Henrik Ibsen: The Father of Modernism in Theatre

Henrik Ibsen: The Father of Modernism in Theatre

Rank, deadly pessimistic, a disease, evil to be deprecated (Bordman and Hischak 1). Who would have thought such words would be used to describe the work of the man who swept modernism into theatre? Henrik Ibsen’s life was not one to envy. The shame the surrounded his childhood and seeped into his adulthood greatly impacted his writing. Infusing his plays with highly controversial themes, which lacked the current sunny air of Victorian values which Europe held in such a high regard, which led him to make a lasting impact on theatre. However despite the depression and poverty that surrounded Ibsen’s life, as well as having his work often dubbed pessimistic and unwanted, he left an every lasting mark on theatre, by bringing modernism to the stage through his use of reality.

Henrik Ibsen’s childhood education and personal life greatly impacted his ability to write as well as the themes, which he wove into his work. Ibsen’s depression started off at a very young age due to his mothers romantic affairs prior to marriage. Because of this illegitimate children became a reoccurring theme in much of his work. Both of Ibsen’s parents also suffered from depression, and tended to be rather anti social which showed Henrik the importance of having relationships in life. Additionally poverty constantly surrounded Ibsen’s childhood. Literature often served as an escape for Ibsen, the one way he could truly hide from the ever grey cloud that was poverty and depression. Ibsen also had a great interest in painting while growing up. However, he could not pursue painting lessons because he lacked the funds, so writing became in a sense his only option (Powers 2).

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his simple act of being realistic, by rejecting traditional Victorian values. Ibsen showed the nasty truths in life, showing that people were in fact not loyal to their partners, that the world was full of skeletons, instead of life being this flawless perfection as Victorian values painted it to be. Henrik’s style itself also changed theatre, with its social and psychological problems, as well as the lack of unresolved problems in the plots (Fletcher 1).

Henrik Ibsen Greatly transformed theatre in the nineteenth century with his in introduction of modernism. It is remarkable how Ibsen did this despite childhood depression and poverty, and having His work often verbally defecated upon. Ibsen’s introduction of Modernism in theatre was very crucial because without it, plays wonld not have revealed the truths about society, no matter how morose.