The Philosophy of History in Henrik Ibsen’s early works

The early works of Ibsen – which concentrate on historical issues from the old Norwegian past, using material from sagas, folk-tales, and songs – give us a picture of an author who is focused on a national programme. In accordance with the Romantic philosophy of history (historism), Ibsen uses its main categories of causation and explanation of the national past, mainly positing individual ideas as a major shaping force of the course of history and the impact of great personalities. At the same time, Ibsen presents the path for Norwegians to build a strong and independent nation, and the conditions that have to be fulfilled for that to happen.