Ghosts

Please try to find some examples from the play of these themes and ideas and add a quotation or notes. These ideas are the 'Ghosts' which Ibsen discusses throughout the play.

1. Sexual morality is the duty of women only. pg156 "yes, but she was that sort, all the same. Well, sometimes I`ve though as much, but... Well, Mrs. Alving, please may I leave straight away" Page 96: [Regine and Engstrand] E: "It can still be worth your while. That Englishman, now...the one the yacht.. he paid 300 dollars...and she wasn't any prettier than you" 2. Contemporary law and order and current ideas are divine in origin and not subject to change.

-Exchange between Manders and Oswald about having children and owning a home out of wedlock (Act 1 p110). Manders is shocked that Oswald's friends have families outside of wedlock, however Oswald is used to it.

The following quote is by Tzvetan: "Its not just what we inherit from our mothers and fathers that haunts us. It's all kinds of old defunct theories, all sorts of old defunct beliefs, and things like that." p 126 3. Woman's duty - loyalty to one's husband regardless of deeds. A character in the play, through whom Ibsen conveys this idea is Mrs. Alving. Eventhough she experienced a horrible marriage,Mrs.Alving, even after her husband's death wants to be loyal to him and memoralize him. This is clearly exampled when she established an orphan asylum for him.

- Mrs Alving and Pastor Manders speak on the eve of her husband's 10th death anniversary.
 * Mrs Alving:** "Have you forgotten how utterly miserable I felt that first year?"
 * Manders:** "All this demanding to be happy in life, it's all part of this same wanton idea. What right have people to happiness? No, we have our duty to do, Mrs. Alving! And your duty was to stand by the man you had chosen, and to whom you were bound by the sacred ties."

4. Children owe their parents love and respect and parents need to do little to earn this. Engstrand is trying to get Regine to go with him and help him set up the sailors' hotel - Page 93, Engstrand: What the devil...? Setting yourself up against your own father, you little bitch? - Page 96, Engstrand: All right, I'm going. But you just have a talk with //him//, coming in there. //He's// the man to tell you what a child owes its father. Because after all I am your father, you know. I can prove it from the Parish Register.

- Mrs. Alving and Pastor Manders having a conversation alone:
 * Manders:** "Look Mrs. Alving, suppose he desperately needed Regine back home with him again..."
 * Mrs. Alving:** [rises quickly]. "Regine!"
 * Manders:** "You mustn't try to prevent it."
 * Mrs. Alving:** "I will. I most certainly will try to prevent it. Anyway ...Regine is going to work in the Orphanage."
 * Manders:** "But remember, he //is// her father...."