The Pillars of Society (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Henrik Ibsen
- First Published: 1880
- Type of Work: Play
- Type of Plot: Psychological realism
- Time of Work: Nineteenth century
- Setting: A Norwegian seaport
- Genres: Realism, Drama, Psychological drama
- Subjects: Family or family life, Nineteenth century, Sin or Original sin, Guilt, Sea or seafaring life, Scandinavia or Scandinavians, Norway or Norwegians
- Locales: Norway
Characters Discussed
Karsten Bernick, a shipbuilder and a pillar of society who says that his every action is performed to help the community. Actually, Bernick is guilty of an intrigue with Mrs. Dorf, now dead, and of letting his brother-in-law, Johan Tönnesen, assume his guilt and flee to America. Because his mother’s finances were in bad shape, he also permitted and helped circulate a rumor that Johan had run off with her cash box. Now he is planning to let an American ship manned with a drunken crew set sail with inadequate repairs to avoid criticism from the press. When...
[The entire page is 1068 words long]
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