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 The Western Canon Mailing List
 Moderator: Paul John Barnette Jr.
 Activation Date: March 8, 1997
 Current Date: August 5, 1997
 Current Membership: 90
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 In Defence of Peer Gynt
 
 Peer Gynt is a character that is not easy to take. I can imagine
 many people actively hating Peer as they read the play and
 sometimes I wonder if not Ibsen himself did so from time to
 time. Many critics wanted to see Peer killed off, something
 that Ibsen could not force himself to do. Some wanted Peer
 dead so badly that they claimed that he actually does die at the
 end of act four and that act five is merely his last dream before
 the end. What motivates such an interpretation is the wish of
 many critics to see Peer suffer for all the wrongs that he commits
 during the play, but I suspect a deeper reason for anger against
 Peer. Many hate Peer because he chose to live a life that most
 do not have the courage to.
 
 Peer represents individualism at all costs. He refuses to conform
 to any preset standard or lifestyle. He's a dreamer always looking
 for more than what the world offers. He's also a scoundrel and
 opportunist who refuses to make the choice that we all eventually
 do- to marry and settle down. He has no allegiance to any country or
 ideology except his own, but unlike many 20th century characters
 of his ink, Peer is no revolutionary. He is no nihilist or radical.
 Peer does not what to change the world because he thinks it to be
 evil. He just wants something more that what is.
 
 This restless desire is unique to the western soul. The desire to
 want more than what is offered. The refusal to play it safe and
 accept what is. Would we really want to live in a world without any
 Peer Gynt's, even while taking all his flaws into account? Peer is
 the spirit of change itself. Without his spark history would be a
 dead issue.
 
 Even though Peer's spirit is important, it is also very, very rare.
 The vast majority do not have the courage nor stamina to withstand
 the consequences of Peer's choices, and that there are many such
 dire consequences  Ibsen takes pains to show. Most want to live a
 peaceful life and do so by conforming to the norm. Most want to work
 in or through the system, some want to tear it down, but Peer wants
 to get beyond it because it does not satisfy his spirit. Peer is
 indeed a dangerous type. Perhaps he is even more dangerous than the
 revolutionary, and many recognize the danger he brings and wish to
 destroy it. While other just envy his ability to do what they lack
 the will to do. Conscience does indeed make cowards of us all.
 
 P.S. Remember, our first IRC chat is at 9:00 pm EST on Tuesday.
 
 Paul John Barnette Jr
 
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