The Vikings Helgeland Dramas Henrik
It is the early 900s, and in the north of Norway, the woman Hjordis broods on the wrongs done to her. And when her hated foster-father arrives, she sees that it is time to wreck her revenge. But, her husband's foster-brother, Sigurd, has also arrived, and he is standing in her way. And so she weaves her schemes, and casts her witchcraft, and she seeks to bring all who appose her to woe. But, it might just be that Hjordis herself might just be one of her own victims.
This 1857 play is a quite an excellent work by one of Norway's foremost men of letters. Indeed, I don't think I go too far to say that Henrik Ibsen was Norway's Shakespeare. The play itself is reminiscent of Shakespeare's tragedies, and indeed of the Classical writers' tragedies. One sees the doom spreading itself across the characters of the tale, and watches fascinated as they seem unable to escape its reach.
I really like the Viking setting of the play, and the fascinating characters - Ornulf, the aging Viking chieftain; Sigurd the Strong, the superlative warrior; Dagny, Sigurd's meek and loving wife; Gunnar, who knows he is not great, but knows that he must stand for what he has; Hjordis, Gunnar's wife, who lingers over any and every wrong done to her, and lets the evil brew within her breast; and finally Egil, Gunnar's son, and everyone's pawn.
It's a great play, one that I would love to see performed some day. Anyway, read it and find out why Ibsen is considered a great playwright. It's a true work of art!
BalasHapusIt is the early 900s, and in the north of Norway, the woman Hjordis broods on the wrongs done to her. And when her hated foster-father arrives, she sees that it is time to wreck her revenge. But, her husband's foster-brother, Sigurd, has also arrived, and he is standing in her way. And so she weaves her schemes, and casts her witchcraft, and she seeks to bring all who appose her to woe. But, it might just be that Hjordis herself might just be one of her own victims.
BalasHapusThis 1857 play is a quite an excellent work by one of Norway's foremost men of letters. Indeed, I don't think I go too far to say that Henrik Ibsen was Norway's Shakespeare. The play itself is reminiscent of Shakespeare's tragedies, and indeed of the Classical writers' tragedies. One sees the doom spreading itself across the characters of the tale, and watches fascinated as they seem unable to escape its reach.
I really like the Viking setting of the play, and the fascinating characters - Ornulf, the aging Viking chieftain; Sigurd the Strong, the superlative warrior; Dagny, Sigurd's meek and loving wife; Gunnar, who knows he is not great, but knows that he must stand for what he has; Hjordis, Gunnar's wife, who lingers over any and every wrong done to her, and lets the evil brew within her breast; and finally Egil, Gunnar's son, and everyone's pawn.
It's a great play, one that I would love to see performed some day. Anyway, read it and find out why Ibsen is considered a great playwright. It's a true work of art!