I just finished reading Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen. The plot is complicated to describe, but basically the main character struts and frets his five acts worth loving and leaving maidens posing as an emperor, sending pagan gods to China-- in other words, traveling the world in selfish pursuits. In act 4 he shoves a drowning man back into the sea to save his own skin.
What is the meaning of life? At the beginning of the play the old man on the mountain says that it is for man to be true to himself (as Polonius once said to Laertes). To be true to one's self, to be a truly human one must act as a man, who was made in the image of God. But if you are not, you are true to your own selfish which means that you are not a human, but a troll.
Peer gets to the end of his life and the end of his journeys, only to learn that he is a troll and has been selfish his whole life long.
This play is fascinating and bears the stamp of truth. However, it is not an easy read-- I think it is helpful to tackle this one if you have a background in modern theatre, particularly absurdist theatre.
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