The Master Builder

The play revolves around the character of Halvard Solness a middle-aged and successful architect who is known as the Master Builder in his town. Solness is portrayed as a man with an intense ambition to leave his mark on the world through his architectural creations. However he is plagued by internal conflicts and a deep sense of guilt and fear. The plot of The Master Builder takes an interesting turn with the arrival of a young woman named Hilde Wangel. Hilde claims to have met Solness ten years earlier when she was just a child and she believes that he promised to build a kingdom for her. Her appearance stirs up Solness repressed desires and memories leading to a complex relationship between the two characters. As the play progresses Solness becomes increasingly entangled in his own insecurities and fears. He is challenged by the younger generation represented by the characters of Ragnar Brovik an aspiring architect and his fiancée Kaja Fosli who was once Solness mistress. The younger characters represent a threat to Solness position and dominance in his profession. Symbolism plays a significant role in The Master Builder. The play explores themes of power ambition creative stagnation and the consequences of unfulfilled desires. The master builder is seen as a metaphor for a persons desire to exert control over their surroundings while also reflecting the limitations and vulnerability of human existence.