Family Dissensions in the Select Plays of Henrik Ibsen and Mahesh Dattani

Abstract

A society cannot run smoothly without the successful marriage and family. Family is the central point for the social, economic and political development of all societies. Family plays a vital role in the life of every individual because it refers to not only the parental authority but also lifetime security. Over the years many changes have been introduced to the institution of family but still as a unit it remains at the core of the architecture of the society. If for any reasons the building blocks of the family are ruptured, it causes great set-back for all the members attached to it. Dissensions among the family members are known to be very common and take place for innumerable reasons. newline Modern Literature has often endeavoured to depict the factors that are responsible for creating conflict, clashes and disagreement among the family members which make their lives a misery. The plays of literary stalwarts as Henrik Ibsen and Mahesh Dattani abound with such themes. In the plays of Henrik Ibsen the individual is often seen cramped in a restrictive family. Dattani too shows the maladies within family structure which are more or less linked to social limitations and prejudices which bound the freedom of individuals, thus forcing them to rebel. newline A comparison has been attempted between the two dramatists mainly on the basis of the thoughts presented in their plays. All the plays have a plea for harmony in the family which is sometimes shattered by the forces of fate and other times by the rigid social and familial norms. newlineThe findings of the researcher will show that the family is locale for the plays of both the dramatists. Their works have been explored very carefully before passing any opinion and it is sincerely and humbly hoped that the findings will help the scholars of Ibsen and Dattani in comprehending their works with clearer perspective. newline newline