Why is Henrik Ibsen often called the father of modern drama? How did a Norwegian playwright revolutionise theatre and challenge the moral assumptions of nineteenth-century society?
In this episode of Literary Rides, we explore Ibsen's transformation of drama through realism, psychological depth, and social criticism. From the groundbreaking feminism of A Doll's House to the unsettling moral questions raised in Ghosts, Ibsen turned the stage into a powerful arena for examining gender, family, morality, and individual freedom.
The discussion examines his life, the emergence of the problem play, the development of psychological realism, and his enduring influence on modern theatre and literary modernism. We also consider contemporary debates surrounding gender equality, personal identity, and social conformity, demonstrating why Ibsen remains one of the most relevant playwrights in world literature.