Open AccessThe Philosophy of History in Henrik Ibsen’s early works
Author(s) -
Krystyna Szelągowska
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
studia scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2657-6740
pISSN - 1899-2811
DOI - 10.26881/ss.2020.24.05
Subject(s) - norwegian , causation , romance , literature , national history , personality psychology , history , philosophy , epistemology , psychology , psychoanalysis , art , political science , law , linguistics , personality , politics
The early works of Ibsen – which concentrate on historical issues from the old Norwegian past, using material from sagas, folk-tales, and songs – give us a picture of an author who is focused on a national programme. In accordance with the Romantic philosophy of history (historism), Ibsen uses its main categories of causation and explanation of the national past, mainly positing individual ideas as a major shaping force of the course of history and the impact of great personalities. At the same time, Ibsen presents the path for Norwegians to build a strong and independent nation, and the conditions that have to be fulfilled for that to happen.