In 1857 he was appointed
director
of the National
Theatre at Christiania, and about this time wrote, at intervals,
plays in the style of the ancient Norse sagas.
Theatre at Christiania, and about this time wrote, at intervals,
plays in the style of the ancient Norse sagas.
World's Greatest Books - Volume 17 - Poetry and Drama
Hurrah for Master Builder Solness!
[_The shout is taken up. Then a shriek of horror. A
human body, with planks and pieces of wood, is
vaguely seen crashing down behind the trees_.
HILDA: _My_ Master Builder!
A VOICE: Mr. Solness is dead. He fell right into the
quarry.
RAGNAR: So, after all, he could not do it.
HILDA: But he mounted right up to the top. And I
heard harps in the air. (_Waves her shawl, and shrieks
with wild intensity) My--my_ Master Builder!
FOOTNOTES:
[N] Henrik Ibsen, poet and the creator of a new type of drama,
was born at Skien, in South Norway, on March 20, 1828. Apprenticed
first to a chemist at Grimstad, he next entered Christiania University,
but speedily wearied of regular academic studies. He then undertook
journalistic work for two years, and afterwards became a theatrical
manager at Bergen.
In 1857 he was appointed director of the National
Theatre at Christiania, and about this time wrote, at intervals,
plays in the style of the ancient Norse sagas. "The Master Builder"
("Bygmester Solness") belongs to his later efforts, and was completed
in 1892. In it many critics discern the highest attainments of Ibsen's
genius, and its realism is strangely combined with romance. It is a
plea for the freedom of the human spirit; and the terrible drama is
wrought out in language of extraordinary symbolism. Hilda Wangel is
the "superwoman," who will suffer nothing to stand between her and the
realisation of herself. Had Solness been as strong a spirit, the end
might have been different. But he has a "sickly conscience," unable to
bear the heights of freedom. Here again Ibsen is unique in his estimate
of mankind. Nevertheless, his characters are all actual personalities,
and live vividly. Ibsen died on May 23, 1906.
The Pillars of Society[O]
_Persons in the Drama_
CONSUL BERNICK
MRS. BERNICK
OLAF, _their son_
MARTHA BERNICK, _sister of the consul_
LONA HESSEL, _elder stepsister of Mrs. Bernick_
JOHAN TONNESEN, _her younger brother_
HILMAR TONNESEN, _Mrs. Bernick's brother_
RECTOR RORLUND
DINA DORF, _a young lady living at the consul's_
KRAP, _the consul's clerk_
SHIPBUILDER AUNE
MRS. RUMMEL _and other ladies, friends of the consul's family_
ACT I
SCENE. --_A large garden-room in_ CONSUL BERNICK'S _house.
