Symbolism, Realism, and a Nordic Playwright Grudge Match: Crash Course Theater #33

Summary

Crash Course Theater explores the intense rivalry between Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg, two pioneers of modern drama. Ibsen, known for plays like 'A Doll's House,' revolutionized realism by focusing on complex characters and societal issues, challenging traditional values. Strindberg, with works such as 'Miss Julie,' embraced naturalism and later symbolism, often reflecting his troubled psyche and controversial views. Despite their personal animosity, both contributed significantly to the evolution of drama, influencing later movements like expressionism and surrealism.

Takeaways

• 🎭 Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg were two prominent playwrights of the 19th century who had a bitter rivalry, with Ibsen even hanging a mocking portrait of Strindberg above his writing desk.
• 📚 Ibsen was a Norwegian playwright who started as a pharmacist's apprentice, while Strindberg was a Swedish playwright with a troubled personal life and a complex relationship with women.
• 🎨 Both Ibsen and Strindberg pioneered in creating realistic and naturalistic dramas, and later in their careers, they both turned towards symbolism, thereby inventing modern drama.
• 🏆 Ibsen's plays like 'A Doll’s House' and 'Ghosts' were groundbreaking and controversial, challenging societal norms and the concept of the bourgeois family.
• 👥 Strindberg's plays, such as 'Miss Julie' and 'The Father', also explored naturalism and delved into the psychological aspects of characters influenced by heredity and environment.
• 🔍 Ibsen focused on character development and made significant changes to traditional playwriting by removing artificial elements and emphasizing themes of heredity and environment.
• 💡 Strindberg's theories on naturalism were outlined in a preface to 'Miss Julie', where he aimed to write more truthfully about human nature and societal issues.
• 🌐 Ibsen's later works, like 'The Wild Duck' and 'When We Dead Awaken', incorporated mystical symbolism, influencing later writers and suggesting that realism might not fully capture life's experience.
• 👻 Strindberg's later plays, including 'To Damascus' and 'A Dream Play', moved towards a dream-like or nightmarish symbolism, foreshadowing expressionism and surrealism.
• 🤝 Despite their personal animosity, both Ibsen and Strindberg recognized each other's talent and contributions to the field of drama.
• 🌟 The impact of Ibsen and Strindberg's work is still felt today, as they established or anticipated most of the major forms of 19th-century drama.

Q & A

Who were the two playwrights featured in the 'Crash Course Theater' episode?

The two playwrights featured in the episode were Henrik Ibsen from Norway and August Strindberg from Sweden.

What was the nature of the rivalry between Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg?

The rivalry between Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg was quite bitter and personal, with Ibsen even buying a portrait of Strindberg and renaming it 'The Outbreak of Madness' to hang above his writing desk.

What significant change did Henrik Ibsen make in his writing after 'Emperor and Galilean'?

After 'Emperor and Galilean', Henrik Ibsen decided that prose should be used for reality and verse for visions, leading him to start writing plays about bourgeois people in trouble.

What are some of the plays that Ibsen wrote focusing on the bourgeois society?

Ibsen wrote plays such as 'The Pillars of Society', 'A Doll’s House', 'Ghosts', and 'An Enemy of the People' focusing on the bourgeois society.

How did Ibsen's plays differ from the well-made plays of his time?

Ibsen's plays differed from the well-made plays of his time by removing artificial elements like soliloquies, streamlining exposition, and shifting themes towards heredity and environment. He also prioritized complex, multi-layered characters over plot.

What was the controversy surrounding Ibsen's play 'A Doll’s House'?

The controversy surrounding 'A Doll’s House' was due to its shocking ending where the main character, Nora, leaves her husband and children to discover her identity, which was a radical act for the 19th century.

What is the significance of the ending of 'A Doll’s House' in the context of 19th-century theater?

The ending of 'A Doll’s House' was significant because it challenged the conservative values of the time, suggesting that the bourgeois family was a sham and that these values were hindering people from realizing their full humanity and potential.

What was August Strindberg's view on Henrik Ibsen's portrayal of independent women?

August Strindberg disliked Henrik Ibsen's focus on independent women, calling him 'an ignorant women’s writer', reflecting Strindberg's own issues with women.

What are some of the naturalistic plays written by August Strindberg?

Some of the naturalistic plays written by August Strindberg include 'The Father', 'Miss Julie', and 'The Creditors'.

How did Strindberg's personal life and beliefs influence his work?

Strindberg's personal life and beliefs greatly influenced his work, as seen in his exploration of psychological aspects of characters related to heredity and environment, as well as his issues with women reflected in plays like 'Miss Julie'.

What shift did Strindberg make in his later career similar to Ibsen?

Like Ibsen, Strindberg made a late turn toward symbolism in his later career, writing plays that had the feel of dreams or nightmares, such as 'To Damascus', 'A Dream Play', and 'The Ghost Sonata'.