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This Must Be Goodbye, but Not Farewell.

Being my last work When We Dead Awaken was truly a reflection of my artistry and I believe I see much of myself in Arnold. Before I died I felt lost, not able to write any longer, but I died happy knowing the joy my pieces have brought the world. When We Dead Awaken was a turn of the century play and was and still is received well by every audience. It is a well rooted and complex plot line with heartfelt lines and ingenious quotes about love and death. So with that I will be leaving the universe of tumblr but I will continue on through my work. 

Never give up and as always, Be Real Audience.

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Characters From When We Dead Awaken

Arnold Rubek-Famous sculptor and leading male in the show. He is described as unhappy in his life and always looking for inspiration into his work. He is married to Maia although he is in love with Irena, a former model for one of his most famous sculptures. He is a middle aged man with very calm and well built composure.

Maia-Leading female of the show and wife to Arnold Rubek. Maia is a lost character in this show and is inevitably left without love. Arnold leaves her for Irena, but she feels no resentment towards him, and only longs to be free. She is energetic but serious and an all around caring person.

Irena-Supporting female and perhaps the most interesting character in this show. Everything from he all white costume, to her knife, to her confusing personality and struggle with death in both a physical and mental standpoint all make her character extremely unique. Her true motive is really never understood.

Ulfheim-Supporting male of the show and a sort of stuck up hunter. Arguably a love interest for Maia. From the second he is on stage he is somewhat cocky and believes he is the only one who can manage his way up and down the mountainside. In the end he saves Maia’s life but other than that plays no significant role in the show.

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“[Touching his own breast.] In here, you see—in here I have a little bramah-locked casket. And in that casket all my sculptor's visions are stored up. But when she disappeared and left no trace, the lock of the casket snapped to. And she had the key—and she took it away with her.You, little Maia, you had no key; so all that the casket contains must lie unused. And the years pass! And I have no means of getting at the treasure.”

Henrik Ibsen, When We Dead Awaken

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Act II+III

Act II begins at a resort in the mountains where Arnold confesses to Mia that he is unhappy and wants to live with Irena who inspires his creative mind. Maia is devestated but allows him to do as he pleases. After Arnold goes to speak with Irena she almost stabs him the back but stops, as he asks her t ocome live and work with him again. Maia on the other hand returns to Ulfheim and agrees to hunt with him, saying she finally feels awake and singing, "I am free...No longer in prison, I'll be! I'm as free as a bird, I am free!" Act III then starts high up in the mountains with Ulfheim and Maia arguing and Maia demanding she be taken back to the resort. She cannot travel alone for the path is two hard but soon Irena and Rubek show up and a bad storm is on the way so he is forced to return with Maia and come back for the other two later. After they are gone Irena is convinced if they are rescued the nun will surely try and place her in an asylum, so she tries to kill "herslelf. Arnold begs her to not and she admits to havig almost killed him earlier, until she realized he too is already dead. Arnold insistes that, "we two dead things live life for once to the full". They agreed to be marries at the top of teh mountain at sunlight but as they climb out of view an avalanch kills both of them, only to be discovered by the nun who speaks the words  "Pax vobiscum!" (Peace be with you), as Maia's song is sung aloud.

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Act I

When We Dead Awaken begins at a spa overlooking a fjord. We are introuduced to the two main charcters Arnold Rubek, A sculptor and Maia, his wife. After a brief introduction they marvel at how quiet the spa is and we see each of them hint and the sorrow and disappointment they find in their current lives. The hotel manager then passes by with two guests, a women dressed all in white and a nun dressed in all black, the women in white seems to catch Rubek's eye. After meeting another charachter, Ulfheim, a hunter, Maia joins him for breakfast while Rubek addresses the women in white. We then discover the women in white is Irena, a women who formerly worked with Rubek on a sculptor entitled 'Resurrection' that made him very famous. Irena says that working with Rubrek was like a 'self murder' and they both admit that they have not been the same since  working together. Irena claims to have murdered every husband and child since being with Rubek and they agree to meet up in the mountains. Maia returns and says that Ulfheim has invited her to travel up the mountains and they both agree to go.

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When We Dead Awaken

Hallo!

So today audience, as I feel my time on Tumblr is coming to an end, I wanted to take the time to tell you about my last and one of my favorite works, “When We Dead Awaken.”

I published, When We Dead Awaken, in December of 1899 and it was first performed at Haymarket Theatre in London, a day or two before publication.

Be on the look out for the plot summary I will be posting a little later!

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A Younger Photo of me inspired by #tbt

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Hallo once again my loving audience! It's Thursday which means it's time for #tbt! I think the most important thing to understand about my childhood is that I showed very little interest in theater as a child. My father, Knud Ibsen was a merchant and my mother, Marichen Ibsen loved to paint, play piano, and go to the theater. After we moved to an old rundown farm house due to poverty, I mainly expressed myself by reading, painting, and magic tricks (because what nerd doesn't love magic?). My main inspiration for writing came from my Mom and my idol William Shakespeare who I even modeled my first work, "Catalina," in verse after him in 1849. I had much difficulty (as many writers do) in finding work and I worked at Norwegian Theater in Bergen and in Christiania. Both theaters proved to be frustrating time for me, but like any good writer I turned frustration into inspiration and worse one of my favorite satires, "Love's Comedy," in 1862. I have to say I was fortunate enough that no matter where I went my hard work ethic and writings were loved by every audiences and as I grew I wrote many different shows in which anyone who loved theater could enjoy. Well I think that's enough for my childhood! A Younger picture of me should go up today so look out for that! Be Real Audience! I hope you found some inspiration in my tale!

#tbt #poverty #neverstopwriting #inspirationiseverywhere

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Vilhelm Scheel: Henrik Ibsen, 1904, Karl Johans gate, Oslo. 

Oslo Museum, OB.F03797b.

via

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Final sentences: 

[Helmer: (sinks down on a chair at the door and buries his face in his hands.) Nora! Nora! (looks round, and rises.) Empty. She is gone. (a hope flashes across his mind.)] The most wonderful thing of all—?

from A Doll’s House

After a moment of silence, she says, “Pax vobiscum!” (Peace be with you), as Maia’s song still lingers in the air.

from When We Dead Awaken

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“Another woman acting like a man should be a mind-reader?”

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A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.

Henrik Ibsen (via observando)

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Maggie Smith as Hedda Gabler - Hedda Gabler (1970)

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It is no use lying to one’s self.

Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll’s House. (via wordsnquotes)

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Hedda Gabler, Thalia Theater 

Director: Jan Bosse

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Before I write down one word, I have to have the character in my mind through and through. I must penetrate into the last wrinkle of his soul.

Henrik Ibsen (via amandaonwriting)