001 - Act 1 episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 6, 2026 · 48 MIN

001 - Act 1

from Rosmersholm · host Henrik Ibsen

Step into the world of Rosmersholm, a profound play crafted by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in 1886. Often hailed as Ibsens masterpiece, rivaled only by The Wild Duck, this compelling narrative explores the tumultuous themes of social and political change. At its heart lies John Rosmer, whose moral dilemmas are intricately intertwined with the enigmatic Rebecca West, a free-thinking heroine who challenges the very foundations of Rosmers beliefs. As she seeks to dismantle the traditional ideals upheld by the ruling classes, the play raises haunting questions about the survival of Christian ethics in a world where faith is waning. Join us as we delve into the personal and societal conflicts that define this timeless work. (Summary by Wikipedia)

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Rosmersholm by Henrik Ibsen (1828 - 1906) LibriVox Rosmersholm is a play written in 1886 by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. In the estimation of many critics the piece is Ibsen's masterwork, only equalled by The Wild Duck of 1884. As expressed by the protagonist, Rosmer, the theme of the play is social and political change, in which the traditional ruling classes relinquish their right to impose their ideals on the rest of society, but the action is entirely personal, resting on the conduct of the immoral, or amoral, "free thinking" heroine, Rebecca, who sets herself to undermine Rosmer's religious and political beliefs because of his influential position in the community. Rebecca has abandoned not only Christianity but, unlike Rosmer, she has abandoned the whole ethical system of Christianity as well. Possibly she may be taken as Ibsen's answer to the question of whether or not Christian ethics can be expected to survive the death of the Christian religion. (Summary by Wikipedia)CastJohn Rosmer: < Mr. Punch's Pocket Ibsen by F. Anstey (1856 - 1934) LibriVox These short comic parodies of five well-known tragedies by Henrik Ibsen originally appeared in Punch, the British humor magazine. From the prefatory note: "The author is conscious that his imitation is painfully lacking in the mysterious obscurity of the original, that the vein of allegorical symbolism is thinner throughout than it should be, and that the characters are not nearly so mad as persons invariably are in real life—but these are the faults inevitable to a prentice hand, and he trusts that due allowances may be made for them by the critical." LibriVox has produced full-cast versions of all five plays that F. Anstey parodies in this collection: Rosmersholm, A Doll's House, Hedda Gabler, The Wild Duck, and The Master Builder. - Summary by Elizabeth Klett Rosmersholm by Henrik Ibsen Loyal Books Rosmersholm is a play written in 1886 by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. In the estimation of many critics the piece is Ibsen’s masterwork, only equalled by The Wild Duck of 1884. As expressed by the protagonist, Rosmer, the theme of the play is social and political change, in which the traditional ruling classes relinquish their right to impose their ideals on the rest of society, but the action is entirely personal, resting on the conduct of the immoral, or amoral, “free thinking” heroine, Rebecca, who sets herself to undermine Rosmer’s religious and political beliefs because of his influential position in the community. Rebecca has abandoned not only Christianity but, unlike Rosmer, she has abandoned the whole ethical system of Christianity as well. Possibly she may be taken as Ibsen’s answer to the question of whether or not Christian ethics can be expected to survive the death of the Christian religion. Mr. Punch's Pocket Ibsen F. Anstey These short comic parodies of five well-known tragedies by Henrik Ibsen originally appeared in Punch, the British humor magazine. From the prefatory note: "The author is conscious that his imitation is painfully lacking in the mysterious obscurity of the original, that the vein of allegorical symbolism is thinner throughout than it should be, and that the characters are not nearly so mad as persons invariably are in real life—but these are the faults inevitable to a prentice hand, and he trusts that due allowances may be made for them by the critical." LibriVox has produced full-cast versions of all five plays that F. Anstey parodies in this collection: Rosmersholm, A Doll's House, Hedda Gabler, The Wild Duck, and <a href="https:

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This episode was published on January 6, 2026.

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