Name- Shreya Yadav
Roll no- 2022/1093
Que-How does the past influence the present in Ibsen's Ghosts? Discuss with reference to
the theme of heredity and inheritance.
Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) was considered a renowned Norwegian playwright and one of the
founders of modern drama. Known for his bold criticism of social norms, Ibsen often wrote plays
that exposed the hypocrisy of society, particularly focusing on family, gender roles, and moral
dilemmas. His play Ghosts (1881) created great controversy during its time due to its open
discussion of taboo topics like venereal disease, marital unfaithfulness, and inherited guilt. In
Ghosts, Ibsen explores how the past continues to influence the present through the themes of
heredity and social inheritance.
In Ghosts, the theme of heredity and inheritance is central to the narrative. Ibsen presents
heredity not only as a biological phenomenon but also as the transmission of social values, moral
beliefs, and hidden traumas from one generation to another.
The most visible example of heredity in the play is Oswald Alving’s illness. Oswald, the son of
Captain Alving and Mrs. Alving, returns home from Paris only to discover that he is suffering
from congenital syphilis—a disease passed down from his father. This reflects the biological
inheritance of physical degeneration, which is tragic since Oswald himself lived a clean life. He
says: “The sins of the father are visited upon the children.” This line shows how the
consequences of one generation’s immoral actions are forced upon the next, which is the core
idea behind Ibsen’s theme of inherited guilt.
However, Ibsen extends this idea beyond physical inheritance to emotional and psychological
inheritance. Mrs. Alving, in her conversation with Pastor Manders, speaks about the “ghosts”
that haunt society. She says: “It’s not only what we inherit from our mothers and fathers that
haunts us. It’s all kinds of old defunct theories, all kinds of old defunct beliefs, and things of that
kind.” Here, the word "ghosts" becomes symbolic of old customs, outdated moral values, and
false respectability that continue to control people’s lives. These “ghosts” are ideas and traditions
that should have died long ago but are kept alive by society’s pressure to maintain appearances.
Mrs. Alving herself becomes a victim of these traditions. She obeys Pastor Manders’ advice and
stays in a marriage with a corrupt and immoral man, Captain Alving, for the sake of reputation.
She hides the truth from her son, sends him away to protect him, and builds an orphanage in her
husband’s name to cover up his sins. However, all these efforts fail. The orphanage burns
down—a powerful symbol of the destruction of false ideals—and Oswald returns, carrying not
only his father’s disease but also the weight of the past’s silence and lies.
Critics have pointed out the significance of this inherited suffering. George Bernard Shaw
admired Ghosts for attacking “conventional morality” and exposing the dangers of living
according to social expectations rather than truth. Literary critic James McFarlane also noted that
Ibsen shows how individuals are trapped by the circumstances and decisions of earlier
generations, which reflects the naturalist idea that heredity and environment shape human fate.
Moreover, Ibsen criticizes blind obedience to religion and public opinion through the character
of Pastor Manders. Manders represents the voice of traditional society, who believes in
suppressing truth for the sake of appearances. His decision to not insure the orphanage, due to
fear of scandal, ends up in disaster. This again highlights how inherited values—such as fear of
judgment—can have destructive consequences.
The play ends on a tragic note with Oswald begging his mother to help him die when his illness
reaches its final stage. His final words, “The sun, the sun!”, reflect a desperate cry for light,
truth, and clarity, in contrast to the darkness created by years of lies and suppression. This ending
shows the final and devastating impact of the past on the present—a young man losing his mind
because of secrets he never even knew.
In Ghosts, Henrik Ibsen masterfully portrays how the past lives on in the present, through both
physical inheritance and the weight of societal values. Through Oswald’s illness, Mrs. Alving’s
regrets, and Pastor Manders’ moral rigidity, Ibsen shows that unless people confront and reject
harmful traditions, the future will continue to suffer. The play remains relevant even today, as it
speaks to the importance of honesty, the dangers of inherited silence, and the need to break free
from destructive cycles.
