The Misapplication of Democracy and the Plight of the Individual in the Drama of Henrik Ibsen

Innocent Ettia Meh

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12

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The Misapplication of Democracy and the Plight of the Individual in the Drama of Henrik Ibsen

Innocent Ettia Meh

Published in International Journal of Literature and Arts (Volume 9, Issue 1)

Received: 23 December 2020 Accepted: 14 January 2021 Published: 22 January 2021

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Abstract

Let me begin by stating the obvious. It is now common knowledge in Henrik Ibsen’s scholarship that the Norwegian playwright had a very uneasy relationship with politicians. The dramatist took delight in satirizing the pomposity and hypocritical practices of politicians and other public officials through the use of a flowery rhetorical style characteristic of platform politicians. A close reading of critical writings on Ibsen’s major plays that have a political agenda reveals that most of the reputed commentators conclude that the author directs his criticism against the democratic form of government. Some of the critics are even of the opinion that Ibsen in his works is in favour of aristocracy as an alternative to democracy. What is however intriguing about the claims of these critics is that they do not actually take up time to define what democracy as a form of government is all about before illustrating how the dramatist writes against it in his plays. The central concern of this paper therefore, is to demonstrate from a new historicist standpoint that Ibsen in his drama does not completely condemns democracy as a form of government except when it comes to the application of some democratic principles which are hostile to the welfare of the individual.

Published in	International Journal of Literature and Arts (Volume 9, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12
Page(s)	9-14
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Misapplication, Democracy, The Individual, Ibsen

References

[1]	Groden, Michael and Kreiswirth M, The John Hopskin Guide to Literary Theory. Baltimore. John Hopskins University Press. 1994.
[2]	A Doll’s House, ed. Simon, Stephens, New York. Bloombury Publishing House, 2014.
[3]	Pillars of the Society in Ibsen: The Complete Major Prose plays, Trans. Rolf Fjelde. New York. The American Library Inc, 1978.
[4]	An Enemy of the People, in Ibsen Plays: Two, A Doll’s House, An Enemy of the People and Hedda Gabler, Trans, Michael Meyer, New York, 2014.
[5]	Rosmersholm, in Ibsen: The Complete Major Prose plays, Trans. Rolf Fjelde, New York. The American Library Inc. 1978.
[6]	Bassioni Cherif et al, Democracy: Its Principles and Achievement, Geneva. Inter-Parliamentary Union, 1998.
[7]	Sama Albert, Nation Building: Good Governance and Human Rights. Yaoundé. Wisdom House Publishers, 2010.
[8]	Roshwald Modecia, “The Alienated Moralist in An Enemy of the People,” in The Modern Age, Vol. 46, London. Routledge, 2004, Pp 225-236.
[9]	G K Chesterton, “A Handful of Author: Essay on Books and Writers” Twentieth Century Literaray Criticism. Bryfonski D and Sharon K, New Jersey. Gale Research Co. 1978, 221-222.
[10]	Baltzersen K “Henrik Ibsen: Anti-Democrat and Individualist”, http//wwwlewrockwellcom:balzersen:clhtm Pp 2006, 1-17.
[11]	Shaw Bernard, The Quintessence of Ibsenism, London. Constable and Company Ltd. 1972.
[12]	Esslin, Martin, “Ibsen: An Enemy of the People, Hedda Gabler, The Master Builder, Twentieth Century Literary Criticism eds. Bryfonski D and Sharon K, New Jersey, Gale Research Co 1978, Pp 237-238.
[13]	Mbeng A Didachos, “Artistic Complexities and Political Alternatives in Selected works of Henrik Ibsen”, Unpublished Master Dissertation, University of Yaounde 1, 2010.
[14]	Bloom Harold, Comprehensive Research and Study Guide, Bloom’s Major Dramatists, London. Chelsea Publishing House, 2002.
[15]	Garton Janet, “The Middle plays”, in The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen. Ed. James Mcfarlane, Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1994 Pp 106-226.
[16]	Sloson Edwin “Ibsen as an Interpreter of American Life”in Ibsen: The Critical Heritage, ed. Michael Egan, London. Routeledge and Kegan Paul, 1972, Pp 451-453.

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Innocent Ettia Meh. (2021). The Misapplication of Democracy and the Plight of the Individual in the Drama of Henrik Ibsen. International Journal of Literature and Arts, 9(1), 9-14. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12

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Innocent Ettia Meh. The Misapplication of Democracy and the Plight of the Individual in the Drama of Henrik Ibsen. Int. J. Lit. Arts 2021, 9(1), 9-14. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12

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AMA Style

Innocent Ettia Meh. The Misapplication of Democracy and the Plight of the Individual in the Drama of Henrik Ibsen. Int J Lit Arts. 2021;9(1):9-14. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12,
  author = {Innocent Ettia Meh},
  title = {The Misapplication of Democracy and the Plight of the Individual in the Drama of Henrik Ibsen},
  journal = {International Journal of Literature and Arts},
  volume = {9},
  number = {1},
  pages = {9-14},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijla.20210901.12},
  abstract = {Let me begin by stating the obvious. It is now common knowledge in Henrik Ibsen’s scholarship that the Norwegian playwright had a very uneasy relationship with politicians. The dramatist took delight in satirizing the pomposity and hypocritical practices of politicians and other public officials through the use of a flowery rhetorical style characteristic of platform politicians. A close reading of critical writings on Ibsen’s major plays that have a political agenda reveals that most of the reputed commentators conclude that the author directs his criticism against the democratic form of government. Some of the critics are even of the opinion that Ibsen in his works is in favour of aristocracy as an alternative to democracy. What is however intriguing about the claims of these critics is that they do not actually take up time to define what democracy as a form of government is all about before illustrating how the dramatist writes against it in his plays. The central concern of this paper therefore, is to demonstrate from a new historicist standpoint that Ibsen in his drama does not completely condemns democracy as a form of government except when it comes to the application of some democratic principles which are hostile to the welfare of the individual.},
 year = {2021}
}

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T1  - The Misapplication of Democracy and the Plight of the Individual in the Drama of Henrik Ibsen
AU  - Innocent Ettia Meh
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AB  - Let me begin by stating the obvious. It is now common knowledge in Henrik Ibsen’s scholarship that the Norwegian playwright had a very uneasy relationship with politicians. The dramatist took delight in satirizing the pomposity and hypocritical practices of politicians and other public officials through the use of a flowery rhetorical style characteristic of platform politicians. A close reading of critical writings on Ibsen’s major plays that have a political agenda reveals that most of the reputed commentators conclude that the author directs his criticism against the democratic form of government. Some of the critics are even of the opinion that Ibsen in his works is in favour of aristocracy as an alternative to democracy. What is however intriguing about the claims of these critics is that they do not actually take up time to define what democracy as a form of government is all about before illustrating how the dramatist writes against it in his plays. The central concern of this paper therefore, is to demonstrate from a new historicist standpoint that Ibsen in his drama does not completely condemns democracy as a form of government except when it comes to the application of some democratic principles which are hostile to the welfare of the individual.
VL  - 9
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Author Information

Innocent Ettia Meh

Higher Teacher Training College, Ngaoundere University, Bertoua, Cameroon

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

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Innocent Ettia Meh. (2021). The Misapplication of Democracy and the Plight of the Individual in the Drama of Henrik Ibsen. International Journal of Literature and Arts, 9(1), 9-14. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12

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ACS Style

Innocent Ettia Meh. The Misapplication of Democracy and the Plight of the Individual in the Drama of Henrik Ibsen. Int. J. Lit. Arts 2021, 9(1), 9-14. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Innocent Ettia Meh. The Misapplication of Democracy and the Plight of the Individual in the Drama of Henrik Ibsen. Int J Lit Arts. 2021;9(1):9-14. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12,
  author = {Innocent Ettia Meh},
  title = {The Misapplication of Democracy and the Plight of the Individual in the Drama of Henrik Ibsen},
  journal = {International Journal of Literature and Arts},
  volume = {9},
  number = {1},
  pages = {9-14},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijla.20210901.12},
  abstract = {Let me begin by stating the obvious. It is now common knowledge in Henrik Ibsen’s scholarship that the Norwegian playwright had a very uneasy relationship with politicians. The dramatist took delight in satirizing the pomposity and hypocritical practices of politicians and other public officials through the use of a flowery rhetorical style characteristic of platform politicians. A close reading of critical writings on Ibsen’s major plays that have a political agenda reveals that most of the reputed commentators conclude that the author directs his criticism against the democratic form of government. Some of the critics are even of the opinion that Ibsen in his works is in favour of aristocracy as an alternative to democracy. What is however intriguing about the claims of these critics is that they do not actually take up time to define what democracy as a form of government is all about before illustrating how the dramatist writes against it in his plays. The central concern of this paper therefore, is to demonstrate from a new historicist standpoint that Ibsen in his drama does not completely condemns democracy as a form of government except when it comes to the application of some democratic principles which are hostile to the welfare of the individual.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Misapplication of Democracy and the Plight of the Individual in the Drama of Henrik Ibsen
AU  - Innocent Ettia Meh
Y1  - 2021/01/22
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12
T2  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JF  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
JO  - International Journal of Literature and Arts
SP  - 9
EP  - 14
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2331-057X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijla.20210901.12
AB  - Let me begin by stating the obvious. It is now common knowledge in Henrik Ibsen’s scholarship that the Norwegian playwright had a very uneasy relationship with politicians. The dramatist took delight in satirizing the pomposity and hypocritical practices of politicians and other public officials through the use of a flowery rhetorical style characteristic of platform politicians. A close reading of critical writings on Ibsen’s major plays that have a political agenda reveals that most of the reputed commentators conclude that the author directs his criticism against the democratic form of government. Some of the critics are even of the opinion that Ibsen in his works is in favour of aristocracy as an alternative to democracy. What is however intriguing about the claims of these critics is that they do not actually take up time to define what democracy as a form of government is all about before illustrating how the dramatist writes against it in his plays. The central concern of this paper therefore, is to demonstrate from a new historicist standpoint that Ibsen in his drama does not completely condemns democracy as a form of government except when it comes to the application of some democratic principles which are hostile to the welfare of the individual.
VL  - 9
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download