Introduction

This chapter introduces the central argument of the monograph, which is that Henrik Ibsen was deeply invested in exploring contemporary notions of degeneracy in his realist drama of the 1880s. The monograph focuses on identifying a common degeneration plot, which revolves around the presence of degeneracy within prominent families. The chapter presents the reader with an overview of 19th-century discourse on degeneration in science, medicine, and the arts. The chapter situates Ibsen’s engagement with degeneration discourse against the backdrop of his interest in science and evolutionary theory in particular, which is outlined with reference to earlier scholarship. The chapter asserts that Ibsen’s interest in degeneration aligns his drama with literary naturalism and that Ibsen’s preoccupation with processes of decline should not be conflated with literary decadence. The chapter concludes by delineating the structure of the monograph, which includes separate chapters dedicated to readings of Ghosts, Rosmersholm, and Hedda Gabler.