnate,

of

hardly
an

whose

the

by

earth

achieved
invitation

this
to

friends, to

promptu
im-

dine
spare

The

74
his

feelings,

invitation

his

tack
in

soul

"

My

presently

he

whom

I must
exertions.
Meanwhile
anyone.

own

my

from

in beauty
life

trodden
the

and

by

only

lacquered

shoes

sink exquisitely
lightly and elegantly,
blunders

no

Yes

means.

the

of intrigue,

indeed

have

owes

is

play
enough

clever
to

Ibsen

the

rest,

entitle

the

something

League

The

"

'*

well
between
or

two

made
a

play
human

episodes

Here

to

of

conversation

battledore
an

make

distinction

what

aristocracy
yourself

you

of
feel

"c.

French

to

comedy

claim

his technical

construction

that

education

of Scribe, although
that

the

difference

Youth

of Scribe
being and

in the

the
at

game

an

deep

are

in its mechanical

between

chairs

laid to be

ingenious

an

in the school
playwright
it is hardly
to add
necessary

as

manners

in to
plumping
I feel for the first time
we

it by

reach

seem

arm

Dont
to it I will belong.
culture ; and
the refining influence
of the place," "c.

For

happily

come

Here

silence.

to

fine

are

like

into

help
it without
drinklife here, ing

reach

floors

the

dream.

marry

and

there

the

I shall get

enjoy

the very

the

on

forth

great

into them.

ladies

; and

shall

Here
:

The

to

I intend

I shall

and

goes

awkward

and

sunshine.
here
gracefully

moves

Ministry,

family.

honourable

rich and

the

of time

course

into the

pediaps

person

pouring

related

in the

the

drawing-room

magnate's

is this

goal

Parliament,

into

to

is

to

as

speech.
imagination

egotist's

he

the

friend

very

new

the

sets

opposite

him
misled
demagogue's

have

in the

at

aimed

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

the typical
and
is like the difference
a

last two

marionette.
acts

contain

One
the

Pillars

of later

germs
the

of

that

episodes
choice

would
any

In

it.

of

doubt

the

classification

here

alone

first of

ending

Ibsen

which

Society^

to

is the

history

of

society

to

of

shatter

one

to

bring

and

has
allowing
only

of

been

the

committed
an

excuse

love

man

in

its

the
Pretenders

Galilean.

and

first play

has

and

longer

no

his characters.
Bernick,

It

"

pillar of

taining
of the duty of mainof his father's famous

respectability
disgraceful
to

in

intellectually

(to

abstract
averted

are

we

The

shatter which
of the ideals of commercial

another
a

Karsten

respectability

shipbuilders

in

alone.

of

with

purpose,
into

in pursuance

who,
the

one

his

Youth

member

is the

who

didactic

project

"

firm

one

himself

needs

in

SOCIETY.

then,

as

these

stand

Emperor

OF

own

must

beginning

with

writes

his

mastered

to

realistic plays

farcical

PILLARS

of

the

it

place as
of heroic
plays

Pillars

form

of

concerned,

and

suitability

Ibsen
confirmed
The
League

chronological
group

the

to form
which
referred
by content,
with which

classification
a

75

was

comedy

Therefore

as

stand

prose

no

it

; and

plays

realistic

of Society.

bear

the

would

be

society

into

exposure

discredit

disrepute

by
not

had
he himself
affair in which
never
was
sinner, but of a theft which
been
as
at all, having
merely
alleged
for the firm being
out
at a
of funds

The

y6

Quintesse7tceof
Bernick

critical period.
idealizings
of

so

he

actress,

feels
feelings

the

shock

for his

own

clandestine

nobody

need

this method

the

security

or
on

to

the

else

to

into the

the

women

ideals
actress's

because

deny

As

he

emigrant's

have

no

play

she hears

he

for whom

wants

that people

same

can

to

its

easily

an

of

opportunity

way

back

company

and

There

are

three

schoolmaster's

First,
to

the

conscience

such
lies his

the

covered
dis-

see

little short

Rorlund

expense.

who

other

neglect

of

the

posure,
of his exdid and
put
happens
man

Bernick's

attractions.

daughter,

he

be

to

preserving

shaken

where

accordingly

opinion

in the

community

to

scandal

the

shame,

society

good

to

right

is all but

what

it would

that

and

married

at

community

America,

to

and

either

terrible

man.

against
;

has

the

his imputed

him

crime

at

intrigue

by

going

conceal

tells

the

of

another
be

himself

community

Bernick

and

foundations

the

and

of the

Unluckily,

moral

community,

However,
selfish gratification ?
intrigue
nobody,
will shock
since
know
of it. He
adopts
accordingly

tone

it

of Rorlund

example,

good

the

of

the

Rorlund

society,

health

of satisfying

moral

time.

to

to

abject slave

he falls in love
with
has
no
man
that

When

on.

an

schoolmaster

duty

influence,

social

certain

respectability,

about

and

is

Ibsenisni.

there

get

there

are

to

is the

America
not

good

Pillars

and

is heartily

she

is part

of

her

to

whom

for

the

because

to

her

already

tired

life in conforming

to

not

woman

her

promptly

third

is

her

snapped

liar to

truth

the

the

with
himself

is

piece

function

in

hold

the

life, as

at

sneering

of womanliness

the

man

the

The

play

woman

current

the

ideals

The

comic

that

the

true

pillars of

like

an

spirits

of

and

ideals

by

Truth
a

has

all her

phrase

idealistic commonplace

whose
is

"

to

for not

everybody

Freedom

of

he does

This

Bernick's
and

the

telling

personage

respectable

with

society,

The

who

ideal."
and

everything

concludes

and

that at last encourages

of the

earnest

break

to

loves.

she

incidents
the heroic
and
resembling
he reads about
in novels
tales of
and
his
But
in
obvious
peevishness
dangerous
less
he
is much
than
idealist,

younger

hypochondriac
useless
by himself,
described

banner

her

schoolmaster,

free

break

about

up

the

naturally
fingers at

ideal

folly, but

the

with

master,
school-

wasted

advises

that

commit

with

and

Stead's

it is her presence

life ; and
the

Mr

earnestly

engagement

elope

by

to

she

and

happiness

her

on

condescends
has
second

The

reason.

her

sacrified

is engaged,

she

it

since

The

disgrace.

mother's

same

77

people,
of good
down
to look

their goodness

of

Society.

of

characters
adventure.
folly,

and
the

pious

Rorlund.
admission
are

the

so
sounds
which
that it is necessary

The

yS
to

the

by

nursery

convention

himself

Ibsen

Labiche
the

and

unflinching

them

recognition

idealist

not

as

to

rule

only
facts

do

mentioning

Ibsen

facts ; but

as
as

play,

that

you

that

truth-teller

occasion

Freedom,
from

as

full

university

slavery

to

Rorlund

DOLL'S

Pillars

police-court

not

accepted

as

took

care

next

typical

the

and
at

all

of

all

presently,

to

own

say,

shew

peril, and

his tongue
as

liars.

on

whole

The

word

freedom

means

ideals.

of

Society,

to

as

propagandist

circumstance
hypocrite

in

phrase, is
pillar of society by the
sense

of the

Accordingly,

represents.

time

of

HOUSE.

ordinary

he

masks

wrote

by the
play, is disabled
hero, being
fraudulent
a

which

tion
recogni-

and

mischief

hardly

The

recognition
he
them,

hold

trained

the

ideals.

air,

your

cannot

the

class

at

need

Unfortunately,

the

see

much

of

that

that

who

do

may

the

shall

do

such

all occasions

mentioning

we

must

on

the

ignore

idealistic

or

means

and

the

respectable

urges

to

dictates

facts
a

the

by

as

well
It

to

up

truth

these

of

hazards.

whole

bolster

have

which

satirized

facts,

of

conspiracy

those

of

as

play,

mean

not

dramatists.

comic

of the
as

later

does

truth-telling

of

in

other

abandonment
of

in this passage

Truth

that

add

Quintessence of Ibsenism.

make

his

idealist

Ibsen
irre-

A
from

proachable
idealist
the

House.

DolVs

of the ordinary
standpoint
House,
DolFs
In the famous

the

moraHty.

the

affectionate

terms

one

with

the womanly

belief that

and
children
loving
the most

has

she

is happy

attained

illusions

of all these

that

"

life of the

family

Helmer

Nora

Mrs

home,

the sweet

the happy

idealist's dream.
the

darling

little wife, all on

have
another, we

woman,

In his little

citizen.

three

the

with

is

doll

the

owns

who
of society
father, and
husband,

pillar

model
household,

79

valid
she is

in

tion
realiza-

ideal

an

is an
ideal
that Helmer
and
mother,
wife and
if the necessity
husband
arose,
give
would,
who
A
{g.\v simply
her reputation.
his life to save
her effectually on
incidents disabuse
all
contrived
tion
One
these points.
of devoof her earliest acts

her

to

of

sum

broken

have

from
the

loan

unless

father

shortest
name

way

was

him

This

dying

at

to

who,

the

raising

a tour
make
As
his health.

to

than

go

that the

into

money

really obtained
her
to
make
refused
her father to endorse

induced

of the

secret

sooner

It

note.

out

herself,

moneylender,

down

who

she

the promissory
her

him

to persuade

moneylender,

the

restore

her father.

gift from
a

been

enable
to

necessary

debt, she has had

a

to

of money

was
which
he would

was

has

husband

the

was

being

impossible,

time,

entire
though

took

the

writing

the

she

difficulty by

satisfaction
not

at

as

all

of

the

duped,

8o

TJie

knows

that

paid.

Then

she

he

in which

for

contempt

by

him

her

father's

husband's

own

eyes

serious

business

of

husband

belongs

he
her
be

that

to

to

plays

she
takes

to

borrow
the

that

the
with
dress them

her

the

fit person

self-satisfaction

to

of

bad

happy

to

has

learnt

to

to

mothers,

tell

not

train

coax

to

she

in which

the

bill, she
the forged
redeem
it from
due upon
the balance

She

home

the
on

the
her

which

way

and

are

of

is generally

to

family.

It

moneylender

ignorance

children,
nicely,

the

outside
he goes

When

influence

perceive

constitute

order

the

by

world

world

recognize

denunciation

dishonesty

commercial

traced

begins

her.

her

the

the

"

with

shares

to

the

circumstances.

her

destroys

that

putting

ridicules
not

committed

her

opens

and

would
the

in

contemptuous

formerly

himself

law

under

right

forgery

bill, and

with
hearty

persuaded

harm

the

on

the

influence

be

any

forged

the

uses

cannot

was

the bank

she, having

But

At

debt.

moneylender,

her

exert

scrivener's

of

the

there,

man,

name

was

manager
; and

to

at

be

to

surest

off the

paid

post

there

that

suggestion

is her

the

that

secret

is made

his behalf

on

she

in

is employed

the

often

nearly

obtain
force
Nora

Helmer

of

has

to

wishing
bill to

are

slaves

Helmer

this point

that

bills

forged

until she

work

Ibse?zism.

Quintessence of

care

she

sufficient

to

them.

In

resolves
friend
a
her husband

to

of

affection

her what
she asks
for her : that is, by

thinking

about

into

%\

House.

DoWs

by appealing

giving

his

to

of
all sorts
playing
into an amorous
pretty tricks until he is wheedled
has
This
humour.
without
adopted
plan
she
it, instinctively

the

takes

And

with him.
line with

least resistance
same

now

her

she naturally

declaration

of

the

result ; and

it at

explains

so

proud

now

from

love

unexpected

real nature

friend.

husband's

An

once

the line of

taking

him
her

to

is

the

influence she has been

of the domestic
herself are
All her illusions about
of.
:

shattered

she

herself

sees

as

ignorant

an

a dangerous
mother,
and a wife
silly woman,
kept for her husband's
; but she
merely
pleasure
him :
to her illusion about
only clings the harder
he is still the ideal husband
make
would
who

and

sacrifice to rescue
to kill herself

any

destroy

his

himself

to

own

to

hears

into

when

vulgar
for disgracing

mere

playing
mother.

family

rage

he, instead

life has

been

she

resolves

once

at

of

in

their

they

have

which

father,
and
him
then
and

husband
leaves
F

on

proposing

when
flies
on

that

sees
she
fiction
"

to

final disillusion

The

enough
naturally
heaps
invective

him.

ideal

So

reputation.

and
Then

doll's house
at

She

ruin.

him
allow
rather than
by taking
the forgery

forgery,

the

of

from

this ideal line of conduct

pursue

whole

her

save

comes

he

career

her

her
their

home
been

and
there in

wife

82

to

order

The

Qtiintessence
of

find

out

to

and

live with
a

children

again

them,

of

to

or

him

first cannot

they

were

course

at

duty

to

religion
gone

the shattered

as

most

and
husband,

her
;

; and

but

the

at

last

really happewed,
whether
to

come

as

potent

agreeable

home

has happened,
what
ideals over
her as
if

understand

flourishes

and

tally
fundamen-

not

position

he become
until she and
capable
honourable
more
to one
relation
another
He
that in which
they have hitherto stood.

than
at

some

gain

self,
her-

for

of things

reality

false, refusing
her
to
see
she is fit to be in charge

until

of

the

Ibsenism.

He

ever.

to

him

avoiding
to her
magic

more

pass

between

"

and

as

her

to

her

disguises

understands

is

has

what
to

alone

honourable

that

scandal

these

sits down

and

her staying

of

children,

of
he

even

that

"

the

presents

wonder

can

relation

ever

them.

GHOSTS.

In his next
with
attack
human

such

an

on

faithfully

Ibsen

as

to

its very

is the

the charge

and
useless

ideal, that

an

to

returned

uncompromising

marriage

beings

by
obscured
it is called,

play,

outspoken

sacrifice

his meaning

of

as
a
acted
model
sacrificing herself at every
Her
husband
thoroughness.

woman

wife

who
and

point
is

was

Ghosts^

obviousness.

story

of

with
a

man

as

has

mother,

selfless
with

83

Ghosts.

huge

capacity

Society,

in

his

marries

takes

model

in

refuge

the

him

duties

illicit ways.

When

her

devotion

caresses

self
him-

he
duty

to

he

; and

not

and

enjoy

for him

housemaid,
pleasure-loving
by
satisfy her conscience

ment.
enjoy-

to

wife,

life harder

makes

only

and

underhand

sensuous

ideal

prescribing
him,
drives

for

enjoyment

for

appetite

and

at

last

but
undutiful
leaves his wife to
an

of

and

his business

managing

best he
as
affairs whilst he satisfies his cravings
by reading
flirting, as
can
novels, drinking,
and
At
this point even
aforesaid, with the servants.
Helmer
indignant
are
those who
most
with Nora
for walking
out
Alving
that Mrs
of her

out

show

you

Mrs

doll's house,

so

were

Alving

worse,

the ideal of wifely and

her also
demands
this from

husband

her
again

and,

herself

regard
as

requires
for her

an

scoundrel.

that

son's

as

she

sake,

demands
outraged
The

purity

that

she

wife, and
family
ideal

suffer in

silence,

shatter his faith in

letting him
know
the

life by
of home
his father.
It is her
truth about
the world
that truth from
and
the

pursuing.

her

should
never

for not

Nora

of

place is by her
by her child.
and
duty which
womanly

Now

should

line

scrupulous

with

feels that
for

admit

walking
is determined
to

Ibsen

angry

must

justifiedin

be

of the

comes

for better

husband

the

would
But

house.

what

you

conduct

of

duty

from

to

conceal
him.
In

Tlie

84

this

falters

only

she

has

marriage
in

Quintessence of

pursuance

heart

her

In

sake
to

leads

her

back

does

she

devotion

his good

that

She

vices.

She

provides

come

with

in

maid

at

brings

and

seduced,

stays

With

her

up

the

of

She
shields
him
to

respectability

of

nights

sooner

success.

the
or

listening

his

illegitimate

household.

She

shattering

gains

Her
the

of

into

the
his
has

daughter
And

his

work
esteem

to

ing
drink-

considers
he
servant

the

later.

and

she

her
sends
sacrifice, she
be educated
there, knowing
home

conformity

strictest

for

own

tremendous

imposture.

and

what

the
a

out

carries

of

from

duty,

of

even
and
silly conversation,
keep
him
him,
from
to
going

betraying

to

now

sits up

and

Paris

first discovery

swerve.

ideals

streets

crowning

named

and

with

her

of

path

citizen

current

life.

his lewd

as

idealism,

affairs and so
believes
everybody

public-spirited

family

man,
clergy-

husband's

name

to

the

lying

of

although

respectable

again

she

her

manages

family,

contracted

infidelity, she leaves the

; but he at
with Manders

to

not

has,

she

daughter,

her

of

match
a

as

highly

refuge

scheme

be

love

duty

husband's

takes

utmost

so

Her

moment.

own
of her
the humiliation

and

which

one

professor

of her

once

the

inclined

Mandcrs.

house

her

of

it for

for

been

not

Ibsenisrn.

son

as

to

away

that
ideals
is

of

if he
must

crowned
her

old

Ghosts.

love

her

up

as

is brought

to

husband

an

in

the

and

enjoy
in

gratitude,

But

he

when

Oswald,
of

the

he

and

house

first shew

him

Paris

to

many

as

refuse

her

to

ideals.

his father's love

dull
the

rainy

solemn,

duty

and

virtue

manhood.

facts

the

in

when,

so

early

inherited

where
for

their temple

his

of

correspond

has

son,

from

returns

ordered

to

ever

enjoyment;

of her

the death

most

home,

comes

as

obstinately

of

flower

the

martyrdom

reputatio
sanctified
from
her free to recall her son
his society,
his love and
and

odour

leaving
Paris

own

last by

at

end

of the

realization

Her

ideal of marriage.

Christian

tired of holding

is never
who
a beautiful

the

clergyman,
household

85

weather,
strictly
have
had

his mother

years,

sees

of boredom
familiar
from
with which
she is so
miserably
of
killing time over
the
old ; then sit after dinner

bottle ; and
begin

the unmistakable

finally

the

"

signs

climax

of

anguish

"

alone

flirt with the maid

his mother
who, as
knows,
is his own
father's daughter.
But

there

is this worldwide

to

to

the

cases

did

not

the

intensity

nothing

from

of

else
him

that

he

moral
a

right

and

superiority,
to

be

happy

insight
She

son.

the

woman

Instead

disgust

her

the

loves

she

love.

pious

of
has

heart-starved

left to

with

consciousness
once

father

the

in

fiithcr and

the

of

love

difference

of

son

with
has
who

recoiling

Pharisaical
she

sees

in his

at
own

86

The

that

and

way,

be dutiful
her

and

the

driving

secrecy

and

diseases

son

now

bred

tells her

in

his

by

him,

on

mark

he

for him

he

as

he

shall have
is
until he

wishes

that

dangerous

with

her

if she

if he

loves

shall

half-sister,

on

leaves

house;

the

devotion

and
to

an

learning

is not

for

his

In

too,

When

struck

him

from

his

bright

champagne
longer
driven

life
as

to

of his life

her

shall marry
But

the

of his health,

state

to

him

to

tion
despera-

half-sister.

she,

poison

be

the dulness

the

going

invalid.

no

left

much

girl he

the

fifty times

were

daughter,

by

resource

as

her

have

carries

brain.

the

he

easily.

; and

to the task of rescuing

she turns
by
this horrible
making
apprehension
house
happy.
The
as
shall be made

Paris

so

foretold

time,

when
of

softening

with

unnatural

the work

diseases

that

the

surgeon,

life,

son's

quite

conditions

those

and

against

pocket
Parisian

down

such

that

life in

in
steal his pleasures
had brought
him
upon

to

by

the

finds that

undone

they

squalor,

the

their

father

the

her

false

joylessand

to

soon

she
to be

is not

ideals

that

the

and

lies and

of

wasted

be sacrificed
But

ideals.

In

fabric

monstrous

least, shall not

father,

unfortunate

has
she
which
She resolves

manufacturing.

of the

to
right to force him
in hers.
She
too,
sees,

no

wretched

of the

appearances

at

has

she

to
injustice

iniquity

Ibsenisni.

Quintessence of

is her

sacrifice

the

father's

her

mother

life in
and

%7

Ghosts.
left alone

are

son

home,

their dreary

in

with the
is
for him

rain still falling outside,

do
all she can
before
him
to promise
that if his doom
overtakes
he can
himself, she will make
a final sacripoison
fice

her

feelings by performing
that
natural
duty, the first of all her duties that has
dreadful
Then
the weather
any
real basis.
clears up at
last ; and the sun,
has so
man
the young
which
of

longed

to

him

play

to

that

the

have

has

horror

by

come

one

she

him

at

glance

give

it to

shews

her

to

their victim, and

claimed
for her to save
him
from
him

by

her

from

him

saved

before

years

her

asks

sending

just as

world,

; and

with

the time

real

He

appears.

ideals

the

that

see,

from

sending

out

of
nary
imagi-

an

him

out

of

Norway.

last

This
tragic

scene

that

the

emotions

the

meaning

of

discussed

like that

that

perceived
Walter

Mr

play

Ghosts

Besant

pattern
a

of all the

forged

daughter,

the

who

appallingly
prevent

being

seized

from

is to

Doll's
his

which
for
as

moneylender,
virtues,

bill in

intended

astonishing^
production,
Magazme
English
Illustrated
the
makes

so

it excites

An

Besant

is

of A Doll's House.
I know,
far as
seems

as

nobody,

Ghosts

of

repeat

terrorem

is engaged

to

to

House

own

will

be

son.

1890.

reformed

man,

The

land
Enghave
what

found

January

Nora's

and

"sequel"*

his old tactics by

over

his

In

the

in
Mr

and
ing
hold-

grown-up

bill has

been

The

88

to that

Quintessence of Ibsenism.

to be.

play

he is

idealism

of which
But
professors.
Doll's

by

that

the

House

first performance
the

earlier

are

as

Manders,

to

sense

must

man,

this

by
sort

her
of

drink

to

taken

from

offence

his

position,

the

his

girl that

if she
in disgracing
persists
he will send
her brother
to

his

son,

the

dilemma

by

drowning

is given
to
this
is, that if Nora
had
her

daughter

also

by

the

would
writer's

never

have

naive

his

him
gaol.
An

away

play

having
wife,

from

drowned

by

She

evades
absurdity

moral,

her

of

the

marrying

which
husband

herself;

unconsciousness

and

tells

exquisite
the

to

tendency

Helmer
of

jeu d'esprit by
run

pretty

moneylender

herself.

never

good

newspaper
a

mother.

departure

an

of the

inherited

forfeited

social

as

the

the

after

duty

Pastor

to

them

"moral"

has

that

of

selfishness,

who

In

Helmer's

Fortunately,

brother,

the

shewn

as

to

with

of the

inevitable.

forged

I have

appear

disapproval

general

by

critics

critics

Helmer's

to

compared

conceptions

endowed

without

was

early

Besant

in this country.

ordinary

who

admirable

English

of this essay

Alving's

valid

faint

very

popular
Mr

on

that

of

most

made

of Ghosts

part

Mrs

since

of the

effect

the

on

produced

repudiation

one

was

to shew

attempted

of Nora's

come

might

what

Besant

Mr

the

and
fact

doing
as
over
the moneylender
represented
he did in the play, with
that,
the difference
again
what
become
he has also become
having
eminently
respectable,

that

he

has

remorseless

natured

fellow

scoundrel.
at

bottom.

Ibsen

shows

him

as

good-

Ghosts.

press

lengths
bedlamite
on
such
Archer,
Mr
William
the

to

went

that

occasion

known

dramatic

was

to

able

in

excesses

an

body
whole
by
simply

the
court

of

he

of Abuse

as

offers

Lexicon,"

are

idealist criticism

of contemporary

extracts,

Dictionary

"

here

reprinting

worth

its

Gazette

Mall

Wagner

the

hostile

a?id Gibber-

for

nucleus

well-

quoting

Archer's

Mr

upon

modelled

Pail

the

this

Ibsen,

of
of

Ghosts

article entitled

in
ings, which
appeared
1891.
of the 8th of April

which

translator

and

critic
put

out

criticism

89

Schimpf-

as

samples

of the drama.

Descriptions of tiie Play.

"

Ibsen's

positively

This

Gliosis.

due

Reprobation
the

inoculating

done

act

doors
.

and

malodorous

Novel

Gross,
.

Literary
and

carrion.

perilous

(leading article).

bestial

open
a

dirty

and

cynical.

melancholy

and

loathsome

almost
.

nuisance."
"

An
;

Absolutely
.

all its
with
Candid
foulness.

Ibsen's

world.

fetid.

and

turned
.

unbandaged

open.

cynicism.

infecting

lazar-house

windows

Offensive

sore

after desperately

others.

and

at

aim

poison

with

loathsome
publicly

as

such

themselves

Kotzcbue
.

to

theatre

modern

drain

play
abominable
entitled
disgusting
representation.

This

putrid
Crapulous
"

mass

indecorum.

stuff.

Daily

Telegraph

of

vulgarity,

The

90

coarseness,

egotism,

Telegraph
.

and

(criticism).

Prosecution

piece.

Naked

absurdity."
Unutterably

"

Scandalous."

loathsomeness.

ingly

production."

suggestive
either

"

"

Morbid,

disrepute

dull

dirt

dulness

long

drawn

hideous

the

of

doubtless

Sporting

be

are

prigs,

It
.

an

in

Black

Ibsen's
"

Ibsen's

and
plays.
putrid

White.
.

"

Just
"

play

Characters
.

"

Most

Garbage
called

Morbid

of
more

nookshotten
a

of

play

W.

"

wicked
Lugubrious

profligates.

no

repetition

authorities
lethargy."

"

News.

is

Morbid

the

their

burlesque."

Gaiety

average

If any

Maunderings

Norwegians.

rightMerely

Ponderous

attempted,

and

into

"

pedants,

caricatures.

"

impropriety.

sordid

of

every

Gentlezvonian.

The

"

diagnosis

talk,

Dramatic

stage

Hawk.

"

from

wake

and

nightmare."

the

tale.

didactic

of the

ing
disgust-

Lloyd's.

"

out."

Queen.

"

and

with

woman."

and

of this outrage
will

work."

dishonour

man

horrors

degrading

uninterest

Chronicle.

Daily

"

and

acters
Char-

themselves,

unhealthy,
unwholesome
A
to bring
piece

story.

thinking

in

abhorrent."
and

Revolt-

contradictory

repulsive

"

News.

and

blasphemous.

and

or

dismal

Daily

"

Standard.

"

Most
.

repulsive

Daily

"

offensive.
Act.
Campbell's

Lord

under

Abominable
"

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

St

loathsome
and

"

Leger
of

offal."

Ghosts.

than

So

all

Truth.
loath-

Ghosts.

an

some

filthy

enterprise."

disgrace

to

Dull

dorousness
"

laid

and

"

malo-

with a trowel."
Stage.

as

corruption."

allowed

theatre.

Nastiness
thickly

on

Noisome

English

foul and

As

been

ever

an

of

disgusting.

and

Era.

has

as

boards

the

"

Academy.

"

concoction

91

"

DesciHptio7is of Ibsen.
"

"

An

egotist

fanatic.

crazy

Not
"

Norwegian

"The

St Leger

\sic\

W.

nasty,

discordant,

by

the

sunlight

his wrinkled

eyes."

the

of

aistheticism
Review.
Saturday

of the
"

Ugly,
A

dull.
.

sort

warm

''

White.

and
downright
on

for horrors

groping

stupid old owl when

best of life dances
into

Gentlewoman.
of

in petto''

pessimist

of ghoul, bent
like
night, and blinking

gloomy

in Black
and

Telegraph.

being.
cranky
but deplorably
dull."

dirty

consistently

Daily

"

crazy,

only
Truth.
"

bungler."

and

the

"A

Lock

teacher

Hospital."

"

Descriptio7is of Ibsen's Admirers.

"

Lovers

of

who

prurience
are

eager

dabblers

and
to

in

their

gratify

impropriet

illicit

Evening
the
under
pretence
of art."
"
Standard.
Ninety-seven
per cent, of the people
Ghosts
are
go to see
who
nasty-minded
people

tastes

who
their

"

find
taste

the
in

discussion
exact

of

proportion

nasty
to

subjects
their

to

nasti-

The

92

ness."

Sporting

"

females,

sexed

the

dogs.

muck-ferreting

women
a

women.

male

nasty

know

"

Chamberlain

that

illegal

an

left them

Educated

they

and

all of them

un-

sessing
unprepos-

of

Effeminate

They

alike
but

army

whole

The

the

woman,

in petticoats.

cranks

'*

News.

unwomanly

Dramatic

and

The

sexless.

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

"

men

and

men

and

doing

are

not

only

Lord

The

thing.

in Ghosts.
wallow
Outside
is not the slightest
a silly clique, there
interest
in the Scandinavian
humbug
or
all his

works.

After

ENEMY

this,

Enemy

domestic,

and

deals

sewage.

are

who

the

the

his next

play.

having

visitors

that
to

shops

and

When

an

ideals.

themselves

town

hotels

are

honest

appearing

The

in

concealing

which

customers

by

contaminated

townspeople

in

play

baths

and

doctor

ideally.

finger

his

middle-class

of

famous

their

the

puts

social,

interested

the

done

ordinary

ideals, he

pecuniarily

fact

of

understand

about

majority

this danger,
disguise

set

political
local

the

their

will

on

with

attract

PEOPLE.

among

puritanic

moment

people

THE

Truth.

"

the People, in which,

of

execution

folly."

reader
Ibsen

sufficient

for

OF

the

in which

temper

An

of human

wave

AN

to

to

alone

insists

exposing

immediately

Feeling

their

on

true

the

advantag
dis-

character

Enemy

An

as

honest

they

man,

Democracy,

as

People.

as

the

soHd

93

rogues

Society,

pose

as

the

interested

of

conspiracy

of

The

as

Liberal

an

against

People,

Majority,and

ing
abstractions, the doctor, in attackbeing thereby
an
them, of course
enemy
made
to Society,
People, a danger
a
traitor to
of The
from
Liberal
Democracy,
an
the great
apostate
imposing

other

party,

and

in politics

part

situation,
Norwegian

Only

on.

so

those

take

who

an

active

the grim fun of the

appreciate
local
it has an intensely
though

can

which,

be

as
recognized
in England,
by the protypical
not,
perhaps,
fessional
literary critics, who
for the most
are
^diVt faineants as far as political life is concerned,

but
a

air, will

by

certainly
on

seat

everyone

the

once

at

has

who

committee

the

of

far

as

got
most

as

obscure

caucus.

An

As
two

Enemy

people

arc

an

government.

because

necessary

it has

limited
the

the

been

extent

are

to

or

anything

define

Democracy

by

the whole
which
certain share in the control of
It has never
been
that
proved

best

the
made

short

majority

one

contains

precision.

arrangement

given

this is ideally

of

People

of it with

criticism

is really only

and

the

democracy
to
which
references
but respectful, it is necessary

Ibsen's

the

of

arrangement
people

willed

it became

to

have

it ;

only to the very

the dissatisfaction

effective

of which
have
would

taken

the

form

of

Tlie

94

Now

actual

violence.
kings, they

to

it

an

faith

same

we

way

set

him

idealized

"

the

as

Pope,

to

making

was

always

in fact.
to

submit

In

the

majorities

Monsieur

pope,

submit

by

king

that

"

Voltaire's

up

to

themselves

have

who

had

men

when

consoled

article of

right

Ibsenisnt.

Quintessence of

Tout-le-

it blasphemy

Democracy
against
deny
is always
that the
right,
majority
It is a
Ibsen
that, as
says, is a lie.

monde,"

and
to

although

make

scientific fact that the

it may
be for the reform
in

majority,however

eager

is always
developments,
or

of old abuses,

its opinion

of new
(for it can hardly
rather is always
unfit for them
in opposing
be said to be wrong
developments
for which
it is not
is
fit). The
yet
pioneer
wrong

tiny

minority

be

though

it is easy

wrong,

it is absolutely

majority and

to

be

yet

We

prospects.
were

in

as

for

collars
we

lead.

to

upon

time

and

shall

the heels

march
"

we

our

do

the

step

strongest

yet

be

in

the

social

all if it
still

on

saw

all
whither
declare
statesmen

they

when

off rusty

at

stand

clatter we
filing through

be

progress

Whatever

our
with
kicking

never

of

to

and
to

to

so,

; and

the newest

us

of

moving,

bound

to

never

should
for each

the

themselves

minority

as

right

until

were

heads

impossible

possible
democratic
principles
rest

he

force

the

of

are

called

may

make

feudal

serf

capitalistic fetters,
forward
at
except
man,

he who

is able

Enemy

An
"

to

stand

alone

damned
is

of members,

payment

but

on,

to

simply

machinery

no

motive

principles

that

number

vast

though

there

buildings

of

before
ritual is conducted
by a functionary

subjectto

be.

Church,

There

organization
as
such thing
invested
with

few

thing

such

any

Catholic

on

nor

may,

is

too,

collective

crowds

called

world

certain
congregations

called
a

to

need

in which

is

priest, who

all such
controlling
fore
points, there is not therein

was,

ever

be

as

reality

nor

highly

consciousness

above
him
on

the

ideal

the
ever

will

elaborate
is

there

than

no

abstractions
or

tive
collec-

individual,

pretence

validity
with greater
human
idols red with
eating
not be confounded
position must

the idealization

ous
danger-

is in the

public
affairs ; but
All
the ideal State.

set
authority,
duty from
exacting

or

The

as

We

of

thinking

no

council

central

functionaries

pure

mechanics,

of

of public organizations
or
that of kings
priests.

be reminded

as

absolutely

idealization
as

of them

in itself whatsoever.

power

so

and

economy

has

which

the

except

principles
and

machinery

"

of

suffrage,

reduction

social

the

All

parliaments

annual

in the

adult

of

wholesome

their real place

"

on

majority."

disparagement

no

95

back

his

turn

Liberal

compact

which

to

and

People.

the

of

and

of acting
he, are
man-

or

This
sacrifices.
with Anarchism,

of the repudiation

of Govern-

The

g6

Ibsen

ments.

as

an

the

"

round
fools as

the

far

as

committee

"the

the paving

An

Enemy

of the People^
the

of

incorrigible
the
with
his very self, and
idealized

direction

play

declared

that

was

called,

tragi-comic

such
that

his astonished
Wild

The
a

was

satire

on

fold.

he

Alving's,

had

Wild

The
a

back

come

household

The
in

handsome

in

move

sees

it

as

this
of

tively
plain-

victims

the

as

new

his former

works;
disappointed
so
began

to

to

the

repentant

which
is
Duck
one

about

becoming

were

Duck,

to

illusions, but
a
superstitious
illusions.
by romantic
happy

of it who

set

and

he had
pious, whom
by his interpretation
of Brand,

that

I have

as

slaughtering

the

severely
think

was

Ibsenism

whilst

empire

choicer
spirits,
idealists who

first

His

Ibsenites.

as

sham

third

Ibsen,

for dead,

ideals

those

of

exposure

known

of

DUCK.

WILD

beginning

had

not

for the
collect the money
and lighting of the streets.

said, left the vulgar

the

does

but simply

STATE,

by

tax

him,

regard

that

something
THE

the

pay

to

supposed

of

THE

After

to

concerned) to

or

police

sent

Ibsenism.

refuse

did, called

(mostly

is

be

may

never

man

citizens

not

emissary

exist and
as

does

but

collector,
not

Quintessenceof

made

we

not,

introduced

are

like

Mrs

miserable

by

one
made
shabby
The
only member

it really is is the wife,

good-

Wild

The

Duck,

97

better.
desires nothing
Philistine
natured
who
husband,
The
dawdler,
a
spoilt
petted,
vain,
high-souled
believes
that he is a delicate
and
man,

devoting

name

from

the

as

grandfather
he can
get

has

man

trees

the

into

play

drink

his chief

Christmas

can

by

it ; but

rabbits
a

procured

garret

The

himself

at

; and
a

sort

of

these
toy

hunting,

bear

is

of

crowning

duck,

wild
as

it is the

go

he

has

down

touch

is given

which,

however,

special

he

pistol

to

weapons
are

pigeon.

illusion

must

not

the

gun
occasionally

which

or

the

of

of the

one

was

rabbit

property

turned

forest, in which

which

off, and

old

second-hand

The
and prosperity.
of his youth
in the hunting
expeditions
employed
will not
brings

ful
wonder-

The

sports

which

father

whenever

pigeons.

number
with

he
when
daughter,

disgraced

resource

and

himself

in her

invention.

cheers

full of

garret

Their

intensely

believes

promised

day

an

This

making

some

inspiration.

necessary

in the

inventor

great

girl in her teens,

and

to effect by

he proposes

famous

it by

on

of the forest laws.

for breach

imprisonment

has

brought

disgrace

the

redemption

his old father's

his life to redeeming

be

by

shot,

girl, who

and dreams
cooks
and
whilst the woman
besides
on
the
carrying
washes,
photographic
is supposed
to be the business
of her
which
work
reads

husband.

She

does

not
G

appreciate

his

highly

Quintessence of Ibsenism.

The

98

; but

fact

other

then

he
a

lodger,
upon

"

has

doctor

not

doctor,

thrown
break

must

he is daimonic,

for

into

above

lodger,
He

domestic

this

fits because

drinking

which

explanation

idealist

an

the

the

accepts

troubled
his
He

he

hero

from

father

not
to

was

marriage,
; and

lie, like

He

as

relations

know

that

to

be ; but

of

the

the

man

ideal

an

of

enthusiastically
the high-

and

himself

constitute

theory

he

is

and

marriage.

before

woman,

her

of his own
cast-off mistress
husbecause
told her band
she has not

this, he
a

the

type.

advanced

photographer

new

comes

daimonic

the

supposes

because

wife do
happens

most

drunkenness,

clergyman's

souled

the

of

swallows

greedily

there

circle

the

says

gentleman
relieves the reverend
completely
tippling.
the imputation
of vulgar
Into

of

another
Relling

Dr

Molvik,

interesting

an

by

him

household

of the

away.

out

even

because

famous

now

lesson

the

whom
been

; but

drunkard

invented
the

clergyman

is tolerated

and

"

impostor.

idle

disgraceful

that

appreciate

and

hopeless

illusion

not

lazy

is

himself

respects

special

is

there

Molvik,

named

does

she
he

that

Downstairs

jars

agonizing

suffering

is constantly
which
her
from
garity
vul-

of character,

sensitiveness

strung

that

accordingly

the

her

conceives
of

Bernick
sets

in

himself

life

founded

as

Pillars
to

of

work

on

Society.
out

the

The

woman's

for her, and

salvation

frank

between

relations

truth,

the

out

Duck.

Wild

99

the pair, by
then

and

domestic

more

his

bluster

on

the

impossibility

the

repudiation

of

home,

and

the
there

so

the

duty

freed

from

must

free

open

the
only

he

might

annoyed

; but

the

herself

with

girl takes

The

doubt

failings

their

; but

of the
own

if before

scruff of the
refuge
that

neck
in

deal

mischief-maker,
her

to

that

people

from

the

about

doll's house,

accord
that
and
the

Nora

if the

period

you

thrust
next

offers to receive

her

They

is

strong

she
door

will go

take

her

out,

stands

Woman

by

she will

establishment

her.

be

cannot

without.

When

themselves.

her

idealist

carrying

seeing
foreself-sacrifice, without
be taken
in mortal
earnest.

finds

thus

of it of

the kind

of

live out

to

take

good

beauty

busybody

enough

of the

talked

that

out

shoots

and

his wife

sacrifices herself, thereby

teaching

and

The

to
weak
honour
and

with her father's theatrical

her, destroy
her
ideal place
in
her
a
source
make
of discord

she

has

who

her

mere

is too

is merely
on

her parentage,

on

cast

heart

to

than

living with

ever

not

piece

wanton

outraged

woman

idealist for telling

the matter

out

of his

the

; and

about

with

do

they

results

husband

The

scene.

act

again

serious

them,

asking

self-satisfaction,
whether
feel much
the better for it. This
has

ing
blurt-

simply

fatuous

of mischief

ideally

establish

of
has

The

lOO

two

thus
one

Quintessence of

one

new-fashioned
the

before

street
case

cognate

to

mere

you

what

of the

can

himself,
his exposing
of his internal
operation

him

no

as

impulse,

such

he

he is not
which
like Brand,
w^e
refrain

must

then

to

we

only

get

could
that keep
claims

on

rid

pestering

up

claims

on

at

evil,

quite

moral
every

if

tolerable

confounded

in

poverty

our

like

impatient

of the
us

to

or,

to

sight

Relling's
be

with
him

because

their

think

If

Whether,

meet.

with

them

that

put

claims

we

recommend

shall

must

compromise

assurance

we

is

do

obstacles
for the
wait

to

such

alike incur
"
life would

one,

sincere

can

you

make

prepared

make

external

you

to

because

Werle,

Gregers
beauty

be

would

yet

have

you

make

is

then
and
impulse
to confess.

It is useless

is.

the

he

when

all that

to

he has

measure

to

want

In

go.

liar like Bernick,

and

of him,

man

to

police
hypocrite

If you

truthful
remove

is ready

liar and

him.

exposed

and

is

less

the

none

she

hypocrite

of

him

exposing

who

keep

to

wants

who

deal

with : the old-fashioned

the
the door locked, and
her into
to thrust
wants

to

enemies

Ibsenism.

duns
with

the

ideal."

of the

ROSMERSIIOLM.

Ibsen

did

subject of
people,

and

not

the

in

danger

TJie

Wild

Ditck

of forming

interfering in

the
exhaust
ideals for other

their lives with

view

Rosinersholni

IO I

to

far

typical

more

lodger

of which

man

to

achieve

which
there is an

Ibsen

with

tendency

to

regard

one

the

and

"

to

as

not

fond

share

the

world

third

the play
Duck,

Wild
a

has

man
gentle-

been

for

of the world
by
performed

of him,
of the

any

of

human

I le is married

Indeed

race.

his dreams,

and

only

she
acts

fire of his
sacred
master,
brother
Kroll
the head-

the

wife, and
best people
the

fine

nature,
affectionate
does not regard
him

but

Kroll's

in

is

dim

some

with

empire."

on
extinguisher
idealism.
He, she, her

orbited
in
planetary

ing
help-

to

of such
ennoblement
for his nature
is a

an

circle of the

TJie

family

passionately

regenerator

does

herself

parson,

whose

at

the
of

is very

who
as

woman

country

for

career

noble

up

the

and

In RosDiersholm,

need

him

to
evident
he
looks

of

process

monopoly,

the ennoblement
be
to
operation

external

prevision

of trade

The
of social influence.
influence reinforces his priestly

that

very

the

regards

centre

of

himself;

it.

stock,

years

an

him

meddlesome

who

sort

followed

tradition

as

priest

as

unpractical

of ancient
many

the

of

a
pictures
who
loves, and
devotes

she

him

the

of

of mankind
his cloth gives

woman

clever

that

Cases

ideals.

those

realize

than

those

are

ennobling

the

to

them

enabling

their
in

social

ascertained

form

set

the

select

place, comfortably

system,

position

and
and

quite
unim-

The

102

peachable
a

an

vik,

to

read

However,

world.

Rosmer

the

as

and

one

all things
to

live

must

is

world

is

and

for admission

woman

poor

"

Gambeen

has

who

books,

advanced

comes

orbit

Rebecca

orphan,

Radical

and

the

one

star,

wandering

unpropertied

allowed

Into

respectability.

presently

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

Freethinker

that

disqualify

the

Rosmer
;

somewhere

the

in

one

only

an
can
woman
which
ambitious
and
cultivated
find powerful
companions,
allies and
educated
being
both
Rebecca,
and
cultivated,
ambitious
Rosmer
herself agreeable
to the
makes
circle

but

then

foothold

in

in
room

more

playing
a

leader

figure-head.
now

Mrs

an

becomes

Rosmer,

and

and

the

has

formed

which

of

the

the

by

using

providing

all the

offer

making

and

society

measure

idea

of

herself
him

as

First, there

her
effect on
Rebecca
convinces

extinguishing

effect

thrusting

taken

difficulties arise.

two

hitherto

thought

her), accepts
she

has

her

at

has

nobody

politics

Rosmer's
"

indignant

his aspirations,

upon
in

(which

society

because

Parson

of

But

polite

where
for

readily

impulsive

and

affectionate
Mrs
Rosmer

her, and is not content

until she
her to come
and live with them.
fighting
for
a
mere
adventuress

itself highly

shown
herself

the

unintelligent

wildly fond
of
has persuaded

Rebecca,

that

success

such

with

is

husband
that

Rosuiersholm

103

in

be

can

nothing
the

herself

The
he

does

know

not

sun,

and

The
he, quite
her mind

that
too

has

the

woman

household

for

curse
a

the

help
be

even

cannot

the

can

who

to

think

about
truth

useless

obstacle,
he really

woman

the

to

is

ideal

the

of

him

that

become

The

glorious
in the
mother

is childless.

she

; and

has

she

see.

and

woman

enough

can

standing,

husband

She

career.

he

the

hysterical

and

under

herself

her

between
loves,

that

come

sees

she

soon

it, begins

of

miserable

nothing

"

this

her ; but

with

to
the
sunflower
friend and
companion.

real

feels

she
him.

"

of

to

be affected, since

must

she
:

his

unconscious

nothing

turns

like

her

wife

intensely

so

He

him

makes

enamoured

is

unallowed

quite

calculations

falls in love

it.

understands

who

provident

too,

his wife

whilst

contingency

passionately

parson,

poor

"

her

in

him

with

Second

way.

for
finds

done

Then

comes

fortified with a finely reasoned

theory
future is staked
that Rosmer's
against his wife's
life, and says that it is better for all their sakes
Rebecca,

that

she

hints

that

scandal
a

be

is to
scandal
thing

it could

be

Rosmer

must

she

terrible

and

quit

should

at

go

Mrs

avoided.
in

that

averted

if she

She

Rosmersholm.

Rosmer,

Rosmersholm
can

by
were

happen,
the
out

if

once

marriage

of the

grave

ing
regard-

the

as

and

even

seeing

most

that

of Rebecca
way,

writes

^/^^

104

letter secretly
editor
has

Rosmer's

to

local

of the
forfeited

his

bitterest

Radical
moral

any
to

blame

for

Then
to

follows

Mrs

that

to

he

ideals,

an

he

may

hear

is in

any

to

by

her.

Rebecca,
into

out

into the

herself

to

way
to

marry

going

or

about

happen

may

the

millstream

Rosmer

suspects

mad, and guesses

Only it would
not do

not

by

party

aristocratic

Radical

the

as

suicide.

the

compromise

Rosmer

except

was

at

mourning

of quiet

period
Everybody

she committed

Rosmer

by

who
intrigue

there.

runs

Rosmersholm.

why

man

pitilessly denounced.
him
to believe
not

free

throwing

and

Now

that

Rosmer

his

paper,

that

effect

sets

realize

garden
that

the

anything

she

and

that

stories

the

enemy,

reputation

has
Rosmer
which
In this letter she implores
publish
Rosmer,

Ibsenisvi.

Quintessence of

So

treated.

was

editor

treating

the

their
eyes
neighbours
shut
and
condole
the bereaved
the Radical
; and
with
clergyman
his tongue
is
because
Radicalism
editor holds

respectable,

getting
help,

to

Meanwhile
to

the

and

the

Rebecca.
long

higher
that

Rosmer

get

over

unexpected
Her
passion

days

love ; and

she urges
brood
no

he

and

of

mourning

it is

him
more

now

to

hopes,
to

the

presently.

happened

again

worn

out

she has
for Rosmer's

become

over*

his side

has
is

Rebecca's

with

man

dead.

; but

found
own

of

When

in

the
sake

action,

his

Rosinersliolm.

friends

start

become

Conservative

paper

him

editor, she induces

himself

Radical

105
him

ask

and

by declaring

to reply

his

To

Freethinker.

and

to

an
animated
result is, not
discussion
an
attack
of his views, but just such
his home
life and
he had
on
as
private
conduct
formerly
on
those
made
of the Radical
editor.

utter

His

the

amazement,

friends

tell him

of
plainly that the compact
by his defection,
silence is broken
and that there
for the traitor to the party.
mercy
will be no
Even

Radical

the

fact

the

publish

(which
as
weight
dead
the

editor
his

that

new

but

as

had

been

had

always

simply

honoured

as

up

that

the

to

make
at

who
men

gentlemen

social

brings

proof

that

shocked

to

thinker
Free-

his

all

sufficiently well-founded
far.
Rosmer,
to
too
go

unwise

is

ally

is

attack

refuses

recruit),
letter

woman's

only

destroy

would

Radical

not

it

first
he

whom
should

descend

hideous
now
sees
that
calumny,
such
he really did love Rebecca,
is indeed
and
guilty
His first impulse
is to shake
of his wife's death.
by marrying
woman
off the spectre of the dead
to

; but

Rebecca
puts

Then,

that
as

she, knowing

he

thinks

the
work
his own

can

behind

temptation

world
only be

innocence.

the

that

it all

over,

slips

away

done

by

To

save

her
his

and
dream

from
a

man

him

guilt is hers,

him

refuses.
of
:

conscious

from

ennobling

such

of
despair,

The

lo6

Rebecca
him

"

She
gives
sacrifice.
by confessing
how
she
kill herself ; and, as
the confession
"

his wife to
is made
in

he

as

for
her

on

quietly

he

when

back

comes

She
self-sacrifice

tells
as

others

that

companionship

Kroll.
with
and is about to
another

has

his

that

vain

The

proof

forget

of

power

dream,

her

that

from

she
of his before.

of

an

true

that people
She has no
more

of

no

unanswerable

further
one.

proof
Dare

ennobling

the

he

has
her.

artful : he cannot
flattering this very

Besides,

"

her

woman

believe

cannot

subtle, too
duped
him by

without.
think

can

and

confessed.

it is his

since

changed

is too

weakness
that it is not
from

himself,

faith in

word

she
him

to the devoted
selfish adventuress
she was
herself to be.
But
she has just proved

lost his

his

turns

to ask
alone
why
him
why,
offering

no

was

does

crime,

house

without

proof

for

woman,

He

trunk,

Rosmersholm

have,

they

her

the

her

up

says

and

unscrupulous

confession.

leaves

and

she

confounded

that

point

explains

her

packs

from

vanish

it

though

account

She

the

misses

ambition,

back

ambition,

Rosmer,

passion.

Kroll,

of

helpless
puppets
what
in the hands
of this clever

moment

not

presence

realizes

all been
the

the

plot to her

the whole
word
of her

ascribes
not

Ibsenisin.

a
makes
great
his innocence

back

drove

Quintessence of

he

are

not

to

But

knows

say

now

ennobled
; for she

he has thought

she make

all doubt

Rosmersholm.

by

impossible

doing

107

for his

the wife
what
did ?
if she had
She
happen
asks
would
what
he
heart
Then,"
it.
the
the will to do
and
"
I
in you.
believe
I should
have
to
replies,

sake

"

recover

should
in my

the

inner

out

; and

the

thin

kill herself

the

over

us

of

feel

she

her

as

The
to

her

soul
says,

vain

woman

death

out

is free of this
am

under
life

it is fit I should

be

happy

from

blood-offering
has

the

of fellowship

against

that

the

the

denied

exacts

ness.
blind-

own

light

with

noiv.

first,and

the

for its

higher

the

expiate,"

its God,

in denying

even

no

justiceupon

of

view

he
is

There

do

must

a
protest
speech
view
of life the view

the end,

life

"

goes

And

too.

that

live and

really

Rebecca

"

to

good

has

words,

"

sinned

woman

man's

What

go

Rosmersholm

the

proof",

the

the

when

we

; for when

Rosmersholm

at

the

woman's

in

right

in

"

for

asking

must

the

I have

What

now

he

therefore

But

the end

power

her

that

sees

millstream

ourselves."

we

He

comes

fatal ideal of expiation

old

his real mind

speaks

to

is the

sacrifice.

judge

of

in

Rosmer

seized

into

sequel

At

situation

demand

veil of

You

answers.

she

order to restore
of himself, falls away.

opinion

by

"

nobility."

the

in

Faith

souls.

again,"
of

Faith

mission.

to attain

truth

its monstrous

with

my

human

faith

your

pass

this

in

ennoble

soul's power

have

shall

to

to

power

human

the

faith

my

she goes
man

who

The

io8
is driven

by

thither
his

destroyed
taking

Quintessence of
the

story

ends

his wife, and

as
solemnly
her into the millstream.

to

as

36

page

drama

by

higher

love.

to

the

the

of the
during

Gynt,

Peer

is said

what

the

prophetic

the dancing
girl
shocks
himself
by comparing
into a remonstrance
Anitra
his wisest
He
to
a
cat.
air, that
replies, with
from
the standpoint
not
of love there is perhaps
in

episode

so

prophet

as

critics

who

Rebecca's

between

transfiguration

dramatic

of

in

opinion
not

endorse

aware,

to

convention
recognize

and

the

men,

even

as

the
only

it

No

matter.

as

they

beyond

got

definitely

that

are,

possible

of

that
of

Peer

doubt

they

stated

position,
pro-

there

But

contrary.

of

critics

among

not

this

indicate

to

seems

have

poetry,

Gynt's

tomcat

imagine.
The
number
she may
have
the point
missed
entirely

majority

would

career,

difference

much

the

his

self
him-

in this
played
lower
into the

vital part

evolution

his

with

casting

here

repeat

has

which

her

with
It is unnecessary
on

superstition

The

will.

Ibsenism.

is

if they

poetic
fail to

tion
proposi-

alternative
in
stated

it is not
so
many
only
when
it her
West, but when
by Rebecca
without
words
her character
dramatically
contradicts
conduct
"

they
when
a blemish
no

further

even
on

of the

complain

the play,
doubt

that

am

the

contradiction

as

there

be

afraid
extreme

can

perplexity

TJie Lady

into

in England
to

the

among

Ibsen's

kill,

due

was

Gynt's
prevalence
of Peer
the dramatic
critics.
FROM

the

THE

previous

love

of

SEA.

it deals
play, though
insist on
the power
not
two

entirely

view

with the old

of ideals to

next

does

as

LADY

109

of Rosmersholm

Press

the

plunged

THE

theme,

Sea.

the

first performance

the

which

from

do.

plays

It

rather

deals

with the origin of ideals in unhappiness

in dissatisfaction
The
the real.
with
subject
Lady
from the Sea is the most
of The
poetic
"

fancy

imaginable.
the

on

up

doctor,

sea-coast,

widower,
who
his
household

her

in

but

dream
Even

marries

and

by

of

places

everybody.

is done

no
she has no
responsibility,
In other words,
and no trouble.
she is an
helpless, utterly dependent
article of luxury.

turns

man
a

thing

and

red
he
; but

at

from

the

charming
feels
sea

life.

She

reads

comes

to

choose

whether

the

thought

thoughtlessly

fragile-looking
as

the

her

in

natural

the

indefinite
into

conclusion

that

be

man

land

idle,
A

pretty
tion
posi-

The

lady
in

want

all other

care,

such

same

picture.

want

he would

being

accepts

woman

an

of

her

by

stepdaughter

do

to

nothing

with

made
much
housekeeping

the

respectable

her

idolizes

be

and

brought

woman,

young

her

lives, and

once

animal

had
or

to
a

The

no

creature

land,

the

of

he

Quintessence of

has

that

it, this desperate

of

child

dies

mother

to

cares

fear

that

appears

that

and

they

leaves

give her

her

into

and

who
seems
sea

she

must

the

doctor

for her

that
the
allow

away

sea

he

the

with

rite which

by

throwing
to fly from

can

only

so

is with
the
he will only
seaman

goes
to

unanswerable.

other
keep
"

that

ruin herself.

The

seaman

he

he cannot

thing.

her by locking

under
must

Her

She
her

it will be to him

In

man.

her

that

mad

prevent

that

Naturally

declares

"

husband

seaman.

asks him what satisfaction

her body
lock and
under

her

seaman

had

who

tells her

let her do

sake

replies that

heart

man,

to

the ground

on

through

the

She

expostulates

own

have

before

for her.

go

up, and

last

At

his wife

as

begins

he killed his captain,

old time because
fillsher with a sense
mystery,
of dread
and
to her to embody
the attraction
which

has

the

her

When

sea.

like Rosmer,

mad.

This

interprets

she

the work
without
valid place in the world,
longing,
longer
no
and

marrying

it.

the

chosen

her

who,

years

of their

in the

her

her

claims

went

their rings

for the

is going

she

consisted

to

longing

to
yields wholly
for her husband,

she

her is, as

gnaws

and

having

ever
since a
with him
The
he has forsaken.

about

for the element

dissatisfaction

only

that

; and

carried

sorrow

secret

sea

Ibsenism.

key

whilst her
he urges
vain
restraint

not,

argument

openly

dare

until
not,

remains

declares

that

TJie Lady

come

she

will
asks him
her home.
the

To

is

no

she

comes

it by

demanding

husband

Her

seaman

unanswerable

"

must

of her

fulfilment

her

of

him

renounce

his

coming

She

again.

freedom

on

free

own

in her

argument

off

from

replies that,

to

cry

vows

husband

force her

can

her

bargain

Church-made

he

satisfaction

1 1 1

distracted

the

the

all

echoes

this

Sea.

the

the

suppose

unless

contrary,

will there
at

he

does

that

so

from

to

choose.

law-made

and

his claim to the

her free to go
leave

; and

her old lover.

Then
the
with
his prate about
heart, drops
doctor, with a heavy
his heavy
responsibility for her actions, and throws
back

the

to

the

The

moment

the

vanish

all her

she
whom
doctor's
affection

the

In

effect.
and

takes

short,

stepdaughter
concerning

any

without
that

an

the

old
for ;

seaman,

keys

further

from

her

speculations

for

sorrow

secret

free

its natural

to

housekeeping

the

over

cares

produces

No

she

fancies

simply
longer

no

says

she

herself

childish

becomes

seaman

acquaintance

and

feels

as

off

crying

she

woman,

responsible

by

her

on

responsibility

demands.

and

sea

the

doned
aban-

sea.

It should
be
from
the Sea,
person
ones.

to

The

characters

drawn

that

appears

English
same

here

noted

much

readers
thing

by

EUida,

Ibsen,

to

of

notably

Lady

fantastic

more

than

is true

the

Norwegian
many

Peer

other

Gynt,

The

112

if born

who,
have
a

been

poet

drinks

his

tradition

the

about
discussing

himself
of

over

fiction

that

The

Lady

than

from

leading

Sea

Doll's House
are

Gabler,

Hedda
of
at

Ibsen's

all.

She

century

the

ideals

plays
is

figure,
which

realities which

the

be

frightful,

nor

pure

reason

and

in

plays

the

which

of action.

GABLER.

after whom
has
far)is named,
sceptic,

falling
do

anything

RosmersJiolm

the heroine

(so

Ulric

no

Gynts,

women

and

PTEDDA

life

their

be received
will always
by
English
audiences

and
men

and

Although

it is for this

fear that

carrying

hero,

have

we

Peer

; and

to

the

figures

is

he

and

dawdle

yet

more,

sot,

must

EUidas,

incredulously

more

he

who

increasing,

disposed

am

destroyed,

England

all like them

at

much

in

Rosmers,

Brendels,

the

disreputable

persons

is probably

and

dreams,

dream

that

does

but

things,

is

imagines

Ibsen,

Englishman

no

as

well
extreme

that assumption.

on

number

by

himself

make

will
broken-down,

away

as

effective

becomes

The

wonderful

dreams
to

as

speculator.
depicted

not

certainly

would

metaphysician

as

doing

He

nothing.

the

and

himself

until

and

Norwegian,

of

and

England,

in

blackguard

type

Ibsenisin.

Quintessence of

into

not

typical

the

impose

not

she has

yet

the
no

ideals

nineteenth

abyss
on

last

her

discovered.

between
and

the
The

Gabler.

Hedda

is

result
no

she

from
a

no

beauty

courage,
great

and

envious, insolent, cruel

bully
in
a
others' happiness,
mean,

against

reaction

heart,

no

great

with

remains

protest

father,

has

she

conviction

energy
in

that

i 1

her

own

is

general,

Hedda's

cowardice.

has

She

widower.

the

her ; and
caste
about
of the military
hunt
her activities to the customary
narrow
socially
and
eligible husband.
pecuniarily

traditions
these
for

She
of

the

makes
genius

from

society
there

to

usual

the

his

taking

is nothing

going

by

prohibited

who,

bad

restrain

in

search

him
of

Hedda

consequences.

an

pleasures

to

of

acquaintance

man

young

ideal-ridden
except
from

where
is

excess,

his good, with the

is intensely
curious

is forbidden
to
the
of life which
side
about
instincts, absolutely
in which
her, and
powerful
by
ignored
the society
and
condemned
with

intercourse

which

An

satisfaction.

general
and

Hedda

have

in

he

describes

to

which

adventures.
she
questions

are

never

has

no

conviction

her

Although
dares

indirect

his interpretations

long

to

; and
on

rests

whatever
H

the

Whilst

afternoon,

conversations

all his
she

trust

tween
be-

up

springs

in

paper

Lovborg

her, steal their

the rake.

girl and

the

reads

to

intimacy

odd

inquisitive

the
the

is permitted

able
disreput-

is

the

him

tioner,
ques-

all the

for
responsibility
Hedda
him
alone.

the

that

these

conver-

^/^^

114

fight

face,

that

far

as

he proceeds
no

again

her

to

truth

as

she

the

on

society

with

homage

; but

disgraceful

are

sations

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

can

to make

falsehood,

than

see,

point

to

pays

risk a
will not
hypocrisy,
the

she

to

it would
his instinct and
her

gratify

has

her, Hedda

that

be

to

When

ostracism.

advances

conviction

is easier

for

wrong

own

so

that

is confronted

with the alternative

of sinning
herself and him, or sinning
against
social
against
ideals in
faith.
Making
the
she has no
which
coward's
choice, she carries it out with the utmost
she

bravado,

Lovborg

threatening

father's

driving

pistols, and

him

of her

one

with

of the

out

house

with all that ostentation

purity which
of outraged
is the instinctive
defence
to
whom
of women
libel actions
as
are
chastity is not
natural, much
brought

mostly

libels

persons

concerning

whom

virtually, if not technically, justifiable.

Hedda,
deprived
finds that
of her lover, now
life of conformity
faith involves somewithout
thing
are

terrible than

more

to

by

wit, boredom.

revolutionists,

This
is

the

of respectability

against

the
forces
for

gluttony,
vicious

killing

hunting,
distractions

as

to

time

eke

by

shooting,
for

which

ostracism

makes

which
dust in

the

the

balance

of

out

rebellion, and
its harmless
sources
re-

licensing

gambling,

coursing,

and

even

among

unknown

interest

unflagging
society

utmost

scourge,
curse

security

which

the

other
has
idealism

G abler.

Hedda

for people

available

keep

to

money

by

but
admiration,
last she
At
marriage.

no

much

two

general

has

she

to

livelihood

who

by

instead

expenditure
to

his

she

class,

his family

circle
inevitable
him

for her

provision

Her

up,

immediately

to

her

of accommodating

income.

of

though

his income

accommodating

to

inferior

an

of

someone

; and

this prudent

wreck

much

mediocrity

\\\vix
faute de niieux, and

marries

proceeds

find

to

old aunts
and the
has helped
to bring

affectionate
servant

as

offers

substantial

good-natured
had
professor is all that is to be
him
as
a
member
of
regards
to loathing
almost
and despises
of

her

leave

her.

support

enough

is
boredom
of pistols, her
dancing,
at which
she gains

case

mitigated

only

only

; and

with

to

poor

are

than

more

appearances

is too

the

than

more

have

who

up

father

Hedda's

however,

licenses,

These

disguise.

no

115

nature

so

her

expenditur

rebels

the

transaction
that the
sordid
whole
to her husband
drives
a child
prospect
of bearing
frantic, since it will not
her almost
only expose
her to the intimate
in the
solicitude of his aunts
against

course

of

derangement

see
she can
humiliating,

but

in earnest.

To

circumstances,

with

nothing

of

visitor who

her

will make

she

forms

belongs

health

is not

that

amuse

her

herself

one

in

in which

repulsive 'and
of his family
these

an

underhand
to her old set,

galling
alliance

an

elderly

The

Ii6

gallant

quite

who

for her

cares

She

back
in

he

case

the

on

her

; but

by

out

with

against

the

this

way

history

as

left

being
life

precaution

tedium.

to

tutor

on

in

job

an

the little children

functionary,

This

time

university

taking
to

due

In

the

at

by

disgrace

to

drink.

of civilization

place
out-of-the-way
of Sheriff Elvsted.

over

married

as

gallant

lecturing

from

descends

Hedda's

through

"

He,

it without

is drifting

Lovborg

reserve

pecuniary

under

do

so

band's
hus-

hold

some

get

can

desperate

most

nearest

the

And

only

Meanwhile

he

her

importunate.

husband

as

pocket.

of
begins,

he

far

as

obligations,

the

her

placing

to

tries

there

pistols in

her

menage

behind

pleases

seriously

hand,

his coming

to

keeps

she

becomes

other

he

as

little she

proposes

and

consents

her

to

talking

and

how

understands

husband,

her.

to

trois

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

being

on

of children, marries
with a number
him
finding
that she will cost
their governess,
his
do
for him
be bound
less and
to
more
as
a

widower

As

wife.
of

He

books.

him
he

not

dare

but

he

She

does

for drinking
sees

that

is

to

in

not

; but

life.

heaven

he
her.

about
his
about
to

gives

When
to

his

tell her

dare

dream

to

poor

is

society

tells her

it shocks

too

settlement

his

comes,

does

she

such

refusing

Lovborg

her,

for

Just

as

as

Mr

pations
dissi-

unwritten

remonstrate

it up

her.

with
soon

as

Fearing,

Hedda

in Bunyan's

Gable}'.
in

was

story,

the pilgrims, so this timid

her way
Elvsted
trembles
Lovborg,

at

point

which

he

But

thinker.

one
publishes
for the moment,

now

cannot

tutoring

stay

to town
off he goes
children ; so
full of the money
his pockets
the published

plight, knowing

Elvsted

higher

plane,

Hedda

encountered.

herself

It

has

choice.

any

that

she must

himself
a

"a

as

will count

against

and

never

the

occurs

She

; and
a

either

Elvsted

dreadful

go

without

governess,

her

old

Lovborg

alternative

must

which

housekeeper.

she

without

book

her

in

more

same

She
or

under

marriage

that

the

with

him

and

once

with

into dissipation,
that
and
relapse
living,
life will not
be worth
her
her
is now
on
own
confronted,

probably
him
without

will

Mrs

Left

him.

brought

lonely

of
Mrs

which
book

Elvsted's

has

and
celebrated
another, fair-copied in her handwriting,
he looks for a solid position
as
an
nal
origi-

completes
to

unfortunate

to

him

makes

which

bravest

the

way

and

reformed,

quite

1 1

which

sin against

institution

his

purchased
to

knows

her
that

thing";

accordingly

that

even

her

but

of

action

she

sees

finds

Elvsted

his children
without
wife and
disappears
from the
so
unpitied

story.

Now
Tesman,

academic

it happens

is

an

that
old

honours)

Hedda's

friend

of

and

Lovborg,

husband,

Jorgen

competitor

and

also

(for
that

The

ii8

Hedda

Qidntcssencc of Ibsenism.
a

was

Thea,

business
no

to

town

Elvsted,

or

be called. Thea's first

she had better now
is ; for hers
is to find out where
Lovborg

as

is

Mrs

of

schoolfellow

preconcerted
keep

to

Lovborg

she has hurried

from
the bottle,

elopement
away

hint at to himself
not
she dare
which
Accordingly,
the first thing she does is to call on
have
the Tcsmans,
just returned from their
who
a

design

honeymoon,
house

their

They

so

brought

the

tragedy

begins

his

his
he

coquet,

her

her

impressing

that

is

she

and

that the

admits

cowardice

any

other

standard

the

was

of

is, she

the

in

right

for doing

that

thing

; and

it, and

"

past

She

the

with

that

she

so

pistol

void

of

conformity

she

daring
what

"

coward.

than

criticism

is still

conduct

thinks

romantic

not

she

male

"

heroics

not

on

he

as

; and

penetrating

ideals,

consisted

careful
has
Thea

/^j-^?/r and

was

; but

and

with

they

the

with

conventional

cowardice
That

have

pairs

roof,

tries to get

virtuous

pure

same

Hedda

of

arrant

always

were

to

an

for

"

that the two

experience

immediately

with

company.

demands

now

way,

to

itself out.

judgment

gifted

Lovborg

good

the

work

Lovborg's

enlightened

terms

to

in

result

under

attitude

analysis.

is, in

the

together

Hedda's

him

keep

with

invite

to

them

to

as

consent,

are

by

beg

to

to

thinks

her

be

wicked.
did
actually

self
hershe despises
feels that he also rightly
since

G abler.

Hedda

her

despises
feeling

for doing

that

is wanted

what

This

wrong.

but

wrong
as

Hedda

to

seduce

her

Thea
In

to

by

no

of

the

of

for

lives

lives than

she

has
shareholder
She
gratifies her

railway

at

but

manuscript,

behaving
police through
house
of a disreputable

the

accuses

it, not

of stealing

been

for

Hedda
.

is the

safe

keeping.

speaks

of it

his

despair

turns

to

the

two

woman

"

women

to

the

hands
in
he
it has

handed

to

Hedda

to

this

handwriting

woman's

union

Thea

with
child."

romantic

and

loses

only

that

and

their

influence

whom

knowing

Now

as

taunting

outrageously

Tesman

in another
of paper
fruit of Lovborg's

himself

coming

by

up

picked

bundle

she has no
Tesman's
or

valueless,
of Lovborg's

he not
which
finally gets into

carouse

Like

rest.

are

recreant.

is restrained

the

of

of

the

played

any

in allowing

that

and

has

he

of the value

joininga

the

he

hero,

shunter's.
jealousyof Thea by deliberately
into breaking
her
loose from

Lovborg

his

him

whose

value

intense

of

setting-up

this misconception,

on

sense

Thea's

by

was

consideration

or

common

"

he

all people
more

of idealism

reaction

very

do

to

courage

an

reform

acting

passionate

ideal, and of the wrongdoer

leads
heroine
or
qua
wrongdoer
Lovborg
tried to
that when
conceive
as

-doing
hero

gets

is the

unlooked-for

this monstrous

"

it, she

119

So

account

making

he

when
by

tragic

The

I20

Quintessence of Ibsenism.

telling Thea

scene,

into

torn

fiord ; and
he

that

"

brought

she

is gone,

the

child

and

lost it there,

posing,

and

thirsting

nobility

from

him

him

to

'*

his last
sight

on

But

earth.

the

he

of his audience,

he still supposes
where
lost, and there renews

before,

the

with

the

the

burns

weapon

the

faith

human

sort,

to

means

his

back
the

to

is out

the

in the

fall

into

Hedda
comes

was

of the
the

of

house

manuscript

shot

Then

and

is looking

he

threaten

gets

begging

she

who

wrangle

to

makes

spoiling

moment

that

the

in

which

man

Meanwhile

police.
"

he

by

unblushingly,

goes

pistol

that

result

leaving
of

the

using

air of

of
his

deceived

without
it

Hedda

house

pistols, only
by

takes

the

with

to

the

upon

out

some

of

of her

one

He

her

deed

kill himself

is to

appearance.

leaves

gain

it beautifully",

do

he

that

heroic

of

present

she,

manuscript,

telling
"

to

the

cast

pieces,

ill-fame

has

thousand

then, when

has

he

that

night

woman,

abdomen,
hands

the

deliberately
her

elderly
to
tell her the true
story of the heroic
gallant
her
do
to
Lovborg
deed
so
promised
which
her understand
beautifully, and to make
that he
has
by
his
himself
now
got her into his power
ability
be

the

to

child."

identify

slave

of

the

scandal

of

inquest

with

the
this

She

pistol.
man,

or

else
her

connection

of

squalid

debauch

has

to

either

to

face

the

name

at

the

ending

in

Hcdda

death.

Ten

news

with

the

old

the

congenial

notes

Thea

Tesman,
admirer,
answer

who
for Mrs

husband

the

pieces

has

again

and

so

trembler
the

leaving

and

her

second

the
holding

situation,

she

which

has

Over

preserved.

arranging
and
of collecting
is perfectly happy,
ideas Tesman
first
his beautiful
for the
Hedda

forgets

time.

is not

task

man's

another
and

too,

"

Tesman

with

I2i

by Lovborg's
crushed
the
minutes
after she has received
loss, she sits down
cry of heartfelt
"
from
to
the child
reconstruct

Thea,

murder.

Gable}'.

smoothly
Tesman
is occupied

book

of the

reckoned

pistol.

She

the story

is still mistress

dead

Lovborg,

Hedda

to

remarks
not

being

with

Thea

together.

of

the

gaining

her
that

elderly
he
will

bored
in

whilst
putting

However,

he

Gabler's
General
without
shoots herself then and there ;

ends.

V.

IN

following

this

Ibsen

by

Ibsen

those
the

so

plays

that

plainest
Relling,

terms

the

by

have

by

rest.

of

conned

wondered
a

of

the

great

many

of

poetry

of

of them

explanation

Ibsen

the

ideals

that

the mouths
No
great

through

that

to

utterances

for any

written

have

who

already

given

the

and

plays

thesis

fascinated

most

will plead

than

rather

his

readers

know

are

who

that

the

is slavery

to-day

pervert

Indeed

poet.

of

PLAYS.

idealist spectacles

through
I could

that

sketch

of

be

it may

THE

illustrate

to

real slavery
virtue,

OF

MORAL

THE

himself
of Mrs
writer

in

the

Alving,
his

uses

is a tale
his meaning.
There
skill to conceal
Scotch
famous
by
a
which
would
story-teller
hit on
it
if he had
Ibsen
have
exactly
suited
first.
Jeanie Deans
saciificing her sister's life
on

the

more

and

Scott

to

her

than

the

scaffold

horrible
the

dens

makes

solution

of

ex

the

moral

of

duty

is far

sacrifice in RosmersJioIm

macJmta

the end

ideal

own

expedient

of his story

problem

by

agreeable

raised, but

which
is no
only

The

evasion

puerile
that

it

sake

of

to

was

shew

that

to

as

mischievous,
their

envy

from

the

has

Ibsen

Ghosts

is

monogamic
was

told
the

"'^The
often

of

or

Scott's

scene,

death

by

came

founded

in which

jailor,

The
was

the
found

roar

I wad

way,

ha'

was

in the

"gag"

acting

of

edition

the

hole

from

actor's,

play.

the
her

been

the

an

me,"

said

iron

pit and

The
and

painful
sister to
fiction,

innocent

through

Some

performance

After

If it had

has

problem

perfectly

of the

those

in the theatre.

in sentiment.

Ibsenite

moral

condemns

burst

which

of

The

stand.

that

story.

prison.
a

text

the

it is less

"

sworn

be

should

is not

of the

Duck

by

Deans
to

Wild

is tolerated

this

on

swear

of applause

thoroughly

is to

I witnessed

ago

Jeanie

refusing to
in the
scene
"

burn

story

years

indissoluble

must

by acclamation

seventeen

that

maintain

truth

solution

delivered

than

that

Ghosts

from

less plain

that

contention

confute
But

of
The

they

sake,

melodrama

trial

the

own

common-sense

been

sixteen

or

their

itself.

to

favour

in

inculcate

to

shrink

no

by
to

easy

as

things

as

book

the

attempts

polemic

that

reason

who

one

if their

plays

be

it would

marriage,

written
for its

ideals

moral

of

do

to

murderous

his meaning

made
If any

Scott's.

as

were

lothian
Mid-

of

led

are

people

pages

Heart

The

wrote

and

ambition,

if I

Consequently,

unnatural,

religious

and

me

believed
undoubtedly
for the
hang
Effie should

Jeanie'sideals.*
Scott

123

He

that

that

Plays.

the

of

it.

of

right

pretend

by

Moral

pot."

gallery

speech,

is not

to

by
be

The

24

terrible, but

familiar to all
Scott's views
are
ladies and
gentlemen,
whereas

that

well-brought-up
for the
Ibsen's are

moment

He

almost

unthinkable.
the idealist finds

that
being

to

unable

should

have

unable

to

interpolate

this
on

figures

of

equally

drive

who

in its most

less happily

woman

ever

in

an

the

those

of

vulgar

Brand

of

form.

cruel

lives

is not
after ; but that
but
Rosmer,
Brand
or

than

he

is less.

The

idealist

the

Philistine

is

as

The
:

or

more

because
because

dangerous

more

just

to

atrocities

such

likes and

and

love

they

no

is greater

tragic

most

whom

or

novel

ordinary

commits
he

not

His

acter
char-

of vanity,

are

and

it is

Since

destinies

he

than

to

countenance

types

failure

wanton

Philistine
the

higher

heroes.

be

and

proceeds

seizes, his examples

in

is reached

marries

animal

yet

confusion.

the

of

would

melodrama

he

genius

explicit

to

seems

making

weaknesses

ordinary

such
and

of

his
to
conforms
which
deep
Ibsen's
sympathy

folly, and
selfishness,
who
villains, but men

death

poet

dilemma

it, and

on

nobility.

idealist

Rosmer,

in the

Ibsen's

of

spite

meaning

that idealism

point

great

meaning,

insistence

of

method
the

so

that

conceive

in

ideal
his

is

be

to

as

his real meaning

as
otherwise
he misses the meanConsequently
ing

circumstantial

with

strange

conceive

altogether

own

so

himself

ignoble

an

ignoble.

than

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

maa

is

The

dangerous

more

Brand

tells him

the

made

that

he

; that she

sees

him

God

his

that

action

that

criticism

instead

false

suggested

had

risen above

fell short of, I

disrespect

if

had

to

wholly
the

to

terms

I have

plays,
by

describing

already,
and

these

I should
strongly

make

the matter

our

been
which,

perhaps

does

have

should

understood.
have
realist morality
living
language
; and

in this very

terms

life they

of the

only plead, with but a moderate

large section of my
readers, that
otherwise

realism,

the

in that of the life they

than

done

in

myself

can

of the

appeared

above,

its mists.

through

judgments

stincti
in-

; and

eyes

the clear ether

the

of

he

the
above
beneath,
from

idealism

reached

rather

exacted,

far

of the idealists in the terms

errors

Brand's

dies,"
her

once

it from

can
only be
which
If, in my
account

envying

and

when
he has

over

at
at

of surveying

play

For

hands

sneers

to

married

Jehovah

him

raises

understand

"

sees

whoso

can

right ; that she is happy

face to face
but reminds

was

clasps

the

sacrifice

"

that

Though

sheep.

comfortably
reading
husband.

her

125

his wife, 1

woman,

victim

wife, having

now

Philistine,

amiable
the

than

murdered

Plays.

the

of

animal

virtually
many

an

Moral

distinction

forced
had

not

have

it conflict

to

between

insist

Ibsen
conveyed
in many

on

forced

failed
Indeed
not

yet

have

idealism
a

sense

my

of

hand,

so
otherwise,
of its applica-

The

126

tions with

the vernacular

however,

the

with
the

without
will
recent

speaker

the

for the

Stuarts

no

Boyne

the

revolutionists,
fought
who

Highlanders

and

at

mune
Com-

fact that

the

French

the

against

Irishmen

the

La

of

peasants

Paris

Federals
for the
eulogy
been equally
appropriate
for
fought
Vendee
who

have

not

underlying
At
action.

of the
by

struck

find

tyrants

to

was

the

in

qualities

celebration

qualities

moral

to

reference

these

1,

would

their
or

87

their

of

slightest

could

which
to

had
to be
characters
habit of labelling
inveterate

anniversary

of

to

personal

names

sets

which

This,
words.
the difficulty

of the

use

trifle compared

when
from our

described,
men

was

arose,

which

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

Nor

Culloden.

or

find any
other
celcbrators
adjectives
for their favourite
leaders of the Commune
than

could

the

those

which

by

had

the

all

journals

left

have
would
dark about

them

enough

all

the

as

the

the

are

counter

in middle-class

and

examples

public

men

as

lately

the

of
a

noble
much

statements,

in

the
The

mune
Comideal
in

the
once

newspapers,

that

Our

ary
obitu-

assassins.

of the

explorer

meeting.

whole

quite

applied

held

just then

stranger

incendiaries

were

notices

Of

by

African

the slain members

died
for
heroes
who

were

they

an

that

statements

common

to

were

whose
achievements
liveliest abhorrence

liberally

been

recently

same

ambiguity.

deceased,

none

Moral

The

have

been

marked

personal

Charles
any

other notable
Yet when
the

with

usual

determination,
so

and

the obituary
string

integrity,

names

from

notices,

to

unable
Mr

late

the

or

reprinted

been

subjectof
supposed

him

be

to

an

When

of

fact

that

insult

to

God

it became

whose

obituary

he
to

was

an

admit

for

the occasion

had

Bradlaugh

notice

the

when

middle

revolutionist, the
hung
press
upon

being

he

laid

on

it would

atheist
him
to
that

apparent

have

be

Parliament.

was

conservative

force in politics, he, without

any recantation
had
his atheism,
once
the string
at
of evil

qualities
but

as

one

Garibaldi

of newspaper

ago,

years

was

than

the
string of qualities which
him were
great stress
all evil ones,
the

entirely

nevertheless

sorts

many

Ten

his time.

classes

merely

details

reader

almost
verbatim
incongruity.
gross

any

in

the

might

morality

without
the

by

external

other

Newman,

Cardinal

certificates of
been

eloquence,

"

common-sense,

Bradlaugh

like Mr

more

no

appeared,

possible,

leave

to

mons.
of Com-

the
whether
subject of them
Mr
Mr
Morley,
Stead, or any

say

Gladstone,

else

been

and

all

least like

notices

qualities

late

the

in the

strong

have

expunging

these

of

27

strongly

of the House

member

it would

on,

by
than

characteristics
He was
not

Bradlaugh.

interesting

more

made

Plays.

the

of

exchanged

it is hardly

for
necessary

rosary
to

add

of good
that

ones

neither

I2S

The

the

badge

old
inquirer

Quintessenceof Ibsenism.

least

the
was

actually

he

Wat

or

Wilberforce

the

the

accounts

the

Tax

being

with

"

the

question,

to

make
he
that

ground

hero

principled

The

is

I have

in telling the

stories

beside

the

sort

conduct

describe

Hedda

preferred

Elvsted

as

an

or

seeks

Gabler
death
abandoned,

as

to

hat.

to

to

otherwise

If any

to

over

person
modern

dishonour,

be

partialities

express
are

example

other

all

high-

must

They

plays.
any

the

on

those

myself

his characters
marks.

the

discount

which

favourable

pasting

simply
bad
or

as

mark

criticism

of

impression

who

the

tempt
At-

fearless,

into

goes

the

him

you

"

question

permitted

of

until

done

for

same

crowd

liar ; and

he

upright,

the

judgment

therefore

which

much

an

penny

must

reader

in practice

and

What's

one

of these

before

collection

; and

before

answered

its

tinction
dis-

him

give

could

or

all the

worthlessness

suspend

will

for

coward,

or

Proudhon

or

stranger
a

Penn

Hampden

is recognized

thief,

crowd

answer

The

individuals

day.

every

labels

such

well
Crom-

Oliver

the late Mr

Canterbury,

of

he

man

of

Cade,

notoriety

other.

of

been

any

give

sort

Jack

or

theory

that
or

the

have

might

ever

will

to

Wellington,

or

-earthArchbishop

way

new

clue

Tyler

flat

of

the

nor

of
an

create

Ibsen
with
cares

as

by

good
to

Lucretia
and

perjured strumpet

Thea
who

T]ie Moral

deserted
to

the

man

love, honour,
contains

play
both

and

If

Ibsen

as

obey

the

critic

on

that,

one,

the

hand.

other

dramatic

it throws

because

into

the

be

gainsaid.

or

an

debauchee
fearless

or

and

to

is at

which

an

Manders,

or

model
bias, you

your

true

once

immoral

is, in the

quite

imply

mischievous

mischievous

conform

to

current

himself

not,

ideals.

almost

entirely
I

something

have

not
:

which

Since
to

it

case

an

it is

in which

does

father,

in either

conduct

or

shocking

and

plays

sense

Immorality

true.

conduct,

devoted

Ibsen's

Ilelmer

said

false, and

and

that

used,

or

Nora

society,"

have

perfectly idle.
The
statement
tendency,

Alving

one,

mother,
husband

When

"emancipated

woman

unnatural

it,

beautiful

parried.

an

of

noble-hearted

little liar and

selfish hound
according

"victim

the

as

relief the
Pastor
pious

unprincipled

If,

defend

"

woman

is

play

defended,

be

the

of

divine

figure of the simple

and
the fatal compliment
cannot
have
Mrs
Alving
you
called

argue

making

lately did

critic of Piccadilly

the

recommend

by

be

Ghosts

to

on

to

cannot

again,

God

establishing

goes

means

manifestly

her

death,

evidence

Hedda's
above
conduct
happier
for her, the moral

vicious

her

until

Thea's
end

129

before

sworn

conclusive

points.

that

had

she

Plays.

the

of

necessarily

implies

does

not

Ibsen

has

shewing

that

The

130
the

spirit

his

or

is

tragic

than

of

being

to

remind

how
to

as

urge

that
to

temptation

the

them

of

demanding

be

to

tell the

as

that

human

that

demand

be

and

of old,
Let
sacrifices.

are

let

others

the

above

the

worth
one

every

from

the

against

are

certain

are

to

used

shall be

the
justifies

gods

placed

they

; and

himself

the

it

that

taking

of

justifyall means
which
insists that every
; and
end
shew

much

protests

there

to

their

of

just as

He

walking.

truth

and

desirability

desirability

the

careful

tongues,

depends

assumption

Ibsen,

faith

immorally,

to

their

the

chastity

ideals, like

prove

hold

as

to

challenged

says

act

violation

ends

supreme

Our

to

ought

that

their

ordinary

attain

the

less

no

results

temptation
to

women

instead

they

circumstances

cab

to

conformity

follow

prepared

yield

upon

ing
outgrow-

of
still valid, the main
effect of his
before the public the importance

men

preserving
on

which

always

they

therefore

producing

constantly

are
which
is to keep

plays

that

those

Ihsetiism.

is constantly

Man

will of

ideals, and

them

ideals

Qiimtessence of

means.

constantly
of them,

none

to

obligation
sacrifices

refuse
moment

to

he

they

sacrifice
loses

his

Of course
it
reality of the ideal.
will be said here by incorrigibly
slipshod
readers
being immoral,
is the highest
that this, so far from
in

the

morality

shall not

; and

waste

any

so,

in

sense,

further

it is ; but

explanation

I really
on

those

Moral

The

nor

word

ideals

no

plays

ever

will

ridden
be
cannot
There

likely

are

defended
be

can

be

to

plays

from
ideals

current

the vigilant
once

as

on

anticipates

ordinary

safe

standards

than

such

you

attended

and

taxes

charitable

do

all these
them,

as

the

hundred

can

do

the

them

smuggler

all through
a

technical

point

Have

Have

our

; and

; but

or

the

examination

conscience

the

law

; paid

in

be

who

reason,

hard

to

not

to

worse

is, Guilty

in which
or

Not

No

answer

must

in

scoundrel
life than

Substitute
one

rates

cowards

even

live

yet

Have

your

moral

And

commandments

it is still harder

catechism.

to be settled

of

kept
the

responsib

moral

individual

It may

prostitute

examination

It must

of

contributed,

know.

all and

conduct,

the

obeyed

ninety-nine

well

to

you

institutions?

things

of

the way
bar of his

regularly

Caesar

of

in

you

church

to

to

do

as,

questions

effect
by his

acceptance

sense

conversion

judgment

the

at

the

worse

and

the

of Ibsen.

deepen

are

who

individual

an

the

nothing

to

as

question

Before

Ibsen's

of

the accusation.

open-mindedness

greatly

current

immoral,

seem

short, then,

those

among

against

produced

conversion

morality

by

another

by

the

will

no

In

so.

ridden

to

as

or

not

arise ; and

his

so

do

to

who

question

thing

one

me

allow

those

among

at

mean

will neither

who

Plays.

the

of

for such
the

Guilty

whole
?

"

one

The

132
in which

is

there

no

more

for rebellion, for legality

for piety than
for blasphemy,

immediately,

instead

by

standard
raise it by
at
can

tests

their

The

Pharisee.

Christian

the

of

principles,

to

independence
to

has
wins

bow

felt it

always

be

should

in
is

reason

know

it

that

than

she

; and

which

"

street,

though

"

brings

latest
no

whom
the

the

Nell
the
her out

step

between

forward

in

the

by

is

Gwynne
abolition
a

them,

public

to

worse

would

is

respect

she
deep-seated

one,

heiress

idol.

and

The

does

better

of

dare

person

of the

of

riously
deli-

rush

lady
a

spirit

woman

popular

virtuous

to

at years

spiritual

respectable

by the realist test which

relation

that

accompanied
the

any

unimpeachable

unjust

whilst

Gwynne,
to

this

"

please

regard

arrive

their liberty

use

devil

the

they

time

they

detestation,

Nell

the

point

the
of
brought

has

such
relentless
with
children
that if they have
their ideal morality

by

not

her

left in them

you

cowardice

lady

who

moral

worth,

moral
this does

respectable

the

vices, and

or

Naturally

for

short,

stringency

Pharisaism

mere

them.

strictest

up

increasing

pass

the

the

relaxing

no

which

in

for the standard

lowering
of

than

virtues

for

for subordination
than for illegality,

than

standard

less respect

no

and
for incontinence,

than

chastity

Ibsenisni.

Quintessence of

not

woman

idealist

test

its replacement

the true
shew
would
be a most
desirable

morals,

especially

as

it

TJie Moral

Pharisee

the
as

impartially,

act

would

Bohemian

as

people

error

the

maintain

between

between

good

woman,

those

who

one,

and
excitement

to

the

way

as

who

is respectable

and

rake

cases

of

certain

have

anti-Ibsenites

establish

and

golden

as

is he

his

already
who
Mrs
rule

not

man

be otherwise.

healthier

and
to

the

own

prefer

seen

to

Elvsted
women

pirates

musketeers,
heroes
favourite

seem

for

to

dare

self
him-

his

gone

than

franker

conceive

monogamy,

Ibsen

has

he

Dumas

or

society"

Nora

the

to

of alcoholic

amours.

who
drunkard

that

more

We

of

when

and

in favour

because

highwa}'men,

romance.

and

surprised

recklessly

man

and

find

is, the

"pillars

and

teetotallism

promiscuous

and

We

on

go

and

prepossession

is kinder

boy

is

Proudie,

Nell
Catherine
and
with
it is better to be a bad
woman

prejudiceagainst

toria,
Vic-

Queen

sympathize

good

If

distinction

the

woman

be

not

need

Hedda

vice.

of

Mrs

bad

into

and
and

between

that

Russia

Gwynne

we

conclude
than

of

Nell

distinction

the

that

convention

Catherine

led

ideal

an

making

of

to reahty

counter

be

will

Pharisee.

the

of

goes

convention

matters,

Gabler's

side

of

side of the

the good

set

side

Bohemian

side of the

bad

the

above

in these

we

it would

as

long

as

bad

133

the good

set

and

the

above

ruthlessly

For

of the Plays.

to

of

both

Ibsenites

think

that

are

who

meant

wish

the
to

to

The

34

Quintessence of

"

be

the

emancipated,"

Run
away
simply,
in Ibsen's
view
of
the

same

do
two

in which

the

example

of

insists

that

upon

rule

conduct

ideal.

And

or

fulfilment
and

since
the

cannot

private

Churches
Here
those

reduce

judgment

I must
who

leave
may

Ibsenism

its quintessence

in The

what
household.
is

no

Wild
Lona
What

golden

by

rule

its effect

its conformity
to any
happiness
in
consists

the

old

Protestant

in questions

all institutions,
themselves

tragi-comic

as

is constantly
will, which
be fulfilled to-day
under
its fulfilment
secured
yesterday,

conditions
which
he claims afresh

against

to

of

by

or

household

there

not

case

of

justifyitself

must

and

until death

attempt

Bernick

is that

on

conventional

be

would

the

happiness

growing,

of

for

did

Ibsen

the

course

such

cases

Werle's
of Gregers
to do for the Ekdal

Hessel

the

know

also

under

wife to follow
Elvsted,
of Mrs
in which
the

even

those

Duck

"

must

the

know
people
be wise for
or

being
But

come

would

husband

your

Nora

rule

husband.

as

to

it would

of

they

results
as

life, that

Most

part.

golden

your

condemnation

you

But

said

from

rule, Cleave

golden

Ibsenisni.

the

of

right
as

conduct

so-called

Protestant

included.
the
think
to

is that

matter,

that

merely
I have

is

forgotten

for them,

formula

there

ing
remind-

no

formula.

that

APPENDIX.

1HAVE
the

Ibsen's

which

those

of

actor,

than
dual

the

he must
the stage
selfish on
that if he is to be self-sacrificing

be

must

himself

types
has

by

which
to

or

declaring

get

scrupulous

that the

one

part

play,
is

of the

stage

which

more

certain
a

the
and

mass

he
The

thumb.

melodrama

common

he

begins
"

He

familiar

to

into

of

of

sistencies
incon-

",

idea

that

Give

him

and

he

satirize

comic.

and

play

to

is to

back

comedy

is to

and

rule of
is, the

Helmer

if he

villainous

be

to

the

farcical

him

Give

sort.

by

to

he

de-Ibsenize

to

must

by

present

and

be

is familiar,

he

experienced
he

he

his part

reducing

with
learnt

more

is

striving

higher

conventional

if he

that

; and

unconsciously

is constantly

ground

hero

land.
Eng-

that

be

he

in

Philistines,

ordinary

assuming

to

on

called

once

at

in

places

the stage

on

aspect

in

persists

who

are

who

characters
idealist figures,

mischievous
by
their

culties
the diffi-

to

as

add

philosophy

his

His

puzzle

to

two

or

word

way

impersonate

more

the
grasping
and
ends by suddenly
it is only Joseph Surface
over
again.
Werle,
Gregers
the devotee
of Truth,

will first play

him

in the

vein

of George

The

36

Washington,

Quintessenceof

respectfully,
is only

rush

his

at
to

the conclusion

friend

old

Phenomenon

in

for

laughs

play

if there
part

are

omit

To

be

hard

is

it

on

an

plane

every

be ready

of

to

at the

sometimes

of

to

prefer

their

parts,

an

actress

to

play

by

the

expense

which
of the

of established
Hedda

Gabler,

deeply

that

at

lines

the

professional
scenes,

and

the

portrait

vanity.

If

complete

reputation

her

ridiculous

among

model's

on

shall also

wondered

tragic

they

power

they

great

the

of

that

of their most

the

retaining

whose

undoubtedly

acutely

be

to

which
hood
liveli-

and

artists

that

choose

the touches

out

at

and

afforded

opportunities

leaving

pick

than

skill and

climax

It is not

felt passages.
they

his

themselves
very

more

still

whose

Ibsen

great

serious

development

their art, but

make

and

those

Now

possess

only

them.

approbation,

from

the

he will want

derision,
to

is,

make

provoke

abnormal

self- consciousness.
freely require
does
shall not

is

public

produces

to

actor,

to

That

playing

terrible

more

depends
calling

an

upon

begin

and

them.

which
when

in

milkman

Otherwise

at

actress

nothing

enough

passages

laughed

an

upon

laughs

him

Gregers

that

Frock\
relish

the

that

taking

of

truthful

and

comic.

the

is

the

Smock

only

completely

to

part

the

finds

he
when
him
instead

then,

and
laughs

audience

Ibsenisnt.

were

first impulse

asked

would

Appendix.
be

probably

to

Brinvilliers,
but

to

or

not

"

or

all the

suppress

meaner

be

that

critic

as

shop

window

of

the

lies
upon

from

The

the

Charles

and

Neither

be

must

or

possibly

Sheridan

be
saw

convinced

side when

he

pit "how

it
"

that
threw

far

that

the
Don

Milton

in
condemns

the

The

authors
',

heroes'

not

conduct

lovable

is the

most

conduct

that

could

Fielding

and
Mozart

How
how

inadequate

which
blackguards.

their

made.

there

morality

you

them
of

dilemma

lovable,

are

of

may

forces

Tom

their

defence

Jones

the

tell

making

the actor

audience

pair

will

defend

that

complete

actor

"

seeing

as

conventions

Sheridan

nor

sexual

play

fully
who
Joseph Surface

hopelessly

and

commercial

ordinary
do
not

and

something

them

were

Fielding

Ibsen

artists

by

professed

actor
either
Charles
since

that

or

made

worthless

which
Tom

by

played

morality

Blifil.

upon

the

Surface

effectively
the

accept

by

those

skilled

has

an

very

The

most

of

the

of

based

are

which

very

point

whole

exposure

to

which

the

nity
dig-

stage.

satisfactory

retouching

and

Hedda's
the

on

photography

is ridden.

be

the

of

arts.

in

as

about

a
",

callosities

detract
which
dignity
is estimated

result would

into

Forget-me-not

odiousnesses
as

Hedda

turn

only

Borgia,

137

far

far

Moliere

statue

had

Juan

into

went

in

or

his
right on
less
the bottomhis

sympathy

The

138

Lucifer

with

no

which

plays

has

actor

they

those

tedious
"

lost

made

are

the

are

Ibsenisni.

speculative
been
called

hitherto
very

and

find him

them

"

most

Ibsen's
are

puzzling

has

He

lovable

women

to

upon

curiosity

the

dramatists.

of

points

subjectsof

interest

whose
by

excited

and

all these

But

solve.

not

Quintessence of

; but

not

he

only

has

nized
recog-

that this is a vital justification

and
avowed
for them,
has
and
explicitly
accordingly
their

on

argued

sympathy
the

which

"

"

women

Hence

effect.
from

the

that

practicable

Ibsen

vanish,

and

for the performers.

in this
an

fashion,
but

actress;

Otherwise
case

we

what
Shakespear,

we

view

it their

with

D oil's House

though

crous
ludi-

most

played
to

make

have
would
the fascination

plays

In the rewriting,

would

of

making

be

cannot

point

the

the

with

not

at

the

adaptation

might

have

have

already

the

of the

attraction

was

adapted

instigation

endure
endured

in

Ibsen's

in

that

were
of whose
plays
by incredibly
for centuries
debased

rick's
our

own

Katharine
time.

Gibber's
and

Richard

Petruchio

III.
have

of

failed.

many

of which

be

to

fortunately

to

to

"lost"

by

ridiculous

men

conventional

rewritten.
parts

sense

the

only

terms

the

made

to

them

apply

them

awarded

justice grants

has

in this

ruined

and

poetic
He

righteous.

and

side

and

of

supplanted
versions,

Gar-

lasted

to

Appendix.
Taking
the

as

Talma's

to

actresses.
not

would

be

could

They

do

play

them

two

only
their

talent

One

of
"

"

the

version

of

life and

of

enterprise

than

are

dramatic

had

been

of the
London

her

critics, though

artistic talent

as

an

amateur

familiar

since

to

the days

her

Wright,
known

to

personality

and

political

the
her

actress

most

of

members

and

of

profession.
the first

reciter and

the

social

advanced

in

hardly

was

the advantage

experience

and

Theodore

who
English

intelligence,

and

common

other, Mrs
Alving,
Mrs

of

Ibsen.

in the

Society, had

culture

land
Eng-

In

with
Ward,

Hessel

Lona

The
English

meddled

Genevieve

Miss

varied

art

and

full maturity

the

hitherto

part

more

actors

them.

attempt

in

of exceptional
and

finished

them,
and
understand
if they
in their integrity

of
of Pillars

created

accomplished

completely

our

women

these,

years

not

to

have

eighteen

39

is little encouragement

to

parts

induced

of

artist, there

Ibsen

offer

of

estimate

apprenticeship
stage

bodies

in
It

of the International.
her record lay outside

the
precisely because
beaten
track of newspaper
criticism that she was
In
its writers
as
qualified to surprise
she did.
first venthe women
every
other instance,
who
tured

was

upon
actresses

fully tested

playing
whose

and

Ibsen

ability
whose

heroines

had

technical

not

were

before

young

been

apprenticeships

The

140

Quintessence of Ibsenisni.

far from

were

Miss

complete.

Janet

Achurch,

she settled the then disputed

question
of
English
the feasibility of Ibsen's plays
on
the
by
her
impersonation
in 1889,
stage
of Nora
though

the

which

still remains
in the
achievement

the stage

on

enough

of her

and

difficult and
greatest, of Ibsen's

we

and
four

to

Farr,

were

products

of

on

in

the

like
their

fashion
of

in

Robins

acting
and

enterprise

Hedda
with
Miss
Achurch

profession.
movement

All
for

literate, in touch

contradistinction

out

years

by natural
and coming
from
trical
outside the thea-

the stage

in the old
quite

few

women,

of inveterately

profession,

the

it is also

as

of the modern

thought,

advanced

generation

Florence

incomparably

unaided

were,

juniors in

education

class,

most

for artistic courage

for
in selecting

Elizabeth

whose

stage,

Miss

predilection

Miss

acquaintance

early

the

on

schooled

conviction

of the

was

kind.
palm

Miss

Lea,

our

the higher
with

the

after spending

Marion

Gabler

it

dangerous,

comedies.

owe

though

mission
ad-

unanimous

later plays, had

almost
quished
relinlack of interest in
from
profession

her

farcical

Rosniersholin,

most

its routine,

secure

irrepressible

experiment

Miss

to

claim
intellectual

complete
artistic
had not been long

genre,

genius,

irresistible and
Farr, who
may

her

new

most

to

sentimental
if at all, born

the

political

the

senior

actresses,

into their
and

social

Appendix.

movement

to

7iawe

the

are

You

Ibsen's

technique

breaks
in

though

can

in

dramatist,

out

out

of

of

an

already

at

present,

Ibsenian
safer

to

and
A
the

They

to

will

gain

to
a

amateur

of

old
; for

theatre
of

general
that he
by

tion
selec-

limited

be

can

number

been
of the

up.

made

Ibsen

and

the

of tones

stock

Greek

one

has

are

designed

an

get

;
wardrobe
have
made

when

sense

plastic

certain

to

its

appropriate

figures

character
out

costume

the

some

of

so

grotesque,

more

cally
specifi-

filled, it is actually

be

to

than

novice

competent

actor.

make

this

be

may

Ibsen's

they

needed

by

contrive

of

so

are

you

The

new

shape
it is but

improvement

whom

in

retorts,

school

technique

old

because

any

it to

performances

players

to

experienced

steady

you

the artist

parts

entrust

because

the

of which,

to

English

attempts

that

it is

possible

it than

Ibsen

concerned.

in

stage

more

says

schools

are

plays
down

conventional
no

both

combination,

and

It is

amateur

practice

attitudes

of

taking

himself

mould

and

anything

making

application,

school

the

play

theory

new

which

executant,

as

as

play

To

But

unpractised

far

cannot

cannot

amateurs.

The

intellectually

in short,

"

last degree.

the

old, You
ignoramuses.

to

them

around

14

interest

plays
gain

mature

experience

expected

the

as

the

artists
not

in

young
ence
experi-

of them.
only

in

TJie

142by

plays

himself,

Ibsen

dramatists

by

Quintessence of

will have

who

Ibsen.

Playwrights
plays

full extent

to

to

intrigues

the

the

theatre

quality

those

witness

who

and

weariness

their

have

themselves

aversion,

become

suddenly

more

much
own

abuse

to

common

ridicule

and

persons

have

who

tolerance

of

the

conventional

these

than

painters.

hear
of

of

undisguised

the

of

picture

Until quite

return

troubled
the

the

them

painters

for

most

and
had

of the

of

opponents

of their

number

they

absurdities

their

Monet

unrealities

they

fare, that

way

nevertheless

studio

surprises,

assassinations

with

never

indicates

admirers

catastrophes

have
no
who
forced to raise the
fact that even
the

reformed

extensively

direct

is still

school

more

commonplaces

conscious

artificialities in it which
In just the same
before.
Naturalist

duels,

the

swoons,

find, when

and

the

for the

are

to

venturing
incidents
and

theatrical

accustomed

laughter,

and

by
work
Ibsen's plays

their

of

prescription

Others,

present.

find

impulse,

such

to

at

compounded

only

seriously

the

are

which

influenced

received

or

profession

of spiritual history
discoveries,
murders,
and

the

of

vvorlcs

largely

tears

substitute

the

formerly

of their capacity,

more

and

their

in

been

according

taking

already

but

who

for producing

Ihsenism.

it

example,

contemptuous

Whistler
their
worst

from
former

type

of
by

destroyed
wholly
lately, too, musicians

Appendix.
heard

be

to

were

143
in

Donizetti

extolling

the

decried
they vehemently
with which
faces at every
They
Wagner.
wry
make
would
in Tristan
und Isolde, and never
suspected
chord
that their old faith was
until they went
shaken
breath

same

back

to La

Favorite,

as

obsolete
Otway.
In
it that

most

training

the

of

will then
him

he

when

one

fear

need

ordinary

whose
a

will

cal
techni-

the

vantage
disad-

positive

is entrusted

an

with

William

Police

Morris

News.

All

and

capacity

culture

forms
return

wretch

upon

on

of greyhounds

blockhead

rats

the

of
:

in

who

pit, may

would

Illustrated

the
rise

lower.

in setting

evolve

rather

go

the
"

do

The
a

into
to

but

forms

in watching

or

the

with
race

the

submerge

hare

romances

higher

the

as

destroy

will

human

finds his happiness

who

killing

and

It might

prose

supersede
forms
of art

together

rise

the

or

Ibsen

that

melodrama.
Shakespcar

hall entertainments,

music

not

in

this account

on

destroy
will gradually
be assumed
that
well

the

be

to

cease

This

as

part.

No

of

him.

actor,

on

after him

stage

change

and

Ibsen,

another

before

corresponding

to

Ibsen

the

wrote

stock-in-trade

may

have

for

will write

we

shall not

we

playwrights

involve

then,

become

of Lee
depend

tragedies

rhymed

drama

the

though

nobody

yet

the

as

that it had

found

and

leash

terrier
mere

free-and-

'^^^^

144
"

easy

and

such

the

frequenter

in

step

small

him
of

some

more

the

fact that

the

as

almost

the

the

nine
with

playgoer

rational
any

of

have

which

to

plane
more

On

o'clock.

more

and

who

comes

we

Accordingly,

depends

find this

sequence

does

not

has

The
of this class.
homogeneous
completely
plays

we

at

up

from

becoming
we

to

come

half price

theatres

highest
often

those

on

understand
the first also.

seen

of

terest
in-

can

nobody
not

dramas
the

go

last

until at

institution
exist

as

at

price

have

we

which
it ; and

of

is suffered

incidents,

of

or

venience
incon-

no

scat

plane

moral

would
in
played

in for half

higher

organic
in which

the

were

order,

back

sequence

class of play
the last act who

o'clock

of

of

drama

acts

appointed

preceded

plane

if the

them

villainous
a

such

that

one

sort

consistently
As

form

in

part

simple

very

their

of

Above

elementary

take

people

being

except

by

same

enjoyable

reverse

that

the

yet

pretension.

of

throughout.

virtuous

"turns",

is hardly
there
which
between
the incidents
than

some

by

judgment

the

in

connection

call forth

and

be

drama

sensational

any

patron

is administered

or

artistic

is the

again

halls of

doses

song

level of
the better class,
to

entertainment

separate

have

turns

raise him

music

the

dull, silly, obscene

will not
of

though

where,

over

chuckle

but

Ibscnisin.

Quintessence of

type

at

nine

devoted

to

of play

consisting

of

is
a

Appendix.
single

very

most

exhaustive

145

incident

complex

; and

information

not
to

as

a
spectator
enables
the impression
aimed

to

he enters

for that passage

success

by

the theatre

of such

the

audience

depends

plays

of powers

insight, reasoning,
a

small

minority

possesses.

and

given

of
if

passage

The

alone.

the exercise

upon

tion,
imagina-

memory,

of

story

sympathy,

only

which

of the playgoing
prepublic at sent
To the rest the higher drama
is

disagreeably

as

is to

as
the game
perplexing
of chess
has barely enough
to
capacity
who
Consequently,
just as we
skittles.

man

understand

have

the

chess
side by

of Shakespear,
alongside

Gilbert

and

Buchanan

Sims,
music

prosper

dropping

the
take

the

and

side, we
Moliere,
that

skittle

even

Grundy,

Ohnet,

as

It

has

discard

often

to

the waxworks
this last is
brutalities

been

Sardou
said

the
progress
political parties
serpent-wise,
being
formerly,
to-day
was
the head
where
K

these

that has

movement
to

; of

of Pettit and
harm
to the

the

progressive
intellectual playgoer

as

naturally

ratpit, although
into the limbo
of discarded

Ibsen.

pering
pros-

Pinero

and

that

alongside

same

to

alley

the theatre
shall have
Goethe,
Ibsen prosand
pering
Arthur
Jones
of Henry

does
no
more
again
which
halls than the music
halls do
or

the

club

; of Sardou,

and

already

by

in any

at

the

full force

the

receive

the

even

led
and
that

tail
yet

TJie

146

never

be

appHed

to

reminder

that

this

head

drops

and

theatres

new

class

of

to

their

of

much

The

sort

serpent

playgoers,

use,

even

by

of the

elder

actors,

to

ought

play

of Hedda
Mr

old

manager,

been

moral

is

His

as

actors

and

Ibsen

forces

them

until the
to

who

to

One

spite

the

are

new

to

make

Mr

Wills

will

real

to

to

what

do

play
it. A

by

Ibsen,

real

in elevating

he
which
Clearly
these

plays
!

all eminent
hold
by the

commercial

recognize

exactly

disgusted

Tosca

exactly

is parallel

to

the

play-

make

deficient

of

the

manager

see

saw

gentlemen,

managers,

drama

patrons

case

and

La

representative

in

can

who

totally

Sardou's

ousting,

done

One

sentiment.

prefers
three

repelled
as

the

of

of effective

he

that

Irving,

Hedda

condemns

first

converted

playgoers

been
done
to have
ought
Faust, and got
of Goethe's
third

that

new

best

critics.

Gablei^.

Henry

glides

movement.

ignorance

have

the

the

old

the

by the elder managers,

declares

what

the

elder

for his

and

of

the

and

for

of

at

he

as

gradually

cost

the

will be supported

Ibsen

be

protest,

plays

that

that

the

at

angry

writing,

but

the

inevitable

only

built

with

grows

his tail

be

should

resistance

pities

of

figure

same

playgoers,

joints of

should

left behind

being

of

it is not

theatres

existing

grades

off

Therefore

along.

The

head.

the

overtaking

may

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

both

conventional

success

that in the

course

of

Appendix.

of nature

they

day.

Thorne,

Mr

do

not

had

Lea

his

at

Charrington
before

at

Miss

production

managerial
it

Rebecca

was

considerably

short,

the

for

say

really

mances
perforMr

risk.

Achurch,

for

long

who,

the

the

purpose.

was

by

sense

by

the

at

Miss

Farr,

too,

experiment,

not

ordinary

made

an

"

refusal

which
of the

to

allow
members
of their
to take part in the
In
performance.
have
to
senior division would
nothing
in

themselves

the

matter

theatrical

progressive

but

time,

in

hampered

managers

companies

Miss

and

own

Rosmershobn

experiment

played

did

their capital and

reputation
had to take a theatre
and
go

of

an

who

London

their

put

he

experimental

Janet

enterprise

was

Robins

themselves

management

The

all

theatre

staked
Hoiise^

DolVs

into

ten

and

that,

given

was

to

bill ; and

Elizabeth

the

of

Theatre,

ventured

who

his evening

until Miss

so

Marion

on

into

the taste

Vaudeville

the

at

manager

of Ibsen's

play

falling behind

are

first leading

the

147

for the

fact

that

the

of

of their

movement

Mr

W.

one

H.

Vernon's

for Pillars
effort to obtain a hearing
of Society
in 1880
was
the occasion
of the first appearance
English
an
of the name
of Ibsen on
playbill.
But

of

it had

long

playhouse
should

likely

to

be

at

be

been

which

obvious

that

the aims

of the

unconditionally

supplied

either

the

artistic
at

our

want

ment
managewas

purely

not
com-

TJie

148

theatres

mercial
managers

or

provide

power

those

at

which

man

in

uses

an

Archer,

in

Reviczv^

invited

private

National

in theatrical

irresponsive
it

to

very

whole

of both

people

himself,

to

enough

somewhat
remained

think,
the

since

ment
manage-

be

handed

actors

of

reputation

the

whose

to
other
words,
"in
have
deficiencies
created

the

take
soon

later

enthusiast

should

managers

of

Grein,

Mr

difficulty.
to

an

that

plans

endow

time

must

theatre

endowed

committees

established

to

with

one

Mr

FortnigJitly

munificence

fortunately,

"

of the
over

Private

feature

was

forward

came

art,

an

way.

the

some
and
J. T. Grein,

to

which

munificence

other

abuses

and

in

article

Mr

scheme.

similar

an

Theatre

Dutchman,

young

man

young

old-fashioned

William

actor-

all the

over

for himself,

opportunities

by

governed

absolutely

reigning

actors,

older

Quintessence of Ibsenism.

any

and

however,

practicable

being
in

scheme

the realities of the situation

saw

to

that

understand

wait

for

pared
pre-

the

hand
well
ing
float-

Utopian
enterprise,
of a fashionable
with
President
as
a
the Prince
of Wales
and
capital
be to wait for ever.
of at least ^20,000, would
hired
hall in
He
a
cheap
public
accordingly
Tottenham

Court
fell far

ambitious
giving

young

dance,

Road,

short

and,

of those

professional
bold
a
made

man

start

his

though
with

resources
an

which

ventures

upon

by announcing

Appendix.
a

Gliosis

of

performance

Independent

Theatre"

Theatre

of

Libre

gratuitous

the

at

performance

throughout

Ibsen

to

distinction
an

him

handled

for the

of

And

at

not

may

have

he

the

appreciate
art
as

impossible
the

it is

hope

he

service

opponents

attack

for him

to

maintain

the

Theatre

at

Independent

of

seriousness

the

most

of

the

formidable

playgoing
and

not

was

whatever.
those
to

rendered

him
him,

as

energetically

it will

be

performances
the

frequency
efficiency
and
will
which
if it is to have
any
wide
effect on
and

recent

unless

has

support

about

theatres

it

quarter

the

on

our

of

that

his

tion
considera-

in foreign

England

in

his

clear

on

of

bringing

of

no

received

passed

drama

English

production

convinced

sake

some

extent

cussed
dis-

counted

for the

obtaining

the

and

present

theatrical

of

had

most
popular
of the
had
; but if he
any
such

plays
fulfilled ; for

who

to

translation
some

efforts

contemporary

even

continent,

the

in

with

abusively
amply

generously

services

previous

and

shared

have

must

he

Possibly

unheeded.

being

of

his

that

he

that

money

he

week

that

extent

the

of

was

result
in
both

The

him
to give
aid to enable
I'heatre ; and
the Royalty

following

the

the

being

support

professional

lines

the

The

"

inaugurate

to

on

Paris.

sufficient

received

149

pitch

be

needed

the

public.

exasperating

of

taste

One
ob-

The

150
in

stacks

Qjiintessenceof

his

way

is the

by

the

official

exercised

nuisance

public

The
his

he

and

for reading
income

be

produced

without

that

he

to

exact

have

through

going

to

the

performance

fee

that

play

that

injuriouseffect

an

their

so

him

to

granted

forbid

may

revoke

to him,
submitted
his allowing
on
no

are

powers

would

which

plays,

to

is empowered

his

these

of

impossible

seems

his power

play
each
depends

As

censorship

licenser

it

which

through

mercy

licenses

detestable

Parliamentary
conexisting
ditions.
under
has the London
licenser
theatres

rid ourselves

at

of

Ibsenism.

to

ordeal.

in

order

of

plays

on

public

is bound
in
gentleman
his best to keep
honour
to try to do
the stage
he of course
in the right path
can
set
which
in no
by
it a
than
other
making
way
about
his
individual
are
of
views,
reflection
which

the

morals,

unfortunate

"

dictated

necessarily

the political
he

This
the

does

fear

of

either
its

claims
result

country

Ibsen's

strong

London
stream

to

do

hand

and

the
;

and

ever
when-

open

mind

the

and

from

are

the

flows
whole

tragedy
have

net
rampant

which

irrigates

Shelley's
Cenci
whilst
Ghosts
forbidden,
are
and
;

him

vulgarity

stage,

that

self-mistrust

or

by

of his class.

paralyze

opportunity

indecency

and

interests

opinion

golden

the

dramatic

dare

not

the

his temperament

pecuniary

public

is that
on

the

and

by

and
in

fact

Appendix,
been

only
before
It is

the

now

so

idealist

thoughtful

the

supports

force

speak

an

abomination.

as

enjoy

for

against

which
The

censorship
as

At

can.

restating

that

with

is
which
is the
is wanted

against

the

to

our

truth
comes

to

or

is that

department

he

would
In the
be

morals,

though

Ghosts,

secuted
pro-

just

managers

they

find

no

practiofficial sanction,
cally
for indecencies
indemnity,

uncensured

from

Grein

can

public

competition

Mr

firm.

manager

present,

Shelley

obtaining

amounting

Art

of

press,

publishing

offence

an

in

of

touch

difficulty

free.

supports

for denying

or

censorship

publisher
not

theatres

halls,

member

of

absence

from

merits

the freedom
e^ttrepreneiir

theatrical

may

stage

the

course

of

The

of
not

matter

of the
What

censorship

of music

of the

for protecting

ground

as

as

sure

and

novel

of

plays

the establishment
and
abolition of the censorship
Art
in which
in the sense
we
of Free
is not the slightest
There
of Free Trade.

entire

be

of fiction.

censorship

admittedly

as

only

can

the

adopted

masters

guests.

be
too
to need
to
obvious
ought
it is plain
that every
argument

case

tenfold

type

that

form

is the

drama
by

London,

in

that

51
is,

that

private":

non-paying

understood

well

commonest

license

invited

of

audiences

"in

once

performed

the

those
of

novels

are

real

support

Puritans

original

perfectly
of the

who regard
To
them
sin.

Quintessence of Ibsenzsm.

The

152

is

the theatre
it

on

Against

an

its forms

as

by

equal

have

times

more

very

absurdity

with

from

doing

his

worst

wise

policy

for

the

the

Puritan

to

use

to

matter

effort to

of the

abolition

As
with

follows
The
a

the

without

to

we

ten

the

one,

exercised
licenser

best.

just

The
is

now

bring

to
a

make

shall be

the

vigorous

the

total

the

was

instead

or

literary

any

question

Lewes

necessarily

simply

it is

are

the

Press

the

leading

of

dramatic
or

not

but

of Ibsen
however,

main,

so

managers,

supporters

Lamb,

playgoer,

Art

and

newspaper

he

when

the

managers

his

as

upshot

actors

In

average

reporting

men.

Lessing,

time

the

critics

younger

the

that

the

in order

then

play
dis-

not

existing

of

agitation

vigour

censorship

it to be

is

and

possible

well

considerable

censorship.

it is with
the

as

do

prevents

friends

that

secure

renewed

the

that

issue, and

an

with

causes

halfheartedness

Holy

England,

reformed

of which

The

played

opponents

than

odious

in all

of

it is quite

energy,

presently

shall

has

sides

If their

Art

regard

who

prosecuted

tion
restric-

of righteousness.

history

in the

every

of religion.

two

Puritans.

the

those

the

being

now

cause

department

part

just

the

stand

between

War

to

gain

them

evil, and

unmixed

them.

critic

is not

there

was

even

member

an

accustomed

of

staff told off for theatre

to his acquaintance
as

the
duty

with

Appendix.
dramatic

be recognized

fall

usually

that

frequenters

of

the

more

than

the

man

what

takes

the

at

place

being

however,

occasionally

accounts

in the

playhouses

just

that

the

Art

and

he

whereas

what
important

knows
ask

there

policy.

Arnold's

Ibsen
that

due

was

he,

like

in

theatrical

he

no

actors

among

importance

whatever

between

is at

he

and

of;

standards
among

he

that
in spite

his

has

of himself,

personal

and

Naturally

elsewhere.

formed

worst

managers,

he

the circles in which

alone
and by the time he has seen

performances

best

is a person

frequents

much

newspaper,

his

his

at

such

of

critic

and

As

newsman.

on

attack

"

dramatic

reporter,

editorial

verses

writes

circumstance

circumstances,

ordinary

of importance
of

"

editorial

as

art

be any

could

case,

police

accidental

Richelieu,

descriptive

good

mere

the

In fact, the

whiles.

to

generally
who
less, will himself
one
of his best

of theatrical

subject upon

which
Sir Edwin

place

difference,

remarkable

dreams

never

his

as

editor,

or

criticise,

of

takes

of

an

"

criticise,

to

writers

supplies

accounts

little about

cares

is still little

who

court

police

of the kind
of inveterate
he

yet

the

far beginning

so

hands

the

theatre,

supplies

colleague

is

appointments

into

now

though

present,

of his function

nature

special
to

At

literature.

153

is made
so

some

many

critical

he has also enrolled

acquaintances

every

actor

TJie

54

and

manager

become

in

involve,

at

be

the

to
or

imagined.

theatrical

the

of which

wives)

do

by
he

So

he

to

to

to

adverse

boycott

to

place
manager,

to

letter, the

be

the

admissions,

between
his post.

on

even

as

would

forces

with which
law of libel.

Of

certain

or

agent

public

give

the
extent

to

"

slating

the

attending

for his

the

expenses

the
danger

is

does
if

an

threat
by

by

artist,
to

lawyer's

own

sake

of
of

take

disposition

any

cannot

critics

law

the

for

"

the

boycott
;

shews

is called

shun

to

is

performer

among

appeal

who

critic, who

to

of

course

what

the

agreement

artists

anxiety

tempted

to

truth

comes

contend

his employers
or

object,
(or their

obligations

relied

suppressive

any

conspiracy.

be

plain

criticism

libel ; and

retort

the

all the

critic has

Every

incur

paper

individual.

any

Behind

an

proprietors

to

always

where

offence

are

for complimentary
have
to
often
choose
agreeable
and forfeiting

is not

newsman

the

to

may

himself

hesitate

if he

asking

making

that

to

advertisements
and

word,

this that

attached

editor

not

managers

be

to

and

relations
of his verdicts

value

Add
to

misfortune

which

the

point

which

in

personal

which

and

likes

private

friendships,

and

quarrels

standing,

years'

all the

partialities

may

has

in

engaged

all the

few

of

dislikes, the

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

an
one,

simply

expose

action

will
never

Appendix.
again

to the litigiously

referring
although

most

being

this

at

by

the

ignored
in

attacked

few

the

other

about

whom

on

and

artists

so

at

notices

Again,

safely

of legal

writers

it impossible
out
some

of

of

Reade,
man

occasionally

to

quantity

they

fine

themselves

performance.

may

attain

form

nor

for

He

can

threat

the paper

ignore

example,

criticize

such
indispensable

an

of the day.
hostile critic by
that

so

him.
was

adversely

can

The
a

; but

most

the

he took actions
found
against whom
him
Reade
did
to boycott
; and what

natural
our

line,

per

they

enterprises
news

for their

paid

the

manager

brave

to

Charles

imperatively

not

or

ignore

knowing

proceedings,

dangerous
very

intimidate

neither

afford

the

of

part
then

his

that

position

or

is

get

conditions

dramatist

the

cntreprenetirs and

on

they

to

side

are
critics who
at a fixed
salary,

column

depend

time

one

public

per

these

every

those

critics

much

Under

write.

to

the

their incomes

the

papers

Most

curious.

its operation

powerful

important

to

attached

and

being

abusively)
on

restricted

comparatively

late

person.

from

than

papers

however

them,

is really

disposed

55

first sight seems

to
sufficiently
the freedom
(for
guarantee
of criticism
from
more
persons
public
suffer
would

But

that

more

overflow

of indignant

powerful

threaten

pugnacity,

artistic entreprenejirs
to do now
after a deliberate

The

56

Quintessence of
the

of

calculation

advantages

If legal proceedings
is not,

case

the

scenes,

most

are

usual,

jury

capable

speaker

least

in the

question

to

his

conducting

his

comparatively
be
himself
would
law

short, the

the very

at

though
writer

own

is against

it is true

that

any

in

ridiculous

the

couple

of

before

critic

by

were

fact that

the

employer
in the

it is most

artist
eyes

or

of

In

case.

criticism

needed

; and

and

witty

ingenious

an

not

and

straightforward

where

make

if the

defendant

points

can

fine art

case

wealthy

the

its

receives

from

Even

the

he is not
pleader, which
be, he would
be debarred

and

likely

law

of

of business.

men

of

from

the

and

behind

the

of

position.

taken,

compromised

illustration

arguing

their

of

actually

uncertainty

extravagant

lawyers

as

Ibsenisin.

performance
ingenious

acutely
and

witty

himself open
laying
to an
action,
without
indeed
every
appearance
and
goodof
with
humoured
indulgence,
such
applications
of wit
ingenuity
do criticism
in
no
good;
and
whilst
people

they

case

any

for plain

critic writing

this does

All

hopelessly

certainly

not

corrupt

does

no
a

man

force

of
can

of

to

remedy

that

the

plain

that

the

Press

and

critic

Press

is

But

it

against

odds
are

so

it completely

maintain

character

entire
of Art.

in its criticism

the

the

readers.

mean

mean

independence
that

no

offer

personal

the

heavy
out
with-

autho-

Appendix.

in most

them

of

terms

no

things

market

being

than

I say
to

the warrant
that

do

more

much

for, but

him

pay

he

strikes

interests

vested

time

(conditions which
strongest

man),

detract

which

is

risks

find

editor-proprietor

reference

to
"

the
throw
hands

economic

of

blow

submit

public
will
livelihood
every
at

to

the

powerful

of

all kinds

tire out

from

the

trustworthiness

the

critic

brave

to

by

this

more

our

of

and

these

courageous

him

society

combination

without
"

the

advantag
dis-

or

As

all
to

tend
into

more

moneymakers,

lucky

the

compromises

and

will stand

only

the

Even

position

conditions

of

his

risk

go

when

not

advantage
commercial
his incessant
warfare.

successful

scarcity

than

sympathetic

journals

our

of

who

the

work

or

experience

criticism.

in

himself

must

own

considerably

his

public

exaggerate

is prepared

must

the

and

artistic abuses
in the long
run

very

of
who

he

is inflexibl

critic who

of Art

not

serious
in

critic who
no
will have

critic

to

with

of my

unless

with

compliant

do

concerned.

beyond

the

interests

the

pecuniary

of thoroughness
Press ; for, other

journal

one

which

journaHsm

which

degrees

and

where

higher
any

on

equal,

is goodhumoured
fewer
readers

are

than

value

and

profession,

command

final

The

offer.

have

can

prospects

and

can

in any

rare

are

rity which

157

the

ing
exceed-

of

reso-

The

158

Qutiitessejzce
of

lute, capable,

disinterested

know

black

the

and

On

white

every

independent

of

whom

have

by

by

those

who
its

through

this

who, either as writers

branches
of literature and
men

that

or

are

and

vocation

practically
ment
appoint-

particular

(not

critic

strong

to

the

mention

force

of character

incorruptible)there

rendered

are

criticisms

excellent

civil servants,

dramatic

as

few

though

as

or

proprietor,

courageous

journalism

of

in other

journalism,

and

veil.

week

distinguished

critic, sympathetic

appreciated

world

the whole,

written

be

hardly

can

only

incorruptible

and

and

editor,

Ibsenisnt.

remains

reports
of theatrical
of newspaper
is only called dramatic
events
criticism by
which
Among
so
the critics properly
called
courtesy.
mass

great

less). Just

or

between

that

glance

Ibsenist,

an

of the

abuse

is worthless

; and

he

Mr

Clement

to

the

admirers

Scott

writers
of

of
beyond
had

who

Ibsen

being

critic

see

may

on
page
quoted
for the credit of

our

we

of

89

his
Mr

have

the

at

sort

may

independent

and

firing

cross

Without

Thus
cloth attack it on that ground.
A. B. Walkley,
of TJie Speaker^ one
able

realist

and

the

present

inevitable

the

idealist,

is rather confusing.

them

necessarily

at

in

Ibsen

about
Philistine,

into

way

(more

divided

are

opinions

most

critics, provoking
by alluding
measure

just

been

"

muck-ferreting

the

calling
dogs

",

as

Appendix.
",

"

these

gentry

with

Walkley

his

by

Arnold,

Edwin

to
men

fight

Archer

William
being

taken

as

expressly
an

Ibsenist

they

are

anything
to

others,

more

which

because

to

they

intimidated

against

the

takes

the

are

by

in defence,

against
In

that

the

some

undoubtedl

it bluntly
in
or

conceive

outcry

the

have

Ibsen

the

accustomed

Mr

Even

point

than

substantial

the

accustomed

incompetent

poetry

least

to

as

himself

to put

"

Sir

at

doctrinaire.

illiterate and

of dramatic

sphere

fare

too

so

violent

are

Ibsen,

face of all this, it is little to the

have
attacked
of the critics who
done

Moore,

guards

hand

professed

his old enemies

Art.
of Free

but

Ibsenism,

of

rary
lite-

echoes

Zola

of

an

the

Vantrin

attacking

against

as

almost

of

behalf

on

Ibsenism

such

George

Mr

now

are

who

field promptly
not

author

Gliosis.

of

author

the

Mr

But

other

denunciations

whose
to

applicable

more,

he

that

of which

of

the

conceiving

Ibsen

to

antipathy

as

Balzac,

of

admirer

Wed

Frederick

is Mr

On

foes.

cation
vindi-

status

his depreciation

Ibsen's

of

Ibsen's

of

less by

status

to

committed

appreciation

artist, much

there

means

no

very

ments.
attain-

publishes

of that school,
fun.
unmerciful

makes

is by

Walkley

Scott

Mr

literary

their

literateness

of the
Mr

but

good-humoured
for

contempt
perceptible
Thereupon

59

"

the

relish

theatrical
;

raised

that

or

by

Sir

The

i6o

Edwin

Arnold

Mr

the

and

by

typified

chorus

caution,

the

compliance

to

reason

been

Ibsenists

of

than

greater

their adverse
Ibsen,

as

in

than
his

of

that

warning,
on

both

at

all,

have

or

Pastor

in

disease

occur

which,

into

that

number

majority

him,

whether

say,

by

as

almost

studied

be

for

as,

has

by

the

instance,
son

of
father

been

even

of death
scene

are

they

is the

exhibitions

tragedies,

that

the

really
Lovborg

every

plays

extravagant

is

It

of

the

misled

reading

lines,

way

combatants

puzzled

child.

horrible

for

so

to

Gliosis
or

in

the

minor

not

the

Tesman's
that

the

either
have
been

Manders,

of Hedda
asserted

of

between

Oswald

the

have

to

necessary

idealists

of the

no

critics.

themselves

allowed

immoralities

to

have

else

is

body
of
whole
liberal educaa
tion

against

many

sides

attacks

plays,

or

There

of

be much
would
however
tone
the
of

is bound

is

it

Finally,

that

pioneer

managers,

want

have been improved.

might
in stage
less
no
progress

contemporaries

actors,

join

modesty,

from

with
income,

present,

criticism

morals,

mention

them

among

at

from

if the

endowed

to

public

conviction

short,

independent

an

own

profession.

that

suppose

and

in

their

of

critics had

(not

their

"

the

of

disparagement

of

courage

section

Manders

Pastor

Pecksniff),
against

the

Ibsenism.

Quintessence of

of

and

Ibsen's

exceptionally

Appendix.

i6i

horrors.
It is not
visible physical
to say that very few of the critics have

free from

too

much

yet

far

so

got

stories

the

of

be able

to

as

their minds

drift
philosophic
how
performances

consequence

"

fascinated,

those

as

often

as

if Ibsen

as

single

possible

as

now

we

through
by
"

the

Richard

Man

; and

without

his meaning
less assented
it loses

growth
Wagner

the

of

when

be
a

art
as

quite

and disgusted
it already looks
supremacy
converting

necessarily

it

Indeed

Ibsenism.

that

terested
in-

are
who
by Ibsen's

undisputed

critic to

will never
be until, by

should

perplexed

attain

much
know

recognized,

those

benevolently

playwright

is not

are

who

might

modern

up
made
of Ibsen's

yet

refreshed

and

it maliciously

misrepresent

not

is that

his meaning

misrepresent

No

witnessed.

difficult point
I do not
see
though
myself
be
can
quite
of his plays
One
to it.
reference
without

this

of

the

accurately

more

judged

adequately

have

have

they

the

on

narrate

they

plays

then, that

wonder,

to

should
to, until

be

fully

Society

its self-complacency

foretold
conviction
he
declared
that

he
which
following
conscious
that

can

and

of that

is the only
true
natural
necessity
which
his life a mirror of nature,
and
necessity, he makes
to outer
frees himself from his thraldom
artificial
Then
living
a
counterfeits.
will he first become

inner

man,

who

of this

or

now

that

is

in the
wheel
Nationality,

mere

Religion,
L

mechanism
or

State."

PRINTED

WALTER

SCOTT,

FELLING,

BY

NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.

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Shillings.
London,

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ROSMERSHOLM.
A

Drama

in

Four

Translated

London:

Walter

Acts.

by

Scott,

CHARLES
24

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Translated by William
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