Peer GyntAmong the masterpieces of world literature, this early verse drama by the celebrated Norwegian playwright humorously yet profoundly explores the virtues, vices, and follies common to all humanity — as represented in the person of Peer Gynt, a charming but irresponsible young peasant. Based on Norwegian folklore and Ibsen’s own imaginative inventions, the play relates the roguish life of the world-wandering Peer, who finds wealth and fame — but never happiness — although he is redeemed by love in the end. As the play opens the young farmer attends a wedding and meets Solveig, the woman who is eventually to be his salvation. However, the rascally Peer then kidnaps the bride and later abandons her in the wilderness. This dismal performance is followed by a string of adventures (many of which do not reflect well on Peer) in many lands. After these soul-chilling exploits, an old and embittered Peer returns to Norway, eventually finding solace in the arms of the faithful Solveig. Like other early Ibsen plays, such as Brand (1865) and Emperor and Galilean (1873), the work is imbued with poetic mysticism and romanticism, and in Peer we find a rebellious central character in search of an ultimate truth that always seems just out of reach. In this sense Peer can be seen as an alter ego of Ibsen himself, whose lifelong search for artistic and moral certainties resulted in the great later plays (Hedda Gabler, The Wild Duck, An Enemy of the People, etc.) upon which his reputation chiefly rests. This rich, poetic version of Peer Gynt is considered the standard translation. |
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Common terms and phrases
ANITRA arms ÅSE Aslak beast BEGRIFFENFELDT blessëd BOATSWAIN Boyg BRIDEGROOM BUTTON MOULDER can’t CAPTAIN casting-ladle CLAD COOK COTTON cross-road dance dear desert devil door DOVRË drink drunk EBERKOPF eyes father FELLAH fingers gazes GIRL God’s gold GREEN hair hand he’s hear Hegstad HELGA Herr Herr Pastor hill-troll hillside hold HUSSEIN I’ve IMPS INGRID Kaaba Kaiser Kari King Apis laughing LEAN lies live look Lord man’s Master MONSIEUR BALLON mother never night o’er one’s oneself parish PASSENGER path PEER GYNT comes Prince Prophet reindeer Rondë round rubbish sæter SCENE screaming singing SMITH SOLVEIG soul Speak SPHINX stands stops sure tears tell thee There’s things thou thought to-night TROLL COURTIER true TRUMPETERSTRÅLE turn twas VOICE VON EBERKOPF wait we’ll weeping What’s whole WOMAN you’ll you’re you’ve