Monologue

Oswald Monologue from Ghosts: A Domestic Tragedy in Three Acts

From Ghosts: A Domestic Tragedy in Three Acts by Henrik Ibsen

male · philosophical · 1:35 min

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That--and the joy of work. They are really the same thing at bottom. Put you don't know anything about that either. (Mrs. Alving: Perhaps you are right. Tell me some more about it, Oswald.) Well, all I mean is that here people are brought up to believe that work is a curse and a punishment for sin, and that life is a state of wretchedness and that the sooner we can get out of it the better. (Mrs. Alving: A vale of tears, yes. And we quite conscientiously make it so.) But the people over there will have none of that. There is no one there who really believes doctrines of that kind any longer. Over there the mere fact of being alive is thought to be a matter for exultant happiness. Mother, have you noticed that everything I have painted has turned upon the joy of life?--always upon the joy of life, unfailingly. There is light there, and sunshine, and a holiday feeling--and people's faces beaming with happiness. That is why I am afraid to stay at home here with you.

About this piece

20s · hope · freedom · identity · family · joy of life

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