Prompt 01
Essay task
In Ghosts, Henrik Ibsen presents inherited sins and societal expectations as "ghosts" that haunt the living. Write a well-organized essay arguing how Ibsen critiques the oppressive influence of social conventions and inherited moral codes through the experiences of Mrs. Alving and Oswald. Analyze how the "ghosts" of the past — be it hereditary illness, religious hypocrisy, or the legacy of Captain Alving — hinder the characters from living authentically, and consider what Ibsen ultimately conveys about the tension between individual freedom and social duty.
Requirements
- Develop a clear, defensible thesis that articulates a specific claim regarding Ibsen's critique.
- Support your argument with at least three pieces of textual evidence, including dialogue and stage directions.
- Address at least one counterargument (for instance, that Mrs. Alving's choices, rather than societal pressures, contribute to the tragedy).
- Conclude by linking Ibsen's themes to the broader context of 19th-century Naturalism.
Suggested length
4–6 paragraphs