Little Eyolf by Henrik Ibsen. Short summary

5 seconds

The handicapped boy Ejolf dies just as his father is working out the concept of his upbringing and his mother is wishing her son’s death in a fit of rage.

1 minute

Nine-year-old Ejolf Allmer is limited in movement because of his paralyzed leg. The boy is not aware of the hopelessness of his situation, he wants to live a full life. Eolf’s father, Alfred, develops the concept of an intellectually oriented upbringing.

With the goal of being the perfect father, Alfred estranges himself from his wife, Rita, and his younger sister, Asta. Rita reproaches her husband for his lack of attention. In the course of the quarrel, the woman heats up and regrets the birth of her son.

Eolf lashes out after the female rat-catcher on the seashore and drowns. The Allmers express to each other their grievances and resentments accumulated over the years of marriage. Alfred admits that he married Rita only for the well-being of his younger sister. On learning of his wife’s intention to take care of their poor children, Alfred supports her in her desire to atone for her past mistakes.