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The Wild Duck | Introduction

In a letter accompanying the manuscript for The Wild Duck, Henrik Ibsen wrote to his publisher, ‘‘This new play in many ways occupies a place of its own among my dramas; the method is in various respects a departure from my earlier one. . . . The critics, will, I hope, find the points; in any case, they will find plenty to quarrel about, plenty to misinterpret.’’ Ibsen, however, was disappointed in these early expectations. When the play opened in Scandinavia early in 1885, critics paid relatively little attention to it. The play soon traveled throughout the continent. While a few luminaries commended it—notably the playwright George Bernard Shaw and the poet Rainer Maria Rilke—most early critics found the play incomprehensible and incoherent. Audiences, as well, showed little positive response to The Wild Duck.

In ensuing years, however, and as people began to understand both Ibsen’s notion of ‘‘tragi-comedy’’ as well as his insightful characterization, the play began to develop the fine reputation it still holds today. Now popularly regarded as one of Ibsen’s more important works, The Wild Duck gains further eminence in its issuance of Ibsen into a new era of writing, one in which symbolism and characterization- as opposed to social realism-gained prominence. With The Wild Duck, an already esteemed playwright showed his continued interest in exploring new interests and concerns through his work.

The Wild Duck Summary

Act I
Act I opens in Hakon Werle’s home. In honor of his son’s return after a long absence, he is hosting a dinner party. Gregers Werle has invited his old school friend, Hjalmar Ekdal. The men have not seen each other for more than 15 years, and Gregers learns that in the interim, Hjalmar has married Gina, a former housemaid of the Werles; been set up in a photography studio by Hakon; and had a child, Hedvig. The conversation also reveals Hjalmar’s father’s past: a business partner of Hakon’s, Old Ekdal had been found guilty of illegal tree felling and sentenced to prison. This disgrace ruined the life that he had known, as well as his son’s, who had to drop out of college. Now, Hakon generously compensates Old Ekdal for copying work. Gregers notes that his father was ‘‘a kind of Providence for you, ‘‘to which Hjalmar heartily agrees.

The other men who make up the dinner party, associates of Hakon, join Gregers and Hjalmar in the study. As they converse, Old Ekdal is forced to pass through the room to leave the house after picking up his work. Hjalmar looks away, pretending not to see his father.

After the party has ended, Gregers confronts his father about his help to the Ekdal family. Gregers implies that his father was also involved in the crime for which Old Ekdal was imprisoned and makes insinuations about his father’s past relationship with Gina. Despite his son’s chilliness, Werle offers Gregers a partnership in his business, but Gregers refuses. Werle then reveals that he is planning on marrying his current housemaid, Mrs. Sorby. Gregers declares his intention of leaving his father’s house, saying that he now has ‘‘an objective to live for,’’ but he does not share this objective with his father.

Act II
Act II opens in the Ekdal’s apartment. Gina and Hedvig Ekdal are seated in the photography studio, which they also use as a living room. They are awaiting Hjalmar’s return. Soon after he comes home, however, Gregers pays a visit. Privately, Hjalmar reveals to Gregers that Hedvig is going blind.

Old Ekdal has already returned home, and he insists that Gregers see the attic, which is filled with chickens, pigeons, rabbits, and a wild duck that Hakon gave to Hedvig. Hakon had shot and injured the wild duck, but his dog retrieved it, still alive, from the bottom of the lake. That evening, over Gina’s... » Complete The Wild Duck Summary