Solness’ “meteoric rise” to fame as THE master builder at the expense of others like Brovik and his son Ragnar, have made him especially fearful of retribution for his past actions. It soon becomes clear that Ibsen’s master builder will go to great lengths in order to maintain his power. In one instance, he manipulates Brovik and Ragnar through Ragnar’s fiancé Kaja by making her believe that he might have affectionate feelings for her. Solness also shows his paranoia that he ‘usurped by the younger generation’. It is very interesting how closely Solness and his fear of retribution parallels to a Chinese dictator, Qin Shi Huangdi and his infamous “Terra Cotta Army”.
Qin Shi Huangdi ruled China from 221-210 BCE under the policy of “legalism” or “absolute obedience to the state”. During his eleven year reign, he ruled his empire with an iron fist which made him many enemies. He ‘declared war’ on anyone that didn’t adhere to legalism and its ideologies including Confucians and scholars. He unified and finished the Great Wall, which is said to be filled with the bodies of hundreds if not thousands of workers who were simply buried inside the Wall’s rubble-filled core. The standardization of weights, coinage, etc. was also adopted during his reign. Qin was also a patron of the arts. Like many “mythical” rulers of the ancient world, many did not know if Qin was a real figure until his famous tomb was discovered in 1974 in Lintong, China (210 BCE). Like Solness, Qin was also paranoid of the retribution that would befall him during life and after death because of the brutal policies he carried out during his reign. In the part of the mortuary complex that has been excavated so far, archeologists have uncovered Qin’s “Terra Cotta Army” that was built to protect Qin’s body and tomb (which has yet to be excavated). The Army is made of 6,000 individual, life-size, terracotta warriors as well as numerous terracotta horses. Although they are a sight to behold just clad in cast and fired clay, these figures were likely painted when they were placed in the complex. Also buried with the soldiers were numerous, full sized bronze chariots with horses that were expertly created. Researchers estimate a labor force of 700,000 or more was need to complete the site. From-
Kleiner, Fred S. "China and Korea to 1279." Gardner's Art Through the Ages: A Global History. 13th ed. Vol. 1. Boston: Wadsworth, 2011. 185-86. Print.
Image of Terracotta Army: http://www.at0086.com/QTCWH/
Image of bronze chariot and horses: http://www.art.com/products/p11725821-sa-i1351348/terracotta-army-qin-dynasty-210-bc-horses-and-carriage.htm?aff=conf&ctid=0&rfid=934670&tkid=15045913&
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