Ibsen: Minor Characters

Question 1

What roles do minor characters usually occupy in drama?

Answer 1

They act as mirrors or foils to the protagonists, developing both of their characterisations.

Question 2

What are the three minor character pairings in ibsen’s two plays?

Answer 2

Mrs Linde and Mrs Elvsted
Hans krogstad and Eilert Loevberg
Dr Rank and Judge Brack

Question 3

Introduction

Answer 3

+ titles and playwright
+ introduce minor characters and their pairings
+ brief introduction of their roles
+ introduce naturalism
+ explain impact of naturalist style (unconventional characters)

Question 4

Paragraphs

Answer 4

1 - L and E
2 - K and L
3 - R and B

Question 5

Paragraph 1 topic

Answer 5

Mrs Linde and Mrs Elvsted act as foils (oppose) Nora and Hedda, respectively. Linde has lived independently in society and now wants a family (opposite of Nora) and Elvsted embodies the all the freedoms that Hedda envies.

Question 6

Paragraph 1 quotes

Answer 6

+ “All alone. How dreadful that must be for you. I’ve three lovely children.”
+ “Someone to work for - to live for! A home to bring joy into”

+ “You mean you’ve left your home for good?…But what do you suppose people will say?” “They can say what they like”
+ “Her hair is of a handsome auburn colour, but is not especially abundant”
+ “Her hair is extremely fair…and abundant”
+ “I’m burning your child, Thea! You with your beautiful, wavy hair!”

Question 7

Paragraph 2 topic

Answer 7

Both Krogstad and Loevberg are anti-villains, as naturalist style shows their complexity as both good and evil. They mirror Nora and Hedda. Krogstad has committed the same crime as Nora and is now trying to regain respectability, Loevberg was once a degenerate, trapped by society, but is working his way up the social ladder now.

Question 8

Paragraph 2 quotes

Answer 8

+ “You know of course, as everyone else does, that some years ago I committed an indiscretion.
+ “My sons are growing up: for their sake, I must try to regain what respectability I can”
+ “Even…a man like me can have a little of what you call feeling.”

+ “You shall see - both of you - that if I was fallen once - now I have risen again!”
+ “It wasn’t knowledge you wanted! It was life!”

Question 9

Paragraph 3 topic

Answer 9

Rank and Brack act as warnings to the two female protagonists. Rank shows Nora the lonely life that might await her, whilst Brack is a reminder of the oppression and control that Hedda will never be able to escape.

Question 10

Paragraph 3 quotes

Answer 10

+ “Not to be able to leave even the most wretched token of gratitude behind…only an empty space; to be filled by the next comer.”
+ “His suffering and loneliness seemed to provide a kind of dark background to the happy sunlight of our marriage.

+ “No Hedda Gabler. Not as long as I hold my tongue.”
+ “(Nods slowly and lowers his voice) I shall fight for it with every weapon at my disposal”