The lustful tale of Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt

As Norway celebrates the 150th anniversary of Henrik Ibsen’s Peer Gynt later this year with various theatre play adaptions, we’re going to give you our own take on the sex-related message to the audience.

Peer Gynt, a young man who runs away from commitment by partying, sleeping around and avoiding love, does not have it together.

He steals the bride from a wedding at the Hægstad farm by abducting her to the mountains, followed by a one-night stand with the daughter of a troll mountain king (he parties so hard he almost becomes a troll himself) – a clear message from Ibsen that love and sex should be tied together.

Peer’s constant partying and trying to find himself is not only normalised but respected by society. Times certainly have changed as it’s okay to have sex with someone you’re not in love with without turning into a troll or lose the meaning of life.

In the end, Solveig, the girl who always loved him, “saves” Peer (and finally ends up with him), when he’s become a worn-out old man. In short, this classic delivers a message that cheeky spring flings are to be avoided if you want to be happy.

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