"The Master Builder"

Paper Summary:

Henrik Ibsen's play "The Master Builder" explores the complexities of the human mind. This paper shows that through the mental processes of the character, Solness, Ibsen illustrates the power of guilt, a force so strong that it alienates him from his world, the people in his life and, more importantly, himself. Guilt manifests itself through fear and confusion and causes him to make several mistakes. Solness never learns who he is and in a final attempt to find himself, he loses everything.

From the Paper:

"Here we see how Ibsen is operating from the perspective that our inner, unmet desires possess the ability to make us feel guiltier than our fulfilled desires. As shown through Solness, this psychological force has the power to turn one against oneself if not kept in check. An excellent example of this can be seen in how Solness does not feel guilty for his circumstance with Kaja but does feel guilt over his lust for Hilde. Here we see how Ibsen is focusing on the power of the inner self, emphasizing that it is a formidable force. In fact, it might even be said that the inner world in which ones lives is more realistic than one's actual world."

More papers on "The Master Builder":

• Analytical Essay # 3030 : "Characterization in Henrik Ibsen's "The Master Builder"
• Comparison Essay # 62165 : "Lorca's "Blood Wedding" and Ibsen's "The Master Builder"
• Comparison Essay # 7720 : "Le Corbusier" and "Master Builders"

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