The Lady from the Sea

"The Lady from the Sea" by Henrik Ibsen is a play written during the late 19th century. This drama explores the complexities of love, identity, and the weight of the past through the lens of Ellida Wangel, a woman caught between her husband, Doctor Wangel, and a mysterious figure from her past who threatens to resurface. The narrative unfolds in a small fjord town in Norway, where themes of longing and the struggle for personal freedom take center stage. At the start of the play, we are introduced to Doctor Wangel's household, describing the vibrant garden and the anticipation of a visitor, Mr. Arnholm. The scene transitions seamlessly between conversations of the family, particularly highlighting Ellida's unusual connection with the sea and the townspeople's perceptions of her as the "Lady from the Sea." Her relationship with Wangel is depicted as troubled, as she grapples with her past and the psychological strain it imposes on her present life. The opening sets the stage for a multifaceted exploration of Ellida’s internal conflict, the expectations from her family, and the stirring influence of the sea, establishing a rich atmosphere charged with tension and emotional resonance. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Henrik Johan Ibsen was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and the most influential playwright of the 19th century, as well of one of the most influential playwrights in Western literature more generally. His major works include Brand, Peer Gynt, Emperor and Galilean, A Doll's House, Ghosts, An Enemy of the People, The Wild Duck, Rosmersholm, Hedda Gabler, The Master Builder, and When We Dead Awaken. Ibsen is the most frequently performed dramatist in the world after Shakespeare, and A Doll's House was the world's most performed play in 2006.