Other editions of book The Master Builder with a Prefatory Study

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Written in 1892, later in Ibsen's life, "The Master Builder," or "Bygmester Solness," is a 3-act play that explores the conflicted thoughts and feelings of the hardened and powerful artist Halvard Solness. He is an older architect who painstakingly worked his way to professional distinction at the cost of his personal life. As he reflects on his career, Halvard is frustrated with his ambition and dreams of achieving genuine satisfaction in his life. At the same time, he fears being surpassed by a younger generation of talent, including by his own son, a younger member of the firm. A symbolic and semi-autobiographical play, "The Master Builder" portrays a creative man's confusion and downfall.

Halvard Solness is the middle-aged Master Builder of a small town in Norway who has become a successful architect of some distinction and local reputation. One day while having a visit from his friend Doctor Herdal, Solness is visited by Hilde Wangel, a young woman of twenty-four from another town whom the doctor promptly recognizes from a recent trip. Soon after the Doctor leaves and Solness is alone with Hilde, she reminds him that they are not strangers and that they had previously met in her home town ten years ago when she was fourteen years of age.

The Master Builder by Henrik Ibsen - Halvard Solness is a middle-aged Master Builder from a small town in Norway who has become a skilled architect of some distinction.. One day while having a visit from his friend Doctor Herdal, Solness is visited by Hilde Wangel, a young woman of twenty-four from another town whom the doctor recognizes from a recent trip.

Halvard Solness is the middle-aged Master Builder of a small town in Norway who has become a successful architect of some distinction and local reputation. One day while having a visit from his friend Doctor Herdal, Solness is visited by Hilde Wangel, a young woman of twenty-four from another town whom the doctor promptly recognizes from a recent trip. Soon after the Doctor leaves and Solness is alone with Hilde, she reminds him that they are not strangers and that they had previously met in her home town ten years ago when she was fourteen years of age.

One of the Norwegian playwright’s most mysterious, symbolic, and lyrical dramas explores the life of architect Halvard Solness, once ruthlessly ambitious, but who, in his later years, not only feels threatened by the younger generation but also fears the decay of his own creativity. A tragic end for one of the most fascinating characters in modern drama.[Rises suddenly, as if in distress, from the table; breathes heavily and laboriously as he comes forward into the doorway.] No, I can't bear it much longer! KAIA. [Going up to him.] You are feeling very ill this evening, are you not, Uncle? BROVIK. Oh, I seem to get worse every day. RAGNAR. [Has risen and advances.] You ought to go home, father. Try to get a little sleep— BROVIK. [Impatiently.] Go to bed, I suppose? Would you have me stifled outright? KAIA. Then take a little walk. RAGNAR. Yes, do. I will come with you. BROVIK. [With warmth.] I will not go till he comes! I and determined to have it out this evening with—[in a tone of suppressed bitterness]—with him—with the chief. KAIA. [Anxiously.] Oh no, uncle,—do wait awhile before doing that! RAGNAR. Yes, better wait, father! BROVIK. [Draws is breath laboriously.] Ha—ha—! I haven't much time for waiting. KAIA. [Listening.] Hush! I hear him on the stairs. [All three go back to their work. A short silence. HALVARD SOLNESS comes in through the hall door. He is a man no longer young, but healthy and vigorous, with close–cut curly hair, dark moustache and dark thick eyebrows. He wears a greyish–green buttoned jacket with an upstanding collar and broad lapels. On his head he wears a soft grey felt hat, and he has one or two light portfolios under his arm. SOLNESS. [Near the door, points towards the draughtsmen's office, and asks in a whisper:] Are they gone?