The Pillars of Society: Analysis of Setting
"The Pillars of Society" is a play set in a coastal Norwegian town that explores themes of social responsibility, personal integrity, and the moral dilemmas faced by its leading citizen, Karsten Bernick. Central to the narrative is Bernick's opulent home, which serves as the primary location for the unfolding drama and symbolizes the status and facade he maintains in society. Although outwardly successful and respected, Bernick's wealth stems from deception and unethical practices, including vilifying his exiled stepbrother and exploiting his family members to protect his reputation.
Another significant element of the setting is the town's shipyard, which, while not a physical location for action, heavily influences the plot and themes. The shipyard represents Bernick's business success and the ethical compromises he makes to sustain it. As the story progresses, the audience learns that Bernick prioritizes his personal gain over the welfare of his community and workers, treating them as mere commodities. The tension between his public persona and private actions culminates in a critical incident that reveals the potential consequences of his moral failures, ultimately prompting reflections on the societal values he upholds. Through this analysis of setting, the play raises thought-provoking questions about the true nature of success and the responsibilities of individuals within a community.
The Pillars of Society: Analysis of Setting
First published: 1880 as Samfundets støtter (English translation, 1880)
First produced: 1877
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Psychological realism
Time of work: Nineteenth century
Places Discussed
Bernick’s house
Bernick’s house. Home of Karsten Bernick, the leading citizen of the unnamed coastal Norwegian town in which the play is set. The house is the location for all the onstage action of the play. Its opulence suggests the status of its owner, and the irony of Karsten Bernick’s situation is highlighted by the physical surroundings. Unfortunately, his good fortune, both at home and in business, is built on a lie.
Shipyard
Shipyard. Although no action is set in the town’s shipyard, the yard dominates the drama because of its significance to both plot and theme. Bernick’s profitable shipping business has made him one of the town’s leading citizens. As the story unfolds, however, readers learn that Bernick has had to commit crimes, vilify his exiled stepbrother, and use others in his family to preserve his good name and keep his unsavory actions from being discovered. While he struggles to keep his business profitable, he treats workers as commodities, replaceable by more efficient machines—showing repeatedly that he puts his own well-being ahead of the interests of the community he claims to love dearly. Ibsen uses a key incident to vivify his indictment of Bernick: In an effort to please a client, Bernick demands that a ship be repaired and set to sea immediately, even though he knows the work done will be inferior and that the ship may sink.
Bibliography
Haugen, Einar. Ibsen’s Drama: Author to Audience. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1979. Written by a superb teacher and scholar, this volume is a masterful introduction to Ibsen’s works and their place in European cultural history. Comments on The Pillars of Society are found throughout the book.
Johnston, Brian. The Ibsen Cycle: The Design of the Plays from “Pillars of Society” to “When We Dead Awaken.” Boston: Twayne, 1975. With emphasis on the philosophical content of Ibsen’s later plays, this volume discusses The Pillars of Society in the context of nineteenth century capitalist society.
McFarlane, James. Ibsen and Meaning: Studies, Essays, and Prefaces, 1953-87. Norwich, England: Norvik Press, 1989. In a major contribution to Ibsen criticism, McFarlane discusses The Pillars of Society in the context of A Doll’s House and Ghosts, concluding that Ibsen’s portrait of Bernick, the male protagonist, is marked by a great deal of irony.
Meyer, Michael. Ibsen: A Biography. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1971. A standard biography of Ibsen, it contains a good discussion both of the play itself and of its place in Ibsen’s oeuvre. Meyer regards it primarily as an indictment of the universal pettiness of small town life but also gives a helpful summary of its historical background.
Weigand, Herman J. The Modern Ibsen: A Reconsideration. New York: Holt, 1925. An excellent introduction to Ibsen’s later plays, this volume contains a good essay on The Pillars of Society. Weigand finds the play interesting although it is not representative of Ibsen’s best work.