logo

32 pages 1 hour read

Ghosts

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1881

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Henrik Ibsen

Ghosts

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1881
Book Details
Pages

48

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Norway • 1880s

Publication Year

1881

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen chronicles a day in the life of Helen Alving as she prepares to open an orphanage in honor of her late husband. The play unfolds through the complicated dynamics with her son, Oswald, and unveils family secrets, including the true parentage of Regina, a young maid. The narrative grapples with complex social issues like sexually transmitted infections, incest, and euthanasia.

Dark

Mysterious

Emotional

Unnerving

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

3.9

17,533 ratings

66%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts is lauded for its daring exploration of societal taboos and complex character portrayals, starkly challenging 19th-century norms. While some praise its unflinching realism and psychological depth, others criticize its perceived moralizing tone and bleak narrative. Despite polarizing opinions, it remains a powerful commentary on inherited guilt and societal hypocrisy.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Ghosts?

Readers who appreciate societal critique and psychological depth in literature will enjoy Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts. Those moved by the moral complexities in A Doll's House or the dark familial explorations in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman will find similar themes and challenges in Ghosts, making it a compelling read for fans of intense drama.

3.9

17,533 ratings

66%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Character List

Helen Alving

A devoted mother and businesswoman who is committed to establishing an orphanage in memory of her late husband. She grapples with past decisions and navigates societal expectations while trying to rebuild her relationship with her son.

A talented artist who returns home to reconnect with his mother after living abroad. He is portrayed as an emblem of his father's legacy and struggles with his health while uncovering family secrets.

An old family friend of the Alvings, who acts as a business advisor and confidant for Helen. He upholds social conventions and represents traditional religious values in the narrative.

A local carpenter with ambitions to build a hotel for sailors. Known for his manipulative tendencies, he navigates relationships with the other characters for personal gain.

A young maid in the Alving household, raised with a sense of self-worth and ambition. She seeks to rise above her class through her ties to the Alving family.

Book Details
Pages

48

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Norway • 1880s

Publication Year

1881

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.