Henrik Ibsen's "Peer Gynt" is a dramatic exploration of ambition, deception, and redemption. The play follows the titular character as he navigates a series of outlandish adventures driven by fantasy and self-indulgence. Through his journey across various landscapes, Peer Gynt grapples with his identity, ultimately seeking forgiveness and meaning.

Act I

The curtain rises with Peer Gynt regaling his mother, Ase, with a thrilling yet fabricated tale of a deer hunt. Despite his vivid storytelling, Peer confesses the absence of a real hunt, leading Ase to chastise him for his laziness and deceitfulness, which she blames for their impoverished state. When she mentions that Peer could have had a fine dowry by marrying Ingrid, he readily agrees to the union, only to learn she's engaged to another with her wedding imminent. Undeterred, Peer vows to disrupt the wedding and, to his mother's protests, lifts her onto a roof. On his way to the festivities, he overhears guests speaking and mistakenly thinks they discuss him, prompting a daydream of grandeur as wedding music plays in the distance.

Arriving at the celebration, Peer finds himself shunned by the attendees, who avoid him outright. Solveig, a farmer’s daughter, briefly speaks to him but soon distances herself. Peer's drunken storytelling, full of embellishment, attracts the mockery of the young men present. Solveig returns, informing Peer that her father warned her against him. Despite his pleas, she refuses to dance with him. The gullible bridegroom, Mads, believes Peer's tall tales and seeks his help in gaining access to the bride, who has secluded herself. Peer seizes the opportunity, agreeing to sneak around back with Mads. The act concludes with chaos as the crowd watches Peer abscond up the mountain with the bride over his shoulder.

Act II

Morning breaks as Peer prepares to part ways with Ingrid, still in her bridal attire. Although she pleads with him to stay, Peer declares his interest lies elsewhere, ignoring her threats as they part. Meanwhile, Ase, alongside Solveig and her parents, is searching for her wayward son. Ase expresses her disbelief that Peer could commit such a scandalous act, given his history of inaction. Although Solveig’s parents suspect Ase shares Peer's madness, they feel compelled to assist her out of Christian duty. Intrigued by Peer, Solveig asks Ase for more stories about him. As the villagers continue their search, Peer finds refuge among three herdgirls.

Peer’s journey leads him to encounter the mountain king’s daughter, whom he impresses with his claims of nobility and proposes to marry. The mountain king imposes a series of challenges before granting his daughter’s hand. Peer balks at the final test—blindness—and abandons his new bride. He then faces the enigmatic Great Boyg, who bars his passage. Exhausted and seemingly outmatched, Peer is saved only by the intervention of women, which the Great Boyg cannot oppose. Awakening outside his mother's hut, Peer sends the child Helga to fetch Solveig.

Act III

Now an outlaw, Peer has retreated into the forest, constructing a makeshift shelter where Solveig joins him. Ase, meanwhile, has been left destitute after paying a heavy fine for her son’s misdeeds. Solveig has sacrificed her familial ties for Peer's sake, abandoning everyone she holds dear. Peer remains secure only in the forest’s seclusion; the outside world offers danger and pursuit. Despite their precarious circumstances, Peer and Solveig share fleeting moments of joy. But the mountain king’s daughter returns with a malformed child, claiming Peer as the father, vowing to disrupt any happiness he finds with Solveig. Remembering his early religious teachings, Peer contemplates redemption through repentance. He implores Solveig to wait faithfully...