Written in 1881, when melodrama and farce were still at their peak of popularity, IbsenāsGhosts is a three-act tragedy that explores uncomfortable, even forbidden themes. It is also a highly critical commentary on the morality of the day. The play centers around the widow of a prominent Norwegian sea captain whose son returns home and, with tragic consequences, revives the ghosts of the past that she has long labored to put to rest.
Ghosts immediately became a source of controversy for its inclusion of topics like venereal disease, incest, and euthanasia, and it was banned from being performed in England for many years. Its arrival signals a shift in the nature of theatre and, despite negative criticism, it was translated into other languages and performed in Sweden, Germany, and New York within a few years of its debut. It stands now as one of the works considered to have ushered in the era of modern drama.
epub:type="z3998:persona">Manders
I have chosen the designation āCaptainā rather than āChamberlain.ā āCaptainā looks less pretentious.
Mrs. Alving
Oh, yes; just as you think best.
Manders
And here you have the Bank Account of the capital lying at interest to cover the current expenses of the Orphanage.
Mrs. Alving
Thank you; but please keep itā āit will be more convenient.
Manders
With pleasure. I think we will leave the money in the Bank for the present. The interest is certainly not what we could wishā āfour percent and six monthsā notice of withdrawal. If a good mortgage could be found later onā āof course it must be a first mortgage and an unimpeachable securityā āthen we could consider the matter.
Mrs. Alving
Certainly, my dear Pastor Manders. You are the best judge in these things.
Manders
I will keep my eyes open at any rate.ā āBut now there is one thing more which I have several times been intending to ask you.
Mrs. Alving
And what is that?
Manders
Shall the Orphanage buildings be insured or not?
Mrs. Alving
Of course they must be insured.
Manders
Well, wait a moment, Mrs. Alving. Let us look into the matter a little more closely.
Mrs. Alving
I have everything insured; buildings and movables and stock and crops.
Manders
Of course you haveā āon your own estate. And so have Iā āof course. But here, you see, it is quite another matter. The Orphanage is to be consecrated, as it were, to a higher purpose.
Mrs. Alving
Yes, but thatās no reasonā ā
Manders
For my own part, I should certainly not see the smallest impropriety in guarding against all contingenciesā ā
Mrs. Alving
No, I should think not.
Manders
But what is the general feeling in the neighbourhood? You, of course, know better than I.
Mrs. Alving
Wellā āthe general feelingā ā
Manders
Is there any considerable number of peopleā āreally responsible peopleā āwho might be scandalised?
Mrs. Alving
What do you mean by āreally responsible peopleā?
Manders
Well, I mean people in such independent and influential positions that one cannot help attaching some weight to their opinions.
Mrs. Alving
There are several people of that sort here, who would very likely be shocked ifā ā
Manders
There, you see! In town we have many such people. Think of all my colleagueās adherents! People would be only too ready to interpret our action as a sign that neither you nor I had the right faith in a Higher Providence.
Mrs. Alving
But for your own part, my dear Pastor, you can at least tell yourself thatā ā
Manders
Yes, I knowā āI know; my conscience would be quite easy, that is true enough. But nevertheless we should not escape grave misinterpretation; and that might very likely react unfavourably upon the Orphanage.
Mrs. Alving
Well, in that caseā ā
Manders
Nor can I entirely lose sight of the difficultā āI may even say painfulā āposition in which I might perhaps be placed. In the leading circles of the town, people take a lively interest in this Orphanage. It is, of course, founded partly for the benefit of the town, as well; and it is to be hoped it will, to a considerable extent, result in lightening our Poor Rates. Now, as I have been your adviser, and have had the business arrangements in my hands, I cannot but fear that I may have to bear the brunt of fanaticismā ā
Mrs. Alving
Oh, you mustnāt run the risk of that.
Manders
To say nothing of the attacks that would assuredly be made upon me in certain papers and periodicals, whichā ā
Mrs. Alving
Enough, my dear Pastor Manders. That consideration is quite decisive.
Manders
Then you do not wish the Orphanage to be insured?
Mrs. Alving
No. We will let it alone.
Manders
Leaning back in his chair. But if, now, a disaster were to happen? One can never tellā āShould you be able to make good the damage?
Mrs. Alving
No; I tell you plainly I should do nothing of the kind.
Manders
Then I must tell you, Mrs. Alvingā āwe are taking no small responsibility upon ourselves.
Mrs. Alving
Do you think we can do otherwise?
Manders
No, that is just the point; we really cannot do otherwise. We ought not to expose ourselves to misinterpretation; and we have no right whatever to give offence to the weaker brethren.
Mrs. Alving
You, as a clergyman, certainly should not.
Manders
I really think, too, we may trust that such an institution has fortune on its side; in fact, that it stands under a special providence.
Mrs. Alving
Let us hope so, Pastor Manders.
Manders
Then we will let it take its chance?
Mrs. Alving
Yes, certainly.
Manders
Very well. So be it. Makes a note. Thenā āno insurance.
Mrs. Alving
Itās odd that you should just happen to mention the matter todayā ā
Manders
I have often thought of asking you about itā ā
Mrs. Alving
āfor we very nearly had a fire down there yesterday.
Manders
You donāt say so!
Mrs. Alving
Oh, it was a trifling matter. A heap of shavings had caught fire in the carpenterās workshop.
Manders
Where Engstrand works?
Mrs. Alving
Yes. They say heās often very careless with matches.
Manders
He has so much on his mind, that manā āso many things to fight against. Thank God, he is now striving to lead a decent life, I hear.
Mrs. Alving
Indeed! Who says so?
Manders
He himself assures me of it. And he is certainly a capital workman.
Mrs. Alving
Oh, yes; so long as heās soberā ā
Manders
Ah, that melancholy weakness! But, he is often driven to it by his injured leg, he says. Last time he was in town I was really touched by him. He came and thanked me so warmly for having got him work here, so that he might be near Regina.
Mrs. Alving
He doesnāt see much of her.
Manders
Oh, yes; he has a talk with her every day. He told me so himself.
Mrs. Alving
Well, it may be so.
Manders
He feels so acutely that he needs someone to keep a firm hold on him when temptation comes. That is what I cannot help liking about Jacob Engstrand: he comes to you so helplessly, accusing himself and confessing his own weakness. The last time he was talking to meā āBelieve me, Mrs. Alving, supposing it were a real necessity for him to have Regina home againā ā
Mrs. Alving
Rising hastily. Regina!
Manders
āyou must not set yourself against it.
Mrs. Alving
Indeed I shall set myself against it. And besidesā āRegina is to have a position in the Orphanage.
Manders
But, after
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