Reviews for The Master Builder

The average rating for The Master Builder based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-11-14 00:00:00 Steven Vitale This is another great play by Ibsen. I was drawn to it from the very beginning, even before I understood the thematic references or cared for the characters. One can think of many possible interpretations to the play. But the foremost of them to me is the clash between the old and young generation for dominance and power as well as of ideas. Solness, the master builder represents the older generation those who love to rule and fear their authority will be challenged. The love for power and fear of losing authority makes him a tyrant who dominates over the talents of his subordinates. Ragner, a subordinate youth, resists this authority of Solness bitterly and seeks to break away and be independent. This clash is for the dominance over power. Hilda is the spirited and visionary youth. She is an idealist and her notions on life clashes with the practical wisdom of Solness. This is the clash of ideas. These clashes are first and foremost psychological, and that is what Ibsen shows us through his amazing skill. Ibsen brings two strong characters in the story; Solness and Hilda. They represent the opposite sex. One can also argue that since Ibsen was a progressive writer, he may have intended the play to be a psychological portray of male dominance over female and vice versa. Character of Hilda can possibly be seen as a symbol of progress or for those who enjoy a touch of the supernatural, as "fate". The different and possible interpretations on themes and characters give the play vibrancy. This combined with Ibsen's simple yet witty prosaic dialogue completely absorbs us in to the setting and makes the read a really enjoyable experience. I really love the modern and realistic touch in Ibsen plays. I'm really glad to have come across him. I've read three Ibsen plays now and have liked them all for different reasons. A Doll's House was my favourite so far, but now I'm not so sure. :)

Review # 2 was written on 2015-06-21 00:00:00 Jonathan Smith So this was third up on my "Read more classic plays" adventure I assigned myself at the beginning of the year. And by a mile, this was my favorite of the three. I love Ibsen's voice and his dynamic characters. I cannot believe that it has taken me this long to read Ibsen, since anytime one studies theatre, his works are always listed among the classics. This play centers around Halvard Solness, a master builder who is just starting to come down from his career peak. Solness is a modern romantic and I could tell almost immediately that he loves to live in that place where ideals, dreams, and fantasies do not yet touch reality. Almost as if he is the hero in a theatrical production of his own life, and he does everything he can to make the story progress the way he believes it should. The way a play about a hero should progress. He loves to get caught up in whims and romantic ideals, but doesn't pay much credence to how they actually play out in real life. He flirts with his young bookkeeper, but then doesn't know what to do when she begins to love him. He doesn't love her back, but loves the whole idea of her being in love with him, that he continues the charade. This is just one example of many. He longs to reconnect with his wife who suffered a major tragedy that has impacted her life and their marriage immensely. He believes so fiercely that if he builds her a new house that is exactly like the one she grew up in, she will instantly be cured of all her ills, and then can go back to how they were before. At first, I didn't like Solness's character and found him too idealistic, but as the plot begins to peel away layers of his character, I started to become invested in his story. Ibsen does an amazing job of creating a believable antihero who chooses not to accept reality, and it is at times a very emotional story. When the story of what happened between him and his wife started to unfold, I was really affected by it, and hungrily read the last half of the play wanting desperately to know the outcome. I think I always knew how the play would end, but it doesn't change the fact, that I yearned for it to be different. I think I took half a star away because it was just so sad. Like the protagonist, I wanted to escape reality for the ending that I knew wouldn't fit in with the theme of the play. But ultimately, I enjoyed this one a lot and would love to see it performed live. 3.5 stars