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Unfortunately, I found it quite difficult to relate very much to this play. Peer himself is a very Loki-like character. Like Loki he is the ultimate selfish trickster, but whereas Loki in Norse Mythology is seen as ultimately an evil character, taking sides against the gods, Peer is {perhaps} redeemed by Solvieg’s love. But why Solvieg loves him is a complete mystery to me.
I felt as Hamlet did, that Ibsen was deconstructing the traditional morality of the Norse Myth. Thus, there is no psychological or moral Ragnarok equivalent for Peer. The ending is indeed ambiguous and no doubt Ibsen purposely created this ambiguity to play against the simplistic heroic answers of the great Sagas.
But in the end, I just wasn’t moved by this play and my final reaction was very similar to Issybird’s. However, Sun surfer’s very impressive review would indicate that I’m missing something. I should probably re-read the play with those insights in mind.
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