The Master Builder, Act 1 Summary

Master builder Solness arrives as his assistants Kaja, Brovik and Brovik's son, Ragnar, come to the end of their day. As Solness flirts quietly with Kaja, the elderly Brovik asks to speak privately to him. After Solness sends Ragnar and Kaja out of the room, Brovik urges him to give Ragnar some work, saying Ragnar is desperate to start his own business and marry Kaja. Conversation reveals that Solness once worked for Brovik, was ruthlessly ambitious about making a career for himself, and believes Ragnar is about to do the same thing to him that Solness did to Brovik.

After his assistants go, Solness' wife Aline comes in with a visitor, Dr. Herdal. After Aline leaves, Herdal comments that Solness has a history of relationships with younger women and wonders whether Kaja is one such relationship. Solness...