Ibseiis Works 369 



press), with the consequent dread of scandals and 

 exposure ; and the relations of the sexes ; these 

 last are considered as modified by what Ibsen 

 considers conventional rules, and thus by the 

 other tendency, the force of public opinion. 

 Heddci Gahler and ' Ghosts' {Genganere) do not 

 come under these two categories. 



Keiser og Galilmer. A long prose drama, of which 

 the action falls in the reign of the Emperor 

 Julian. It is, in fact, inspired by the well- 

 known (if mythical) exclamation — Vicisti Gali- 

 Icee. It is not a piece of great merit. 

 Then come the rest of the Social Dramas, namely — 



Et Diokkehjem (The Doll's House). The story, with 

 which most readers are probably familiar, of 

 a young wife treated as a child or a puppet by 

 her husband, who learns to despise him and 

 decides to live her own life. 



En Folkefjende (The Enemy of the People). The 

 plot of this drama, as of the Pillars of Society, 

 turns very largely on the narrow self-interest, 

 and at the same time terror of public opinion 

 (especially of newspaper opinion) which, accord- 

 ing to Ibsen, forms a leading characteristic of 

 Norse town life. 



Fruen fra Havet (The Lady from the Sea). This 

 play is concerned chiefly with the question of 

 the tie of marriage as against that of love. The 

 heroine loses her husband, and forms a connec- 

 tion with her earlier love. The husband (a 

 sailor) has not died, and appears again upon the 

 scene. She has to decide between the two men. 



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