Ghosts

Manders is disturbed to find progressive and ungodly books in Mrs. Alving's

house, and|sheshrugs that she began looking for the truth due tothe events of her early
marriage. She did her duty and married Captain Alving, but he was a debauched man
andsheleft him. She went to Manders for comfort; though thetwo of themloved each
other, Manders did his duty and sent her back to her husband.
The conversation returns to the topic at hand, which is the memorial. Manders
.been doing the business side of it and plans to give aspeech at its opening tomorrow.
He pressures Mrs. Alving not to insure the building since it would seem to demonstrate
lack offaith in Providence. Mrs. Alving agrees, though she thinks it's a bit foolish since
Engstrand accidentally started a small fire there the previous day. Manders defends
Engstrand as trying toget his life together and says that Regina ought to go with him,
hut Mrs. Alving vociferously refuses to let Regina go.
Oswald comes downstairs. He is wan,handsome, and smoking a pipe. Mrs. Alving
because he has
asks him to put it outand he acquiesces, saying he only wanted to try it Disconcerted,
up.
amemory of his father forcing him to smoke as a child until he threw
Indeed, that is how he was
Mrs. Alving insists that his father was a perfect man.
known in the town.
artists in Paris and his
Manders finds Oswald's stories of his time with fellow
views on "thejoyof life" and couples living together without getting married distasteful.
After Cswald leaves, Manders excoriates Mrs. Alving for letting her son grOW up like
misguided views.
this, and he exhorts her to try to save him from his
concludes, she states firmly that she
Mrs. Alving lets him lecture her, but when he he thinks about
that everything
has to speak tohim as well. She tells him frankly and died just as dissolutely
Captain Alving is false: her husband was never reformed what he wanted. Once he
he did
as he lived. He was charming and fooled people, but that enough
home, she decided
seduced their maid-Regina's mother-intheir own
child, away. Regina's mother revived
was enough and she sent the woman, now with entice him. She
gave her money to
an old relationship with Engstrand and Mrs. AlvingAlving home.
nad the baby, and later, Reginacame to live in the
everything she could to prevent
Mrs. Alving rues that she endured so much and did
he died, diverted all his money
thne truth from comingout. She took care of Alving until
the orphanage, and raised her own money for her and Oswald to live on.
e rund for
AS soon as the memorial opens, she sighs, they will be free.
to prevent scandal.
Manders is utterly stunned and says they will do their best room; Mrs.
Suddenly, the twoo of them hear Regina and Oswald together in the next
Alving gasps that it is the ghosts.
discuss what to do.
When the second act opens, Pastor Mandersand Mrs. Alving
They agree Kegina must be sent away, since Regina and Oswald cannot begin to carry
just as his father did. Mrs. Alving wishes there were an easy solution and would
but
Mm to condone incest if they could just live happily and no one would know,
Manders rebukes her. Mrs. Alving speakssof how there are ghosts of the past everywhere.
EngstrandManders askingbutifheManders
shows up,agrees, might give an evening prayer tonight at
the memorial. pressures Engstrandinto admitting what he did
in regard to
marrying Regina's mother. Manders is critical of him for being bought to