Aspects of Woman Depicted in the Works of Ibsen and Munch

Abstract

Part I of this paper describes Ibsen's and Munch's personal relationships with women, as well as the position of women in nineteenth century society. I have included this section because I believe it is essential in order to understand their works, which reflect their lives and society. Part II deals with specific plays of Ibsen and works of Munch. I chose to discuss A Doll's House and Hedda Gabler because they illustrate best two aspects of woman which recur throughout Ibsen's plays. I selected When We Dead Wake because of the obvious similarities between it and Munch's Three Stages of Woman. Ibsen preferred to have his plays read in chronological order, whereas Munch preferred to have his works studied according to theme. For this reason, my paper organizes the plays chronologically, comparing them with Munch's works which are arranged according to themes.