Question

Ibsen's play 'Brand' is best understood as:

• A. A romantic comedy about mistaken identity.
• B. A tragedy about the dangers of uncompromising idealism.
• C. A historical drama set during the Napoleonic Wars.
• D. A farcical satire of Norwegian politics.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. A tragedy about the dangers of uncompromising idealism.

'Brand' is a complex play about a priest who demands an all-or-nothing commitment to Christianity. His unyielding idealism leads to the death of his family and, ultimately, his own destruction in an avalanche. The play is a critique of extreme idealism and its consequences.