Did you read the very first scene? When Engstrand makes his entrance, he basiclly harrases his "daugther". Takes no concideration into that she does not want to live with him. He only want to make use of her in his sailor home (really a brothel). Regine states out that he bullied her mother, she witnessed that herself. The weather is very important in Ibsens plays. When Engstrand comes in he is dripping wet, Regine calls it "the devils rain". And his "mutton feet"? Guess who also has hoof like feet...The entire play wants us to assossiate him with the devil. Later when Manders questions him about the paternity he pulls us that absolute sob story about how noble he was to rescue a fallen woman. Very touching if you believe if of course, but you shouldnt. Notice how quiet Helene Alving is in the conversation between Manders and Engstrand. She knows its isnt true. Manders falls for it because he only hears what he wants to hear og Engstrand plays him like a fiddle. Read the play again.
But just at the beginning of the play he tells her he wants her to go with him to build up a sailor house where there will be singing and dancing there she might find a husband or someone who is welling to pay 🤷🏻♀️ he says he put the money to her education but where is that education the child is brought up as a servant and taught everything by her mistress where is this money 🤷🏻♀️ he is careless with matches and burns down the orphanage and gets away with it by getting the pastor to believe he is saving him and taking the blame he is a very Interesting character indeed but he is not good
I'm so glad you commented on this because when I read it I too thought Engstrand was at fault, and even that he was being fake when saying he didn't take the money from joanna. Also at the beginning when he says 'someone willing to pay' as you've said he is basically putting his daughter up for prostitution. Perhaps from that first scene I had a negative view from him and assumed he lied the whole rest of the play, but maybe I assumed wrong! Based off this youtube video I assumed wrong...
@@valeriekinley4009 dear you are right as also I watched this RU-vid video before we took the play in class and the drs analysts for the play matches your view he is an interesting bad man
Watch the 1987 Judy Dench version. It is perfection. Ibsen, Chekhov and other European plays concentrate on the idea of working through imperfection. It usually starts with a small lie, the lie builds and eventually destroys everyone an they try to cover it up. The end is inevitable - boring - never ! Difficult - yes. All Ibsen plays take us to a very dark place. The nearest we have is Samuel Becket, which matches it brilliantly. Complete misreading of Lindstrom. He is cynically playing Pastor Manders for money, People don't like Lindstom, because he is a liar and a bastard - another Trump. Always after money, but never honestly working for it. The Sailors' home is not to look after old sailors - It is to be a brothel !!!!
it would be interesting to see a performance where Lindstrom WAS a "stand up guy". It would mean that the other characters' motivations were more complex, again. That said, there's maybe more dramatic clarity having him as just a nasty piece of work who has duped Pastor Manders.
Seems you could do with at least a second reading... Several 10:21 points missed and misunderstood. Tips! See the video with Judi Dench, esp part 3; either the Pastor or Mr Engstrand isn't as good as it seems. A lot of shady things going on here, as in several if Insens texts. Hypocrisy, blackmailing, taking a fallen woman for money et c.
