Rosmersholm

Henrik Ibsen’s Rosmersholm seems to be an example of realism because the characters themselves, actions of the characters, and language used are indicative of everyday life. The characters were complex; there was not a ‘good’ guy and a ‘bad’ guy. In fact, the characters seemed to become increasingly complex as the play progressed, often displaying both vices and virtues. For example, the seemingly subservient, sweet Rebecca West ended up being a manipulative, dark individual that was capable of swaying Beata towards suicide. In addition, the ideals of Rosmer seemed admirable as he vowed to spread the ideas of the liberators and democracy; however, he ends up giving up his cause and ultimately dies through suicide with Rebecca at the close of the play. I also found it interesting that the ideals of the liberals were built up so idealistically in the beginning of the play. However, even the liberal Morning Star, supposedly created to promote the free spread of ideas, tells Rosmer that they cannot publish his non-Christian viewpoint--- Mortensgaard claims that the only thing that should be printed is what “our good public needs to know” (Act 2 Scene 5). Thus, the play becomes an intricate exploration of the daily lives of intricately linked characters.