Ibsen & Chekhov

[Sana Koulagasi]

hi there,

my nama is Sana, next week I have a presentation about Ibsen.
My main point which I need your help with is that Ibsen seems most concerned with the pressures of modern life. He is dealind with eternal and universal society, between reality and illusion, between true and false idealism. What do think?
My next question is what is your comment to Chekhov's Ivanov when he introduces Ivanov as one of the Russian characters who sufers from an acute hack of the existential malaise, and also do you think he deservs sympathy despite his brutality against his dying wife?please feel free to share me your value ideas which will help me very much in my presentation.

[byquist]

Your overall assessment of Ib. sound really fine. I wouldn't use the word "brutal" regarding Ivanov; he probably wouldn't hurt a flea. I would say "indifference" towards his wife. Disregard, lack of respect, lack of appreciation, disinterest -- which is just as bad in some ways.

The doctor detests him because of his ignoring his dying wife; hates his guts;sees him as a reprobate egotist.

But to some extent Iv. deserves sympathy because he is himself bemused by the forces that have overtaken him. He can't understand his recent malaise. He has malaise in full, rather than lacking it. He said at one time he had all these hopes and dreams of accomplishing things, but a half-dozen years later he can barely get anything accomplished, he can barely move. Home life stifles him (his wife's illness is difficult for him). He doesn't think he (or anybody) can understand himself/herself let alone understand anyone else. He is perplexed by life, fate, the meaning of life if there is any, what he should do. The young gal says she loves him, but he just can't believe in that; he's honest on that account. As you know he decides he's not going to take it any more, and simplify things by one major action. He is sort of pathetic.

You have to admit he is kind of a pathetic and dumbfounded character, worthy of pity. If they had shrinks in those days, he'd pay many visits per week.