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The Master Builder (Dover Thrift Editions) Paperback – April 21, 2016

by Henrik Ibsen (Author)

4.2 29 ratings

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First performed in 1892, this psychological drama is one of the great Norwegian playwright's most symbolic and lyrical works. The drama explores the insecurities of an aging architect, Halvard Solness, who suspects that his creative powers have diminished with age. Solness finds strength of purpose in his involvement with Hilda — his muse, inspiration, and ardent believer in his greatness — but their association leads to a conflict between heroic myth and complicated reality.
Among the most original of Ibsen's works and one of his most frequently performed plays, The Master Builder is widely read by students of drama and literature as well as other readers. The play offers audiences a thought-provoking examination of the needs of the artist in relation to those of society and the limits of artistic achievement.

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About the Author

Only Shakespeare's plays are performed more frequently than those of Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906). The Norwegian playwright, theater director, and poet scandalized many of his contemporaries as he led the theater into the modern era by exploring the realities behind 19th-century social conventions.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dover Publications (April 21, 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 80 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0486419282
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0486419282
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 years and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.25 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #5,554,665 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #8,605 in European Dramas & Plays

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4.2 29 ratings

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kjb

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2015

Great and odd play.

Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2009

The first two reviews state as fact that this is often called Ibsen's masterpiece, but that is far from the majority critical view, which rightly gives that exalted title to The Wild Duck, with Rosmersholm probably second. However, this is generally considered one of his best plays, though in my view it is the least good of his major works. Ibsen's genius is thankfully such that it still shines through and makes the play worth reading over a century later.

It certainly differs from most of his work, especially his best-known. A late drama, it is usually classified with mostly symbolic later works, in contrast to the "problem plays" that made his name by dealing with contemporary sociopolitical issues. The Master Builder may best be termed psychological and is a very interesting case study of a particular type - a Machiavellian schemer with a guilty conscience. The protagonist is Halvard Solness, a successful aging architect who has gotten his position by ruthlessly and selfishly holding back competition and by an astonishing string of luck he attributes to vaguely metaphysical forces. However, he is deadly certain his luck will soon end, and he fears the younger generation, which only increases his unscrupulous scheming. Worse, he is fully aware of how he has used and held back others and is thus tortured by a guilty conscience. Finally, he has a strange but overwhelming feeling of debt to his wife, whom he believes has suffered as he has gained - first through destruction of her family castle, the rebuilding of which made his career, and the death of their sons. The question of his sanity is present throughout, even to himself, and he often wonders how much, if at all, he is responsible for her trials. He begins to spiral out of control in an ever-widening series of deceits and manipulations, losing the loyalty of both long-time employees and his long-suffering wife, when Hilda, a vivacious young women he knew as a youth, returns. He unsurprisingly develops a great passion for her, and she becomes a double-edged influence - pushing him to literal heights of greatness and daring he had long ceased attempting but eventually driving him to ruin by making him overreach.

Ibsen's usual mastery of dramatic tension is present throughout, and he skillfully keeps suspense high though even less actual action happens than is usual in his plays. What primarily separates The Master Builder from most of Ibsen is the overwhelming sense of unreality, which stands in vivid contrast to the canon of an acknowledged realist master. The character of Hilda is particularly ambiguous; from her improbable entrance on a flimsy, near-unbelievable pretext, her speech and behavior are extremely unnatural. She is interesting because we never quite know what she will do, but the contrast with Ibsen's usual characters is off-putting. Her motivations are unclear, and her effect on others is also very unreal. One can get somewhat used to it, but the strangeness never really fades. We must of course assume this was intentional, though what Ibsen intends is a very open question. She might almost be taken as a dream or figment of Solness' imagination, but everyone notices her and takes her seriously even at her most bizarre. It may be best to see her as a personification of Solness' conscience - or, rather, his anti-conscience, as she pushes him to overcome his scruples. She can thus also easily be seen as a sort of evil Succubus tempter figure, exaggerating his worst qualities by flattering his vanity and soon leading to ruin. Above all, she is another in Ibsen's long line of fascinating, highly nuanced female characters, perhaps most closely resembling the similarly manipulative and ambiguous Hedda Gabler. Other elements are also distinctly unreal, including Solness' constant talk of trolls and demons, which he seems to believe in quite literally. This may be a sign of encroaching madness but is also Ibsen's way of discussing free will, which the play is far from endorsing as real. Some may find all this an exciting change from most of Ibsen; others may think it distracting and/or unevenly executed.

The critical crux is how to interpret the symbolism. Nearly everyone assumes the play is almost fully symbolic, though a few see it as purely psychological, but there are few real suggestions as to what the overarching symbols mean, much less agreement. The tower is an obvious phallic symbol, but there is clearly more to the drama than an old man's lust for a young flirt. Most critics have read the play biographically, seeing it as the mature Ibsen's uneasiness about his canonical position despite having attained great acclaim and fame, specifically his worries about younger writers. However, it certainly goes beyond this, raising issues of the artist's obligation to society vs. creative independence, capitalistic ethics, the artistic conscience, idealism vs. practicality, etc. The ending seems to condemn the darker side of these as leading to bitter doom but is probably the greatest weakness in pure story terms. Ibsen is rightfully known for highly effective, dramatic, and surprising endings, but this - pardon the pun - falls flat. It is predictable, arguably even inevitable; one could plausibly argue Ibsen meant just this, perhaps drawing on Greek tragedy, but it is ineffective, an anti-climax reinforcing already noted weaknesses. The Master Builder still has much to admire, and I would not put it past an enterprising director to bring out its latent genius, but this certainly does not rank with Ibsen's masterworks. I recommend it for fans, but those new to him should being with A Doll's House or The Wild Duck.

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Israel Drazin

A somewhat obscure play that causes readers to think

Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2010

This is a new more colloquial English translation of this famous play.
Halvard Solness is a well-respected master builder at the top of his profession. His success was due to a chance fire that destroyed his home and made it possible for him to build many new homes on the large land mass. However, the fire caused the death of his two children and left his wife unable to bear others. This mixture of good and bad luck gnaws at him.
Solness is convinced that people have a demon inside them that can control them and force them to do evil. He also believes that certain people, such as he, can summon other demons outside themselves to do their will. He knows that he wanted his house, inherited from his in-laws, to burn down so that he could show his skill by using the land to build many houses. He thinks that the demons obeyed his will and he is therefore responsible for what happened to his children and his wife.
It is difficult if not impossible to decide what Ibsen meant by the demons. Was he mocking a Christian belief, as he did in other plays? This interpretation fits well with Mrs. Solness thinking that the fire was a divine punishment for her sins, his notion that he deserves divine punishment, and the final outcome of the play. Or, was Ibsen describing a psychological guilt feeling? Or, perhaps Ibsen was portraying a man going insane because of his guilt feelings.
Solness is also concerned that his "luck" will change. He fears that a younger man will compete with him and pass him by. He uses all kinds of strategies to keep his employee Ragner from leaving him and starting his own business. He claims, deceitfully, that Ragner's work as a draughtsman is not good enough for him to take a job on his own and refuses to give him permission to accept a job where he can show his talent. He hires an attractive young girl who Ragner likes solely to keep Ragner from leaving his employ. Ironically, while he is fearful of young people, the young girl falls in love with him.
Then Hilda arrives. She says that Solness had kissed her several times when she was twelve or thirteen years old and promised her that he would give her a kingdom in ten years. She came, she says, because the ten years are up today. This young lady is also ironically seemingly fascinated with the builder who is deathly afraid of the young. Solness does not remember the kissing or the promise and Hilda may have imagined it. Her presence adds to the questions previously raised. Did she cause Solness to be punished? Was she sent by God? Is she insane?

4 people found this helpful

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Kevin M Quigg

Ibsen's play of the downfall of an older generation.

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2014

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There is a lot of symbolism in this short three act play. There are a total of seven characters, and Solness is the main achiever and character in the play.

Solness is an older man, who resents the younger generation. Solness himself is a flawed character. He has a loveless marriage with only two sons who died young. His wife is dulled by her own losses. Solness depends upon the praise of younger females like Kaia or Hilda Wangel. His reach for the heights and perhaps a younger women results in his fall and death.

I thought this an OK play. One hase to know the symbolism in order to appreciate the fall of an accomplished builder.

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Matthew Glass

Fascinating work poorly translated.

Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2023

Ibsen’s s twisted, modern, scandalous subtext can not be heard through such an archaic sounding translation. What this play is about is just as intense now as it was then but it was translated to sound like an old play. One of my favorites, albeit one of his most problematic that falls flat here.

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Alexander Budzier

Classic Drama

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2010

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Ibsen's classic drama about purpose in life, religious calling and hubris.
It is fairly short and one of his lesser known works. Still worth a read as it dissects the psyche of its protagonists with much skill. I was intrigued by the skillful de-layering of complex thought and emotions as the story unfolds. Again minimalistic in setting, language and plot - deep in thought.

John Clements

Brilliant

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 11, 2013

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This book is fantastic just what I was looking for and got to me in great time as well got to me next day even tho was expected in a week this was fantastic and the book was in superb condition considering was listed as used

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The Master Builder (Dover Thrift Editions) Paperback – April 21, 2016

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