The play deals with the conflicts, passions, and disintegration of a Swedish family. It is Gudrun’s 58th birthday and the family gets together. Her "better half" is Sverre, her somewhat older husband, who may or may not really be blind. Invited to her birthday celebration are Gudrun and Sverre's three sons, three daughters, their son- in-law to be and Sverre's parents. Their old maid, Siv, is also present, but the only words she appears able to utter are "Sorry," and "Thank you." There are two main plots, each of which is based on conflicting conceptions of ‘truth’. Gudrun, the mother, is a judge and her children reproach her for having neglected them in favor of her own career. She argues strongly against their point of view, maintaining that life is full of sorrow, pain, and compromises. The other plot concerns the twin sisters’ infatuation with the same man. Before the play ends, Sverre dies, which finally releases a formidable outburst from Siv, the faithful servant of sixty years. At that moment Siv is revealed to be Sverre’s downtrodden sister, a marvelous part for a great, older actress.
