John Gabriel Borkman BD14870_.GIF (420 bytes) 1896
John Gabriel Borkman
- click for larger image -

From Act III

MRS. BORKMAN.
You have never loved anything outside yourself – that is the real truth.

BORKMAN.
I have loved power – MRS. BORKMAN. Power, yes.

BORKMAN.
The power to create happiness all around me. MRS.

BORKMAN.
Once you had the power to make me happy. Why did you never use it?

Transl. by Michael Meyer.

 After his embezzlement, banker Borkman has spent years in prison and now lives in isolation, separate from his wife, in the family house. Long ago two twin sisters, Ella and Gunhild Rentheim, were both in love with him. He loved Ella, but spurned her because an important business associate also wanted her. Gunhild became his wife, but they never achieved happiness. Gunhild is embittered by the scandal and wants their son Erhart to restore the family honour. Ella, who has given the family money, returns to the Borkman house after a long time away. She is dying, but she feels a need to square things up both with her twin sister and her past lover. Borkman is also bitter, because he had a higher purpose with his action back then. He needed freedom to realize his grand schemes. The son Erhard is eager for adventure and not ready to defend his embittered parents. He goes abroad with the mystical and liberated Mrs Wilton, and the same evening Borkman dies after a walk in the woods. The two sisters reconcile with each other over his body.
These pages were produced by Nasjonalbiblioteket.