
By Henrik Ibsen
INTRODUCTION.
LITTLE EYOLF - (1894)
CHARACTERS
ACT FIRST
ACT SECOND
ACT THIRD
A fraught, intimate drama unfolds in a seaside home where a devoted mother and her restless husband confront the quiet emptiness left by the loss of their beloved son. The couple, burdened by unspoken guilt and the weight of unfulfilled dreams, are drawn into a melancholy tension that colors every conversation. Their fragile peace is disturbed when a mysterious figure—known only as the Rat‑Woman—arrives, bringing with her a strange promise of disappearance and release.
Through lyrical dialogue and stark symbolism, the play examines how love can become entangled with duty, and how the echoes of a single life can reverberate in the hearts of those left behind. Listeners are invited to feel the subtle push‑and‑pull between hope and resignation, as the characters grapple with the harsh truths of nature and the moral choices that shape their world. The first act sets a contemplative stage, leaving the audience to wonder what salvation, if any, lies beyond the tide.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (120K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Nicole Apostola, and David Widger
Release date
2005-04-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1828–1906
A pioneer of modern drama, this Norwegian playwright reshaped the stage with intense, realistic stories about family life, social pressure, and personal freedom. His plays still feel daring because they ask hard questions without offering easy answers.
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by Henrik Ibsen

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by Henrik Ibsen