Ibsen [Paperback]

Michael Goldman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 1998

Although Henrik Ibsen is secure in his reputation as a major dramatist and intellectual figure, little attention has been given to the connections between his dramatic practice and his plays' powerful impact on audience and culture. Michael Goldman examines "how the play attacks us in the theater" and the means by which Ibsen assaults the audience's expectations and opinions. Focusing on specific features of Ibsen's dramaturgy that have been overlooked or underappreciated, Goldman looks at the plays' unsettling dialogue and driving plots, then explores the impacts on both character and audience when Ibsen's powerful vision takes effect. How does Ibsen illustrate a character's inner turmoil, and how is this quality realized by the actor on stage? What is the "spine"--the single, definitive phrase used by actors to pinpoint the dominant motivation-in A Doll's House? How does the stage design in The Wild Duck arouse the audience's curiosity? With considerable attention to these plays as well as The Master Builder and Peer Gynt, Goldman examines the characteristic "moments of crisis" and the striking similarities of gesture and language from play to play. Goldman discusses every aspect of Ibsen's art, from language, psychological motive, and narrative construct, to approaches used by actors and directors in play productions.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This slender volume begins with the catchy opener, "Ibsen's characters are killers." It's an intriguing idea, and a persuasive one, especially if one takes into account the murder of the soul as well as the murder of the flesh. As in his earlier work, Acting and Action in Shakespearean Tragedy (1985), Goldman (English, Princeton Univ.) focuses on what is happening on stage, ranging through the major plays (e.g., Peer Gynt, A Doll's House) to pinpoint unsettling dialog, plots that echo Greek tragedy but bring a modern sensibility to the action, and the demands made on the actors, who must communicate this new vision of drama. A challenging text, written with passion; recommended for university libraries and those with a strong interest in theater.ASusan L. Peters, Emory Univ. Lib., Atlanta
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Michael Goldman is professor of English at Princeton University and author of Acting and Action in Shakespearean Tragedy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (December 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231113218
• ISBN-13: 978-0231113212
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,962,913 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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