The Quintessence of Ibsenism (Version 2)

George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

This 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)

Genre(s): Essays & Short Works, Literary Criticism

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Preface Gesine
00:04:08
Play 01 The Two Pioneers Helen Taylor
00:26:48
Play 02 Ideals and Idealists Soumen Barua
00:19:11
Play 03 The Womanly Woman Soumen Barua
00:24:23
Play 04 The Plays-Brand asterix
00:05:09
Play 05 The Plays - Peer Gynt asterix
00:13:59
Play 06 The Plays - Emperor and Galilean KHand
00:22:57
Play 07 The Plays - The League of Youth KHand
00:03:42
Play 08 The Plays - Pillars of Society wolfstevent
00:05:28
Play 09 The Plays - A Dolls House inflected
00:06:05
Play 10 The Plays - Ghosts Jack Daniel
00:16:08
Play 11 The Plays - An Enemy of the People asterix
00:07:14
Play 12 The Plays - The Wild Duck asterix
00:08:12
Play 13 The Plays - Rosmersholm Wendy Almeida
00:14:28
Play 14 The Plays - The Lady From the Sea KHand
00:04:58
Play 15 The Plays - Hedda Gabler inflected
00:13:35
Play 16 The Plays - The Moral of the Plays asterix
00:22:10
Play 17 Appendix Part 1 Philip Panos
00:25:51
Play 18 Appendix Part 2 Philip Panos
00:13:31