Dec 29, 2009

The Wild Duck | Critical Overview

Ibsen published The Wild Duck in 1884, and the following winter, it was produced on stage for the first time. Initially, most critics did not respond to Ibsen’s humble setting and characters, his sense of humor, and what they saw as his pretentiousness. While some viewers greatly enjoyed the play, they were, at that time, in the distinct minority. Playwright George Bernard Shaw wrote in 1897 after viewing the play, ‘‘Where shall I find an epithet magnificent enough for The Wild Duck!’’ He found the play to be ‘‘a profound tragedy,’’ yet one that kept the...