Rosmersholm: Analysis of Setting
"Rosmersholm" is a play by Henrik Ibsen set in the titular estate, a symbolic and literal representation of the Rosmer family's legacy in an unnamed Norwegian coastal village. The setting serves as both the physical home of the protagonist, Johannes Rosmer, and a metaphor for his internal struggles and spiritual journey. The narrative unfolds amidst political turmoil and personal conflict, reflecting Rosmer's departure from traditional values in favor of modern, progressive ideals. This shift creates tension within the household, as Rosmer's new beliefs clash with the expectations and history tied to Rosmersholm. The play explores themes of existential despair and the consequences of radical ideologies, culminating in moments of tragedy tied to the estate's landscape. Ultimately, the setting accentuates the protagonist's emotional and philosophical battles, illustrating the complexities of personal transformation within a rigid societal framework. The portrayal of Rosmersholm raises questions about the nature of belief and the impact of one's environment on personal identity.
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Rosmersholm: Analysis of Setting
First published: 1886 (English translation, 1889)
First produced: 1887
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Social realism
Time of work: Mid-nineteenth century
Places Discussed
Rosmersholm
Rosmersholm. Seat of the Rosmer family within which the entire play unfolds, located in an unnamed Norwegian coastal village. Rosmersholm is literally the home of Johannes Rosmer, but in keeping with the temper of the play, the title actually signifies his spiritual homecoming. His life, both personal and political, is stormy. Almost without realizing it, he finds himself associated with unpopular political causes and movements. His decision to abandon the beliefs of his ancestors for the freethinking ideals being promoted by modern philosophers and social reformers is an affront to the “house.” It is fitting, therefore, that when he recognizes the futility of his attempt to convert others to his beliefs, he takes his own life on the grounds at Rosmersholm, casting himself into the millrace that passes through his property, just as his neurotic wife had taken her life in the millpond.
Ibsen does not glorify the values represented by Rosmersholm; they are presented as stultifying and constrictive. Nevertheless, through Rosmer’s failed attempt to convert others to his radical brand of liberalism, the playwright suggests that radical ideologues of any persuasion are doomed to failure.
Bibliography
Durbach, Errol. “Ibsen the Romantic”: Analogues of Paradise in the Later Plays. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1982. A tracing of romantic elements in Ibsen’s later plays. The section on Rosmersholm, a play that Durbach considers bleak and depressing, discusses how joy nevertheless can be found in the midst of despair.
Holtan, Orley I. Mythic Patterns in Ibsen’s Last Plays. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1970. An overview of the mythic content in Ibsen’s last seven plays, Holtan’s study contains a good discussion of the echoes from ancient Scandinavian mythology that can be heard in Rosmersholm.
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 contains an extensive discussion of Rosmersholm, particularly Ibsen’s concept of the nobility of spirit.
Meyer, Michael. Ibsen: A Biography. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1971. A standard biography of Ibsen, it contains a good discussion of both the play itself and its place in Ibsen’s canon, in which, according to Meyer, it marks the transition from a concern with matters of society to a focus on the internal life of individuals.
Weigand, Hermann J. The Modern Ibsen: A Reconsideration. New York: Henry Holt, 1925. Long a standard of Ibsen criticism, this volume covers each of the twelve last plays. The section on Rosmersholm offers a detailed and incisive explication, with emphasis on the psychological motivations of each of the characters, and serves as an excellent introduction for the general reader.