"
In the play, "Leonarda," and again in the play, "A Glove," the
author recurs to the woman question; in the one case, his theme
is the attitude of society toward the woman of blemished
reputation; in the other, its attitude toward the man who in his
relation with women has violated the moral law. "Leonarda" is a
somewhat inconclusive work, because the issue is not clearly
defined, but in "A Glove" (at least in the acting version of the
play, which differs from the book in its ending) there is no lack
of definiteness. This play inexorably demands the enforcement of
the same standard of morality for both sexes, and declares the
unchaste man to be as unfit for honorable marriage as the unchaste
woman. Upon the theme thus presented a long and violent discussion
raged; but if there be such a thing as an immutable moral law in
this matter, it must be that upon which Bjornson has so squarely
and uncompromisingly planted his feet. The other remaining work
of this five-year period is the play called "The New System." The
new system in question is a system of railway management, and it is
a wasteful one. But the young engineer who demonstrates this fact
has a hard time in opening the eyes of the public.
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