Introduction: Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts (1881) is a bold and controversial realist play that
challenged the moral values of 19th-century society. Written in Norwegian as
Gengangere, which means “those who return” or “revenants,” the play metaphorically
deals with the "ghosts" of the past—outdated beliefs, social conventions, and inherited
sins. It was heavily criticized for discussing taboo topics like venereal disease,
illegitimacy, incest, and hypocrisy. Ibsen’s aim was to expose the dark underside of
respectable society, making the play a classic example of modern drama and social
criticism.
Summary: Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts is a powerful realist play that exposes the dark
consequences of societal hypocrisy, inherited guilt, and suppressed truth. Set in 19th-
century Norway, the play revolves around Mrs. Helene Alving, a widow who is
preparing to inaugurate an orphanage in memory of her late husband, Captain
Alving. However, beneath this act of public virtue lies a past filled with deception and
suffering.
Mrs. Alving confesses to Pastor Manders, a strict moralist, that her marriage was far
from ideal. Her husband was a deeply immoral man who indulged in infidelity and
vice. She endured this for the sake of societal respectability and was advised by
Manders to remain silent. Now, her son Oswald, an artist returning from Paris, is
seriously ill. It is revealed that he has inherited congenital syphilis, a consequence of
his father's immoral lifestyle.
As the play unfolds, further shocking truths emerge—Oswald has fallen in love with
the maid Regina, who is actually his half-sister, the illegitimate child of Captain Alving
and a former servant. Mrs. Alving’s efforts to shield her son from the truth have
ultimately led to greater tragedy.
In the final scene, Oswald, aware of his worsening condition, pleads with his mother
to end his life if he becomes completely helpless. The play ends with him calling out
“The sun… the sun…” while Mrs. Alving stands in moral torment, holding the vial of
morphine he gave her.
Ibsen’s Ghosts critiques the oppressive morality of society, showing how lies,
repression, and inherited guilt can destroy lives. The title metaphorically refers to
the "ghosts" of the past—social norms, sins, and secrets—that haunt the present and
cannot be easily exorcised.
Theme The Burden of the Past: The "ghosts" symbolize old traditions, sins, and
secrets that continue to influence the present, showing how past actions can shape
and destroy future generations.
Social Hypocrisy: Ibsen exposes how society hides immorality behind a mask of
respectability, especially through figures like Pastor Manders, who values
appearances over truth and justice.
Inheritance and Disease: Oswald’s syphilis represents the biological and moral
corruption passed from parent to child, reflecting how the consequences of sin are
inherited by the innocent.
Freedom vs. Repression :Characters, especially Mrs. Alving, struggle between
personal freedom and oppressive social duties, highlighting the emotional and
psychological cost of conforming to rigid norms.
Truth vs. Illusion: The play questions whether it’s better to face harsh truths or live
in comforting lies, ultimately showing that denying reality leads to deeper suffering.
CHARACTERS:
Mrs. Helene Alving: A strong but tragic woman who hides her husband’s sins to
protect her son, only to realize that silence and sacrifice cannot prevent inherited
suffering or fate.
Oswald Alving: An artist who returns home with a hereditary illness. He represents
the innocent victim of past sins and struggles with despair, disillusionment, and the
desire for mercy.
Pastor Manders: A symbol of religious and social authority, he blindly follows
conventions and defends appearances, even when it means denying truth and
causing harm to others.
Regina Engstrand: The maid who aspires to a better life, unaware of her true
parentage. Her dreams collapse when she learns she is Oswald’s half-sister.
Jacob Engstrand: Regina’s supposed father, a manipulative and self-serving man who
pretends to be moral and religious while scheming for personal gain through deceit
and flattery.
Conclusion: Ghosts is a daring critique of 19th-century society, exposing how rigid
morality and social conventions lead to hypocrisy, suffering, and tragedy. Ibsen
challenges the audience to confront uncomfortable truths about family, duty, and
inherited guilt. His realistic dialogue, psychological depth, and social critique make
Ghosts a masterpiece of modern drama. The play’s ending is especially powerful—not
just because of Oswald’s condition, but because it leaves Mrs. Alving, and the audience,
facing a deeply moral and philosophical dilemma. Ibsen's “ghosts” are not
supernatural—they are the consequences of denial, repression, and silence, which
continue to haunt society.
