Awards
Ibsen received many honors during his life and after, such as the Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Ibsen's death in 2006, the Norwegian government organised the Ibsen Year, which included celebrations around the world. The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) produced a miniseries on Ibsen's childhood and youth in 2006, An Immortal Man. Several prizes are awarded in the name of Henrik Ibsen, among them the International Ibsen Award, the Norwegian Ibsen Award and the Ibsen Centennial Commemoration Award. In 1995, the asteroid (5696) Ibsen was named in his memory (Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, n.d.).
Criticism
As Ibsen's plays really pushed the envelope, he encountered a lot of criticism. Many critics, whether European, British, or American, were horrified by his works. Of Hedda Gabler, one Norwegian critic said Hedda Gabler herself was a "monster created by the author in the form of a woman who has not counterpart in the real world." In Hedda Gabler, Hedda's manipulative nature was exraordinarily controversial (City University of New York, 2009). "Oh, I assure you I have never cherished any hopes with respect to you." Hedda says of Brack. This bluntness she exhibits, this seemingly careless cruelty in the name of being honest was a serious point of contention, as women were expected to be polite and sweet--rather than cunning and blunt.
An anonymous critique of Ibsen, in general, appeared in the Saturday Review, stating that:
"The production of an Ibsen play impels the inquiry, What is the province of art? If it be to elevate and refine, as we have hitherto humbly supposed, most certainly it cannot be said that the works of Ibsen have the faintest claim to be artistic. We see no ground on which his method is defensible. . . . " (City University of New York, 2009).
Personal Critique of the Author
Ibsen effortlessly blends political controversey with his own personal experieces, which is something I respect. With that said, his genre of writing isn't necessarily my favorite--however that is not to say that I do not recognize him for what he is: a literary great. Having lived modern times, I disagree with his critics. I see where they come from, they must have been shocked at his chronic pushing of the envelope behavior--but the subject matter of his work really is not controversial today.
(City University of New York, 2009)
Ibsen received many honors during his life and after, such as the Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Ibsen's death in 2006, the Norwegian government organised the Ibsen Year, which included celebrations around the world. The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) produced a miniseries on Ibsen's childhood and youth in 2006, An Immortal Man. Several prizes are awarded in the name of Henrik Ibsen, among them the International Ibsen Award, the Norwegian Ibsen Award and the Ibsen Centennial Commemoration Award. In 1995, the asteroid (5696) Ibsen was named in his memory (Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, n.d.).
Criticism
As Ibsen's plays really pushed the envelope, he encountered a lot of criticism. Many critics, whether European, British, or American, were horrified by his works. Of Hedda Gabler, one Norwegian critic said Hedda Gabler herself was a "monster created by the author in the form of a woman who has not counterpart in the real world." In Hedda Gabler, Hedda's manipulative nature was exraordinarily controversial (City University of New York, 2009). "Oh, I assure you I have never cherished any hopes with respect to you." Hedda says of Brack. This bluntness she exhibits, this seemingly careless cruelty in the name of being honest was a serious point of contention, as women were expected to be polite and sweet--rather than cunning and blunt.
An anonymous critique of Ibsen, in general, appeared in the Saturday Review, stating that:
"The production of an Ibsen play impels the inquiry, What is the province of art? If it be to elevate and refine, as we have hitherto humbly supposed, most certainly it cannot be said that the works of Ibsen have the faintest claim to be artistic. We see no ground on which his method is defensible. . . . " (City University of New York, 2009).
Personal Critique of the Author
Ibsen effortlessly blends political controversey with his own personal experieces, which is something I respect. With that said, his genre of writing isn't necessarily my favorite--however that is not to say that I do not recognize him for what he is: a literary great. Having lived modern times, I disagree with his critics. I see where they come from, they must have been shocked at his chronic pushing of the envelope behavior--but the subject matter of his work really is not controversial today.
(City University of New York, 2009)