Ghosts Discussion_ 2

Alex Barutis Mr. Stephens Honors Humanities February 13, 2019 Ghosts Discussion: 2 1. Is/What there a deeper significance to the ideas of light and dark in this modern play? Mrs. Alving mentions that we are all, “afraid of the light” and there is also the idea of Oswald yearning for sunlight. The correlation between the sunlight and the “joy of life” that Oswald is seeking that is most evident of some form of symbolic significance. - The lighting seems to reflect the mood of the situation. - The lighting is somewhat also correlated with the weather. - Mrs. Alving is confronted with the truth → weather clears up - The joy of Life → sunlight etc. 2. What does Engstrand mean when he says, “on the mammon of unrighteousness, it’s the price of your sin; as for this tainted gold” . . . “we will throw it back in the American’s face.”? 3. What is the final meaning of the title Ghosts that Henrik names the play after reading the entire play? - Something about the prevalent ghost of Mr. Alving that influences people in his bad ways and habits.

Excerpt

Page Number

Response

“Ghosts. When I heard Regina and Oswald in there, it was just like seeing ghosts before my eyes. I am half inclined to think we are all ghosts, Mr. Manders. . . . They are not actually alive in us; but there they are dormant, all the same, and we can never be rid of them. . . . I fancy I see ghosts creeping through the lines.” (Mrs. Alving)

P. 38

In this chosen excerpt, only parts of Mrs. Alving’s monologue are mentioned but the following refers to the entire speech. I find this passage finds itself touching upon lots of different subjects. When we hear Mrs. Alving talking about this idea that we are all ghosts, it is very reminiscent of the idea covered in philosophy about the ghost in the machine, more specifically, are we ghosts in a machine? In a philosophical sense, it is questionable if we exist or not. If one is asked if they exist or not and they say no, it is then safe of the one interrogating to ask who they are speaking with. I think it is hard to fathom what we are. Eventually, this leads to the big question, are we a ghost in a machine? For me, it is not something completely out of the question. This is especially supported when Mrs. Alving goes to explain that there are these dead beliefs and ideas that lay dormant in us. In the more literal sense, nonliving ideas.

“Over there the mere fact of being alive is thought to be a matter for exultant happiness. Mother, have you noticed that everything I have painted has turned upon the joy of life?—always upon the joy of life, unfailingly. There is light there, and sunshine, and a holiday feeling—and people’s faces beaming with happiness. That is why I am afraid to stay at home here with you.” (Oswald)

P. 56

This is one of the several times in the second half of Ibsen’s tragedy in which Oswald mentions this idea of the joy of life. Between his paintings and just the sheer number of times he has mentioned it, this “joy of life” is something that is very important to him. At this point in the story, to me (unless I missed it which is entirely possible) what the joy of life is, is somewhat unclear. It seems to be this unattainable thing in which one can only get closer and closer to, but never really attain it. This seems similar to the capital T-Truth that philosophers try to attain.

“I had been taught about duty, and the sort of thing that I believed in so long here. Everything seemed to turn upon duty—my duty, or his duty—and I am afraid I made your poor father’s home unbearable to him.” (Mrs. Alving?

P. 66

I find it interesting when Mrs. Alving says, “I made your poor father’s home unbearable to him,” because if I remember correctly, I thought that Mr. Alving was the one treating her poorly. The fact that Mrs. Alving said it was ​she​ made the place unbearable for ​him​ is very strange to me. At this point, it could be something to protect Mr. Alving as she doesn’t want to make him “look bad” as she still may have some sort of respect for him.