Part 3 Act 5 Scene 3 Summary

Peer is on the road back home when he passes a funeral procession. He joins in, glad that it's not his procession but curious to hear who's died.

The Pastor speaks over the body of the dead man, and tells the story of his life. His long speech reveals that it's the young man that Young Peer saw back in the first act cutting off his finger. Peer's belief that the man was avoiding the war turns out to be true, while the Pastor's speech reveals that the man did what he did so he could stay home and take care of his family. He goes on to explain how the man rebuilt his farm after floods and avalanches and how his three sons went to the new world, made a lot of money, and forgot about him. Finally...