August Strindberg, Fadren [The Father]

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The Father

(1887) is one of August Strindberg’s most performed plays, perhaps only taking second place to

Miss Julie

(1888). It is a response to many strains in the air of the Nordic 1880s, not the least of which were the feminist debates sparked by Henrik Ibsen’s

A Doll House

(1879). Ibsen’s play inspired many imitators who wrote plays and novels demonstrating the victimization of women by domineering and badly behaving men, thus creating what has been called a literature of indignation. August Strindberg felt that both sides of the story were not being told and

The Father

is Strindberg’s attempt to show that the role of the father and breadwinner is not without its drawbacks. Strindberg tips his hat to his rival Ibsen when he has the Captain complain that Mr. Alving was not…

2106 words

Citation: Brantly, Susan. "Fadren". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 24 November 2010 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=11338, accessed 19 March 2024.]

11338 Fadren 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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