The Quintessence of Ibsenism

by George Bernard Shaw

Great critic and dramatist's commentary on Ibsen's aims and methods, including evaluations of Brand , Peer Gynt , Ghosts , Hedda Gabler , others.

Genres: Theatre, Criticism, Nonfiction, Classics, Drama, Plays, Politics

84 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1891

About the author

George Bernard Shaw stands as one of the most prolific and influential intellectuals of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a man whose literary output was matched only by his fervent commitment to social reform. Rising from a modest background in Dublin to become a global icon of letters, Shaw redefined the purpose of the stage, transforming it from a place of mere entertainment into a forum for rigorous intellectual debate and moral inquiry. His unique "Shavian" style—characterized by sharp-witted dialogue, paradoxical reasoning, and a relentless assault on Victorian hypocrisy—ensured that his voice resonated far beyond the footlights. As a playwright, critic, and philosopher, he remains a singular figure in history, being one of only two individuals to have been honored with both a Nobel Prize in Literature and an Academy Award. This rare crossover of high-art recognition and mainstream cinematic success speaks to his versatility and the enduring relevance of his narratives. His dramatic work, which includes over sixty plays, often tackled the most pressing issues of his day, from the rigid structures of the British class system to the complexities of gender roles and the ethical dilemmas of capitalism. In masterpieces like Pygmalion, he used the science of phonetics to demonstrate the artificiality of class distinctions, a theme that would later reach millions through the musical adaptation My Fair Lady. In Man and Superman, he delved into the philosophical concepts of the "Life Force" and the evolution of the human spirit, while Major Barbara forced audiences to confront the uncomfortable relationship between religious idealism and the industrial military complex. Beyond his theatrical achievements, Shaw was a foundational force in political thought, serving as a leading light of the Fabian Society. His advocacy for gradual socialist reform, rather than violent revolution, helped shape the trajectory of modern British politics and social welfare. He was instrumental in the creation of the London School of Economics, an institution that continues to influence global policy and economic theory. Shaw was also a formidable critic, whose reviews of music and drama set new standards for the profession, characterized by an uncompromising honesty and a deep knowledge of the arts. His personal lifestyle was as distinctive as his writing; a committed vegetarian, teetotaler, and non-smoker, he lived with a disciplined focus that allowed him to remain productive well into his ninth decade. He was a man of contradictions, often engaging in provocative public discourse that challenged the status quo, even when his views sparked intense controversy. His fascination with the "Superman" archetype and his occasional support for authoritarian figures reflected a complex, often elitist worldview that sought the betterment of humanity through radical intellectual evolution. Despite these complexities, his core mission was always rooted in a profound humanitarianism and a desire to expose the delusions that prevented society from progressing. He believed that the power of the written word could strip away the masks of respectability that hid social injustice, and his plays continue to be staged worldwide because the human foibles he satirized remain as prevalent today as they were during his lifetime. By blending humor with gravity and intellect with accessibility, Shaw created a body of work that serves as both a mirror and a compass for modern civilization. His legacy is not just in the scripts he left behind, but in the very way we think about the intersection of art, politics, and the individual’s responsibility to the collective good. He remains the quintessential public intellectual, a man who never feared to speak his mind or to demand that the world become a more rational and equitable place.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

George Bernard Shaw's The Quintessence of Ibsenism is a witty collection of aphorisms and short analyses of Henrik Ibsen's plays. The edition I read is dated 1922, after Ibsen had died and the First World War had been fought.

[vass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the reason I fell in love with Shaw. I was introduced to Arns and the Man, and thought it was alright. I chose it for a school project (because it was short and I was a lazy teen) and discovered the true meaning for the play - class warfare and all that good stuff. I quickly picked up anything I could find from Shaw, and seeing as how I enjoyed A Doll's House by Ibsen, this became top of the list. I had no idea it would have such an impact on my life.
I'm speaking specifically about the first half of the work itself with this (unfortunately I had to return my copy and haven't been able to get my own yet):
The ideas expounded on by Shaw in the beginning of the work are some that just nail society so perfectly -- especially considering the turmoil that the US faces right now. It was quite powerful in itself to read how accurate Shaw's portrayal from over a century ago could be. Add on top of that, how you're able to nail specific, historical names or circumstances to these suddenly obvious truths, and its hard to ignore the genius.
While it seems to only touch bases outside of solely Ibsen's works, the beauty of reading it lies within the powerful truths that cause you to question all aspects of society around you -- general enough to include all, yet specific enough to have a criteria.
Society's expectations, guilts, standards, hypocrisies, and roles.
As a kid still, I basically just feel like I grew up a lot from Shaw, with this being one of the key works causing it.

[Fabio · Rating 5 out of 5]

If it were just a lucid discussion of the themes in Henrik Ibsen's work this book would be well worth reading, but it is far more than that: It is a surgically precise decomposition of the perils of Idealism.

Of course the irony is that no idealist would read this and instead each will continue to deny reality and praise whatever rarefied illusion they hold dear, no matter how painful and counter-productive to their own interest it might be. After all, as GBS puts it: the fox not only declares that the grapes he cannot get are sour, he also insists that the sloes he can get are sweet.

[Doubravka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Četla jsem asi nějakýho jinýho Dickense než Shaw.

[Michael Meeuwis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whatever its own merits, I feel as though this book is mildly over-cited--if it weren't written by Bernard Shaw, it would not be nearly as well-known as it is. Given that we have better Ibsen translations now, I don't know why we necessarily need to go to this book anymore, at least as a guide to Ibsen: Toril Moi's recent book is thorough and careful in a way that this book, admittedly based on a series of lectures, is not. As a sourcebook for what Shaw got from Ibsen, and for Shaw's developing views, though, this is of course important. But the Anglo-English prejudice against Ibsen that Shaw writes against, part of the occasion of this book, is hardly with us anymore: Ibsen is arguably the better-known, and almost certainly the better-respect, playwright at the moment. Shaw wrote more interesting things, and Ibsen outright is a better place to go to learn about Ibsen.

[jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dover's publication of The Quintessence of Ibsenism is only of the original edition, which covers the Brand, Peer Gynt and the prose plays up to Hedda Gabler. In 1913 Shaw published an updated version written after Ibsen's death, which includes his last four plays as well as two new sections. That Dover only published the first edition is odd and ironic, considering this comment from the 1913 preface by Shaw:

"Without an account of these four final masterpieces, a book entitled The Quintessence of Ibsenism would have been a fraud on its purchasers..."

Granted, Dover books run pretty cheap, so it's only a small fraud...

[Christopher Athey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant, insightful.

Ending abruptly with a joust to those expecting a precise formula, I question whether the last paragraph really is Shaw's summary of the argument laid out in the preceding work, my opinion is that it is a way of succinctly leaving his arguments to the reader to discern.

[Hannah Timmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a contemporary of Henrik Ibsen, Shaw offers unique and insightful perspectives on the Norwegian playwrights greatest works. I particularly found Shaw's essay on Peer Gynt to be most helpful.

[J.]

Isn't this the best worst title ever?

[Rosie Dempsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Shaw wants to be a critic but he's just a better satirist.

[Mrs R]

The 1955 film The Big Knife. (search "TBK 55" on YouTube) brought me to this book❗It was mention an hour & 18mins into the movie. Jack Palance and ROD STEIGER is Superb and RELENTLESS in this film!!