Wild Duck

Norwegian playwright Henrik Johan Ibsen explores in The Wild Duck the consequences of searching for the truth on the lives of two families, the Werles and the Ekdals. Even though it is not performed as often as some of his other plays, this is considered by many to be Ibsen’s best work.

The play opens when Gregers Werle, a young man with high-minded, idealistic notions, returns home after years of absence. He is reunited with his wealthy father and his boyhood friend, Hjalmar Ekdal. A chance remark leads Gregers to suspects that the Ekdals’ impoverished circumstances are connected with his father's greed. Determined to get to the bottom of things, he leaves home once again and takes a room in the Ekdals' garret, which he shares with Hjalmar’s father. The garret is also home to several small animals, including a wounded wild duck on which Hjalmar’s fourteen years old daughter Hedvig lavishes love and attention.

In his commitment to find the truth, Gregers learns that Hjalmar's wife Gina, who used to work as a maid for the Werles, was his father’s mistress. He also suspects that it was his father who made Gina pregnant. Gregers informs Hjalmar about his revelations and drives him frantic. Ultimately, Gregers’ unrelenting search for truth shatters the Ekdals’ peaceful and apparently happy household, leading to tragedy.

1. "Take the life-lie away from the average man and straight away you take away his happiness."
2. "Don't use that foreign word, ideals. We have that excellent native word, lies."

Norwegian playwright Henrik Johan Ibsen explores in The Wild Duck the consequences of searching for the truth on the lives of two families, the Werles and the Ekdals. Even though it is not performed as often as some of his other plays, this is considered by many to be Ibsen’s best work.

The play opens when Gregers Werle, a young man with high-minded, idealistic notions, returns home after years of absence. He is reunited with his wealthy father and his boyhood friend, Hjalmar Ekdal. A chance remark leads Gregers to suspects that the Ekdals’ impoverished circumstances are connected with his father's greed. Determined to get to the bottom of things, he leaves home once again and takes a room in the Ekdals' garret, which he shares with Hjalmar’s father. The garret is also home to several small animals, including a wounded wild duck on which Hjalmar’s fourteen years old daughter Hedvig lavishes love and attention.

In his commitment to find the truth, Gregers learns that Hjalmar's wife Gina, who used to work as a maid for the Werles, was his father’s mistress. He also suspects that it was his father who made Gina pregnant. Gregers informs Hjalmar about his revelations and drives him frantic. Ultimately, Gregers’ unrelenting search for truth shatters the Ekdals’ peaceful and apparently happy household, leading to tragedy.

1. Title in original Norwegian: Vildanden

2. Published on November 11, 1884 by Gyldendalske Danish publishing house

3. The first edition published in 8,000 copies

4. The second edition of 2,000 copies published on December 1, 1884

5. Setting: Norway, at the end of 19th century

6. First performed on January 9, 1885 in Bergen

1. </small>

2. "Take the life-lie away from the average man and straight away you take away his happiness."

3. "Don't use that foreign word, ideals. We have that excellent native word, lies."

4. </note>

• Note: The majority of the links in this timeline are to IMDb, which has pop-ups.

• 1973: Die Wildente (Film)

• 1983: The wild Duck (Film)

• 1989: Vildanden (TV)

• • Mahalo guide to Henrik Ibsen
• Wikipedia: Henrik Ibsen
• Shakespeare Theatre Company: Ibsen's Life (429.89 KB)
• Books and Writers: Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906)
• Theatre Database: Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906)
• Metropolitan News Company: Henrik Ibsen
• The Ibsen Society of North America: Ibsen, Life and Works