Study Questions
- How do the stage directions for Ghosts set the mood for the play?
- Given the realistic setting of the garden room Ghosts, what other components of realism should the audience or reader expect?
- How is Regina representative of mobility between the classes?
- How does the behavior of Regina Engstrand and Engstrand toward each other in show that Henrik Ibsen is challenging conventional expectations?
- What role do Regina Engstrand and Engstrand fill in the development of the plot?
- How does Pastor Manders's treatment of Regina Engstrand change over the course of Act I?
- How do the two mysteries raised early in the conversation in Act I contribute to suspense in the plot?
- What do Mrs. Alving's comments about the books she is reading in Act I suggest about the society she lives in?
- How do Mrs. Alving's and Pastor Manders's responses to the books Mrs. Alving is reading define each character? Who would Ibsen side with in this case?
- How does Henrik Ibsen use Pastor Manders's ideas about insuring the orphanage to deepen his characterization of the pastor?
- How are the following used as symbols in the play: Orphanage, Ghosts, Artist, Priest, Sailors, Captains, Men. Woman, the characters themselves?
Quotations
- Regina: Yes, you may be sure we'll see about it! Me that have been brought up by a lady like Mrs. Alving! Me that am treated almost as a daughter here! Is it me you want to go home with you?--to a house like yours? For shame!
- Engstrand: Then never mind about marrying them. You can make it pay all the same. [More confidentially.] He--the Englishman--the man with the yacht--he came down with three hundred dollars, he did; and she wasn't a bit handsomer than you.
- Mrs. Alving: Well, I seem to find explanation and confirmation of all sorts of things I myself have been thinking. For that is the wonderful part of it, Pastor Minders--there is really nothing new in these books, nothing but what most people think and believe. Only most people either don't formulate it to themselves, or else keep quiet about it.
- Pastor Manders: Object to in them? You surely do not suppose that I have nothing better to do than to study such publications as these? … I have read enough about these writings to disapprove of them.
- Pastor Manders: When Oswald appeared there, in the doorway, with the pipe in his mouth, I could have sworn I saw his father, large as life.
- Mrs. Alving: Oh, how can you say so? Oswald takes after me.
- Pastor Manders: But how is it possible that a--a young man or young woman with any decency of feeling can endure to live in that way?--in the eyes of all the world!
- Oswald: Well, then, allow me to inform you. I have met with it when one or other of our pattern husbands and fathers has come to Paris to have a look round on his own account, and has done the artists the honour of visiting their humble haunts. They knew what was what. These gentlemen could tell us all about places and things we had never dreamt of.
- Mrs. Alving: Soon after, I heard Alving come in too. I heard him say something softly to her. And then I heard--[With a short laugh]--oh! it still sounds in my ears, so hateful and yet so ludicrous--I heard my own servant-maid whisper, "Let me go, Mr. Alving! Let me be!"….It was my purchase-money. I do not choose that that money should pass into Oswald's hands. My son shall have everything from me--everything.
- Mrs: Alving: Ghosts!
John Marshall
ReplyDeleteHow does the behavior of Regina Engstrand and Engstrand toward each other in show that Henrik Ibsen is challenging conventional expectations?
Though this situation is quite out there, Regina is defying her father’s wishes which is very unconventional at the time. Engstrand seems to think that Regina will immediately accept his offer and come work with him to help him make a few quick dollars.
What do Mrs. Alving's comments about the books she is reading in Act I suggest about the society she lives in?
I believe her books give her confidence in herself and reassures her with her ideals. This is very important for the time because, as we see very shortly after, Pastor Manders wants her to stop reading the books and to keep her opinions to herself. “Object to in them? You surely do not suppose that I have nothing better to do than to study such publications as these? … I have read enough about these writings to disapprove of them.” Manders is sure that he is in the right and that women should still keep to themselves and to not indulge into public matters i guess.
How does Henrik Ibsen use Pastor Manders's ideas about insuring the orphanage to deepen his characterization of the pastor?
Manders is intent on not insuring the orphanage because he believes some radicals may accuse him of not believing in God because the orphanage is connected to the church. He doesn’t do it because his belief in God is so strong, but instead Maders is worried about the public perception of his decision. And then he tries to pin the decision onto Mrs. Alvings shoulders which I thought was fairly strange.
MANDERS. Then we will let it take its chance?
MRS. ALVING. Yes, certainly.
MANDERS. Very well. So be it. [Makes a note.] Then—no insurance.
He switches the blame to Mrs. Alving and I don’t think she cares too much cause she then goes on to describe how the had a close call in a part of the orphanage where a fire started.
1.the description of the outside environment, "A spacious garden-room, with one door to the left, and two doors to the right. In the middle of the room a round table, with chairs about it. On the table lie books, periodicals, and newspapers. In the foreground to the left a window, and by it a small sofa, with a worktable in front of it. In the background, the room is continued into a somewhat narrower conservatory, the walls of which are formed by large panes of glass. In the right-hand wall of the conservatory is a door leading down into the garden. Through the glass wall a gloomy fjord landscape is faintly visible, veiled by steady rain," creates a subdued, even depressing mood. The detailed description of the garden room shows that it is an upper-class home, which contrasts with mostly dark lighting and rooms. The stage directions alone create a mood of bleak conflict.
ReplyDelete3. Regina Engstrand is from the working class, but she is a maid who is treated like one of the family. Her father is a laborer with a rough background who is always looking for a way to scam others out of money. Regina aspires to better things. There is a hint that she looks to Mrs. Helene Alving's son, Osvald, to help her move up the social ladder.
REGINA. [Looking hard at him.] What are you going to fool Pastor Manders into doing, this time?
ENGSTRAND. Sh! sh! Are you crazy? Do I want to fool Pastor Manders? Oh no! Pastor Manders has been far too good a friend to me for that. But I just wanted to say, you know—that I mean to be off home again to-night.
Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen is a famous play under the genre of drama. As we read Act 1, we were introduced to a family and a pastor. So far we have sniffed out hints of prostitution, incest, and odd behavior between the characters. Right away things get exciting when Regina’s father mentions his business plan. That sets the flame for potential excitement in the play and I can already tell that it will keep building up.
ReplyDeleteTwo big questions are how Regina is a representative of mobility between two classes and how the two mysteries raised early in the conversation in Act 1 contribute to the suspense in the plot? To begin, Regina is a clear representative of the flexibility between two classes. She stays in the house and serves the men while still getting a home style education and do things she likes to do. “Yes, you may be sure we'll see about it! Me that have been brought up by a lady like Mrs. Alving! Me that am treated almost as a daughter here! Is it me you want to go home with you?--to a house like yours? For shame!” She represents upward mobility and sex in Ghosts. She is vivacious, attractive, and YOUNG, and I emphasize young because between Engstrand and Mrs Alving’s son Oswald. The problem is that Regina does not mind using sex to get what she wants. "No; if things go as I want them to – Well there's no saying – there's no saying.” This is Regina almost spilling her intimate feelings for Oswald to Engstrand. This mystery raised early on in the play is the big hint of incestry that was mentioned earlier. She is very smart and sneaky because of this. But she could face future problems if she keeps up with this behavior due to the fact that Engstrand views her as “grown” and Regina may be forced to work in his sailor’s prostitution ring. She may even be able to find herself a husband from that business according to Engstrand, “You'd soon get hold of some mate—or maybe even a captain.” In my opinion she is a great class mobilizer and producer of many mysteries in this play and I’m sure she won’t stop making the rest of the characters or even readers skeptical about her.
The relationship between Regina and Engstrand as father daughter is questioned by what they ask out of each other. Regina does not ask for anything from him because she knows he is bad news and she is happy living with the Alvings, while Engstrand asks his daughter to work in his house of prostitution. The dynamic between the two of them allows the audience to decide if the conventional way of thinking, a daughter should always obey her father, is always right. Ibsen knew when writing that the public would be angry if Regina did not listen to her father, so the only other option he gave Regina was something else he knew they wouldn’t approve of. We see just how unprotective and careless Engstrand is when he says ,“Then never mind about marrying them. You can make it pay all the same. He--the Englishman--the man with the yacht--he came down with three hundred dollars, he did; and she wasn't a bit handsomer than you”, suggesting that if Regina were to work for his house of prostetution she would surely make a lot of money because of her sexual appeal- which in itself is odd for a father to comment on.
ReplyDeleteRegina represents mobility between the classes, because although she was born into an ordinary family, and was left with her drunk father after losing her mother, she has gotten to live with the Alving’s who have provided her with lots of opportunities. Mrs. Alvings care for Regina put her out of range of her father's craziness, and she even acknowledged how fortunate she was to be in this position. When Engstrand asked Regina to go home with him she explained why she had no interest in going and losing everything she now had from the Alvings. She seemed sort of shocked when she said, “Me that have been brought up by a lady like Mrs. Alving! Me that am treated almost as a daughter here! Is it me you want to go home with you?--to a house like yours? For shame!”, but maintained her self-respect as her father continued to get her to leave.
-Regan Grygiel
How does the behavior of Regina Engstrand and Engstrand toward each other in show that Henrik Ibsen is challenging conventional expectations?
ReplyDeleteRegina and Engstrand challenge the conventional expectations a lot since he is her “Father” who has worked on an orphanage and wants to start a “Sailors Home” and normally a girl like Regina with her much higher status that her father would always say no to this but she hesitates since she is controlled by the ideal that you have to listen to what your parents say but he challenges it by Engstrand saying for her to do things you shouldn't have your daughter is doing, he even tries to convince her by saying,”Engstrand: Then never mind about marrying them. You can make it pay all the same. [More confidentially.] He--the Englishman--the man with the yacht--he came down with three hundred dollars, he did; and she wasn't a bit handsomer than you.” now we understand why a Father would say such bad things it's because it isn't his true daughter and so he doesn't really care about her.
What do Mrs. Alving's comments about the books she is reading in Act I suggest about the society she lives in?
Mrs Alvings comments suggest that society is always telling her how to think and speak and what to do even Pastor Manders is telling her to not read those books , “Mrs. Alving: Well, I seem to find explanation and confirmation of all sorts of things I myself have been thinking. For that is the wonderful part of it, Pastor Minders--there is really nothing new in these books, nothing but what most people think and believe. Only most people either don't formulate it to themselves, or else keep quiet about it” She says she needs confirmation that she is thinking by herself and that the books aren't bad. It shows how Mrs Alving is correct by how mad Pastor Manders gets when she does something a women shouldn't do.
How are the following used as symbols in the play: Orphanage, Ghosts, Artist, Priest, Sailors, Captains, Men. Woman, the characters themselves?
ReplyDeleteeach the following above represent what would kinda happens when the mother runs off from there family. The father cant care so they resort to an orphanage. Once the mother leaves they are ghosted by the kids. Not only that im sure the men dont really care in this play as jacon engrstrad wants to open a brothel to make money. for sailors to come into port and have a good time. All of these listed above seem to be symbols of conflict around the play . we seem to know the orphanage is going to burn down at some point, regina is ghosted by one of her children, the priest doesnt agree w regina, and jacob is opening up a brothel.
we also know the orphanage was not built for the care of children. it was built to detract the attention from a secret life in the family. leaving behind a good repuation, captain alving wasnt all that good of a man.
ReplyDeleteSean Healey
ReplyDeleteIbsen challenges conventional expectations early on in his play, “Ghosts” as we are introduced to Engstrand and Regina Engstrand. After observing Regina’s behavior you can see that she clearly does not want to please her father and be a worker in the seaman's house or a brothel. Although they are father and daughter they treat each other poorly and Engstrand only cares for Regina to serve his own business needs. As Ibsen challenged the idea of expectations where you should follow your father's orders, he shows one can be independent with Regina who has decided to take her own path and disregard the wishes of her father. When first asked to work in her fathers Seamans house regina says, “Regina: Yes, you may be sure we'll see about it! Me that have been brought up by a lady like Mrs. Alving! Me that am treated almost as a daughter here! Is it me you want to go home with you?--to a house like yours? For shame!” we watch as Ibsen uses sarcasm to show there is no way Regina accepts Engstrands offer. As you read ghosts we see that Regina and her father Engstrand just have two different views of their lives and as a daughter goes against her father's wishes Ibsen challenges the idea of conventional expectations.
Sophia Moheban
ReplyDeleteAct 1 of Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen. How is Regina representative of mobility between the classes? In Act 1 Regina is from the working class, but she is a maid who is treated like family. Regina aspires to be someone better than her father. Her father was a laborer who always scammed peoples money. She wants to move up the social ladder. She wants to be more like Mrs. Alving, “Yes, you may be sure we'll see about it! Me, that have been brought up by a lady like Mrs Alving! Me, that am treated almost as a daughter here!” She actively strives to be in her position.
How does the behavior of Regina Engstrand and Engstrand toward each other in show that Henrik Ibsen is challenging conventional expectations? Regina Engstrand and Engstrand are father and daughter but they treat each other so poorly. She refuses to live with him, and he only wants her to serve his own business needs. Regina says she has no obligation to be in his life. Engstrand has no affection for her, he tries to invoke social convention to make her do what he says, not because he loves her but because he wants to use her. He is going against the normal expectations from parents and children. In this quote, “Then never mind about marrying them. You can make it pay all the same. [More confidentially.] He--the Englishman--the man with the yacht--he came down with three hundred dollars, he did; and she wasn't a bit handsomer than you.” Engstrand shows that he is kind of like the boss or Regina and telling her what to do.
What do Mrs. Alving's comments about the books she is reading in Act I suggest about the society she lives in? Mrs. Helene Alving says that she lives in a society that is repressed and hypocritical. She is not shocked by what she has read regarding free love. She thinks that it is what most people believe, even in her own community.
What do mrs.alvings comments about the books she is reading in act one suggest about the society she lives in?
ReplyDeleteThe things that Mrs.Alving comments about society is that she lives in a society that is phoney. She isn't shocked about what she has read. She thinks that it is what most people believe, even in her own community. But she says something about her society that stuck out which was that , "most people don't want to face these things or what they imply." This comment relates to people's lives where they don't want to face the real world. After she finished reading the book, she said, “Well, I seem to find explanation and confirmation of all sorts of things I myself have been thinking. For that is the wonderful part of it, Pastor Minders--there is really nothing new in these books, nothing but what most people think and believe. Only most people either don't formulate it to themselves, or else keep quiet about it”. This shows that this society is not that unique since all of the books seem the same to her.
How do the stage directions for Act 1 of Ghosts set the mood for the play?
The description of the outside environment is "Somber fjord landscape can be glimpsed, half hidden by steady rain," which creates a gloomy type of mood. The description of the garden room shows that it is an upper-class home, which shows with Engstrand's appearance. His presence outside the room shows his position outside the social class of this kind of home.
How does the behavior of Regina Engstrand and Engstrand toward each other in show that Henrik Ibsen is challenging conventional expectations?
ReplyDeleteThis relationship and behavior between Regina and Engstrand is quite odd and challenges the conventional expectations of having to listen to your father and parents in general. Regina does not want to listen to her father when he wants her to work in a “sailors home” to prostitute for a living and make money off of that for him. Engstrand expects Regina to immediately accept his offer and do it for him but she does not want to by any means. He also doesn't care much for her when she declines his offer, he says “Then never mind about marrying them. You can make it pay all the same. He--the Englishman--the man with the yacht--he came down with three hundred dollars, he did; and she wasn't a bit handsomer than you” he sees her for her looks and wants to put it to use in his favor without thinking about her which is odd to do as a father.
How do the stage directions for Ghosts set the mood for the play?
As described a "Somber fjord landscape can be glimpsed, half hidden by steady rain," creates a low spirited and depressing mood. The description of the garden room shows that it is an upper class home which differs with Engstrands appearance, Regina attempt to prevent Engstrands unhealthy path creates a mood of tension. The whole stage directions create a mood of cold conflict.
paige bukowski
How do the stage directions for Ghosts set the mood for the play?
ReplyDeleteThe play starts with an eerie, somewhat ominous feel to it. It starts off overlooking a garden with some mist covering the ground, immediately letting the reader know almost how the play will run. Regina and Engstrand seem to have an interesting relationship given the time the play was based. She is a little bit more defiant than the average female in her time period. She is expected to listen to almost anything a man tells her to do, but she is rather independent.
How does the behavior of Regina Engstrand and Engstrand toward each other in show that Henrik Ibsen is challenging conventional expectations?
Her father expects her to come to help him make some money, but to his disbelief, she denies his “offer”. Regina Engstrand is a maid in the working class, her father seeming to always be willing to scam someone out of money. Regina looks down upon her father’s ways and pushes herself to be better than her father and not scam people. This is unconventional because women are usually very complient in this time period.
nolan brezinski
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