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The Quintessence of Ibsenism (Version 2)

by George Bernard SHAW (1856 - 1950)

Preface

InThis is an essay providing an extended analysis of the works of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen and of Ibsen's critical reception in England. Shaw uses this "exposition of Ibsenism" to illustrate the imperfections of British society, using the idea of an imaginary "community of a thousand persons," divided into three categories: Philistines, Idealists, and the lone Realist. The main discussion revolves around Ibsen's recurring topic of the strong character holding out against social hypocrisy, while stating in his essay's final sentence that the quintessence of Ibsenism is that "there is no formula." ( Michele Eaton)

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Listen next episodes of The Quintessence of Ibsenism (Version 2):
Appendix Part 1 , Appendix Part 2 , Ideals and Idealists , The Plays - A Dolls House , The Plays - An Enemy of the People , The Plays-Brand , The Plays - Emperor and Galilean , The Plays - Ghosts , The Plays - Hedda Gabler , The Plays - Peer Gynt , The Plays - Pillars of Society , The Plays - Rosmersholm , The Plays - The Lady From the Sea , The Plays - The League of Youth , The Plays - The Moral of the Plays , The Plays - The Wild Duck , The Two Pioneers , The Womanly Woman