The Master Builder

Henrik Ibsen

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9780486159300
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: European Drama
• Index: Literature

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.

The Master Builder

ACT I

A plainly furnished work-room in the house of HALVARD SOLNESS. Folding doors on the left lead out to the hall On the right is the door leading to the inner rooms of the house. At the back is an open door into the draughtsmen’s office. In front, on the left, a desk with books, papers and writing materials. Further back than the folding-door, a stove. In the right-hand corner, a sofa, a table and one or two chairs. On the table a water-bottle and glass. A smaller table, with a rockingchair and arm-chair, in front on the right. Lighted lamps, with shades, on the table in the draughtsmen’s office, on the table in the corner and on the desk.

In the draughtsmen’s office sit KNUT BROVIK and his son RAGNAR, occupied with plans and calculations. At the desk in the outer office stands KAIA FOSLI, writing in the ledger. KNUT BROVIK is a spare old man with white hair and beard. He wears a rather threadbare but well-brushed black coat, spectacles and a somewhat discoloured white neckcloth. RAGNAR BROVIK is a well-dressed, light-haired man in his thirties, with a slight stoop. KAIA FOSLI is a slightly built girl, a little over twenty, carefully dressed and delicate-looking. She has a green shade over her eyes.—All three go on working for some time in silence.

Knut Brovik (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 am 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 his 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?

Kaia (softly, shaking her head). No.

[She takes the shade off her eyes. SOLNESS crosses the room, throws his hat on a chair, places the portfolios on the table by the sofa and approaches the desk again. KAIA goes on writing without intermission, but seems nervous and uneasy.]

Solness (aloud). What is that you are entering, Miss Fosli?

Kaia (starts). Oh, it is only something that—

Solness. Let me look at it, Miss Fosli. (Bends over her, pretends to be looking into the ledger, and whispers:) Kaia!

Kaia (softly, still writing). Well?

Solness. Why do you always take that shade off when I come?

Kaia (as before). I look so ugly with it on.

Solness (smiling). Then you don’t like to look ugly, Kaia?

Kaia (half glancing up at him.) Not for all the world. Not in your eyes.

Solness (stroking her hair gently). Poor, poor little Kaia—

Kaia (bending her head). Hush—they can hear you.

[SOLNESS strolls across the room to the right, turns and pauses at the door of the draughtsmen’s office.]

Solness. Has any one been here for me?

Ragnar (rising). Yes, the young couple who wants a villa built, out at Lövstrand.

Solness (growling). Oh, those two! They must wait. I am not quite clear about the plans yet.

Ragnar (advancing, with some hesitation). They were very anxi...