Authors
- Tomberg Olga V. D. Sc. (Philology), Associate Professor
- Kosareva Anna A. PhD (Philology)
Annotation
The article examines the harlequinade grotesque in Henrik Ibsen’s play «A Doll’s House». The study proves relevant due to the growing interest in this play in Russian and foreign literary criticism in the last five years, as well as the stable trend in foreign literary criticism to explore the elements of commedia dell’arte in European drama. The novelty of the study is due to the fact that the authors are the first to analyze the images and plot of «A Doll’s House» through the lens of commedia aesthetics, and also
analyze the harlequinade grotesque used by Ibsen — an artistic technique that represents the imposition of the aesthetics of commedia dell’arte on descriptions of the tragic aspects of modernity. In the course of the study, with the help of the comparative historical method, parallels are drawn between the images of Helmer, Nora, Linde, Krogstad and Rank with the masks of Harlequin, Columbine, Pierrette, Brighella and Doctor. The plot twists and turns of «A Doll’s House» and the comedy of masks are compared. The results of the study show that the basis of the harlequinade grotesque in «A Doll’s House» is an inverted harlequinade plot, the purpose of which is to overthrow tradition at the level of the theatrical subtext inherent in the play. The inverted commedia tradition, broadcasting a rebellion against patriarchy in Norway at the beginning of the 20th century, directly correlates with the main theme of the play, namely the need to change the balance of power between men and women. Ibsen’s harlequinade grotesque is thus realized at the character and plot levels, performing several functions: 1) it is a tool for intercultural dialogue between Norwegian and Italian theatrical traditions; 2) it carries a carnival charge, revolutionary and liberating, directly related to the question of women’s rights; 3) it conceptualizes the complexities of family, everyday and social relations as theatrical (compared to commedia puppet theater).
How to link insert
Tomberg, O. V. & Kosareva, A. A. (2024). HARLEQUINADE GROTESQUE IN HENRIK IBSEN’S PLAY «A DOLL’ HOUSE» (1879) Bulletin of the Moscow City Pedagogical University. Series "Pedagogy and Psychology", 4 (56), 7. https://doi.org/10.24412/2076-913X-2024-456-7-22
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