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The Wild Duck
by
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen's 1884 drama, "The Wild Duck," is the story of Gregers Werle, an idealist who returns to his hometown after some absence. While there he begins to meddle in the affairs of the Ekdals, an odd family that have constructed a strange way of living by ignoring the skeletons in their respective closets. The Ekdals escape the reality of their existence by the constru...more
Paperback, 116 pages
Published
January 1st 2008
by Digireads.com
(first published 1884)
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Feb 21, 2013
Mariel
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
a lonely man doesn't laugh so easily
Recommended to Mariel by:
William Gaddis and Thomas Bernhard
If he loves The Wild Duck and he wishes he had written it, he wants to be Ibsen for just that moment, and dedicate his play to someone who's been kind to him, is that lying? It isn't as bad as people doing work they have no respect for at all. Everybody has that feeling when they look at a work of art and it's right, that sudden familiarity, a sort of... recognition, as though they were creating it themselves, as though it were being created through them while they look at it or listen to it and...more
29 likes · like · see review
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رابع عمل اقراها لابسن و شكلى هابقى ابسنيه صميمه....بيناقش ابسن قضيه جديده عليه و فعلا "البطه البريه" مختلفه عن باقى اعمال ابسن
تنقسم كل اعمال ابسن تقريبا لنفس الخطوط الدراميه:
الخط الاول:هو خط الميلودراما ...و عاده يكون موضوع او مشكله قديمه قبل احداث المسرحيه لتتضح لك شئ فشئ مع الاحداث و يتتضح تأثير الماضى على الحاضر
الخط الثانى:هو حظ الحريه او الانطلاق و فعل جديد الاشياء التى قد يرفضها المجتمع او يكبت حريه الانسان فيها
الخط الثالث: و يمثله عاده نهايه سريعه الاحداث و مفاجأه و ضخمه التأثير قد تجعل...more
تنقسم كل اعمال ابسن تقريبا لنفس الخطوط الدراميه:
الخط الاول:هو خط الميلودراما ...و عاده يكون موضوع او مشكله قديمه قبل احداث المسرحيه لتتضح لك شئ فشئ مع الاحداث و يتتضح تأثير الماضى على الحاضر
الخط الثانى:هو حظ الحريه او الانطلاق و فعل جديد الاشياء التى قد يرفضها المجتمع او يكبت حريه الانسان فيها
الخط الثالث: و يمثله عاده نهايه سريعه الاحداث و مفاجأه و ضخمه التأثير قد تجعل...more
3 likes · like · see review
"She has shot the duck!" / "No, Hedwig has shot herself." / (Offstage, relieved quacks.) - David Bader
2 likes · like · see review
"The Wild Duck" is unlike the majority of Ibsen's plays in that the "man of ideals" is finally not the misunderstood hero, but just an idiot scumbag. The play is pretty cool as a foray into Symbolism. I'd definitely like to see this one staged with the secret game room in the attic, etc. Very cool. On the other hand, it's also the same old Ibsen: didactic, self-righteous, melodramatic. I wish somebody would have told the guy that he didn't hold the keys to the riddle of existence. Then maybe his...more
I'm not too sure what to make of this play. It left me disturbed, and I don't think I had any sympathy for any of the characters (except for Hedvig). It seems as though multiple characters became wholly different personas by the end of the play. One tranformed from a quiet, almost humble father-figure into a thickheaded, pompous idiot; another transformed from empathetic supporter into a total loony; and yet a third had first masqueraded as a drunk and then really ended up being the sanest of th...more
I went on a tear on 2007 and read all of Henrik Ibsen and all of August Strindberg. Before I could get to all of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, I had to turn back to writing, and I can't read while I write. Ibsen is wonderful. The thing I like most about Ibsen is that he loves and respects women at least in his writing. Not all of his plays are tragedies either. Many are very funny and many have mixed endings, not all are downers.
Though I'm not a big fan of Peer Gynt. Strindberg's parody of Peer Gyn...more
Though I'm not a big fan of Peer Gynt. Strindberg's parody of Peer Gyn...more
Relling: It just comes over him like a sort of revelation, and then there's nothing for it but to take him out on a binge. Mr. Molvik, you see, is a demonic.
I read this for a book club and because the Court is performing it. I have mixed feelings about Ibsen, probably because of the performances I've seen (I saw an excellent performance of Ghosts, a play I have issues with, an excellent performance of Peer Gynt, a play I really like, and two dreadful stagings of Doll House, a play I just can't like much). Wild Duck probably edged out Hedda Gabler as my favorite of Ibsen's realistic period (I still like Peer Gynt the best), and I'll try and report ho...more
Tragico, triste, reale: quanto sono importanti gli ideali nella nostra vita ? Forse fino al punto da rovinare la vita a chi crediamo amico o figlio ? E quando il nostro ideale è giusto oppure troppo condizionato dalla società in cui viviamo ?
La trama è interessante, ma non ho apprezzato il voler lasciare qualche indizio nascosto nella storia, che nel complesso ho trovato non lineare e a tratti noiosa, un po’ allungata con scene inutili. Ma è bella l’immagine ironica dell’anitra selvatica rinchiu...more
La trama è interessante, ma non ho apprezzato il voler lasciare qualche indizio nascosto nella storia, che nel complesso ho trovato non lineare e a tratti noiosa, un po’ allungata con scene inutili. Ma è bella l’immagine ironica dell’anitra selvatica rinchiu...more
The most poetic of Ibsen's prose plays and I think his masterpiece in that form. It makes me wish I could read Norwegian because there is likely more there than one can understand through english translation. Its beautifully structured play filled with subtle details. This is one of Ibsen's least didatic plays and it is important not confuse Ibsen's point of view with what his characters say.
What's most amazing is how Ibsen suggests the innerworkings of individuals families and their friends and...more
What's most amazing is how Ibsen suggests the innerworkings of individuals families and their friends and...more
May 01, 2007
علی
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
plays,
modern-classic-drama
رابطه ها در "مرغابی وحشی" کمی پیچیده است؛ آقای "ورله" پدر واقعی "هدویک"، رییس "یالما"ست. "گره گر" پسر "ورله" از این راز با خبر است. او معتقد است که پدرش ورله باید این مساله را اعتراف کند و هدویک و یالما نیز باید با این واقعیت رو برو بشوند. از همین رو "گره گر" تلاش می کند تا واقعیت را افشاء کند اما نه یالما و نه هدویگ، قادر به درک درست مساله و پذیرش آن نیستند و هرکدام عکس العملی متفاوت از آنچه گره گر انتظار دارد، نشان می دهند. با وجودی که واقعیت بر ملا می شود، اما نمایش نامه به یک سلسله تراژدی خت...more
A near brilliant domestic tragedy of how old indiscretions can bring later ruin, and the importance of allowing love to heal your wounds before anger ruins your life. That part of the play still works. Unfortunately, modern morality mutes the transgression that is so overwhelming in the play, making the dilemma seem more foolish than fatal. The symbolism of the duck is overwrought. The basic idea behind this play is sound, but details have not crossed the decades well.
Having read "Doll's house" recently I kind of expected something much better. It is not that the play is not good. It is just that the main character's psychological depth is not as amazing as it is in other Ibsen's works. One never completely understands the conflict between Haakon and Gregers. Hjálmar seems to be such an abusing husband, and then a weak guy who is completely influenced by whomever. Of course there are things that don't need to be explained, but in this case everything seems so...more
This is a truly beautiful play. I had no idea Ibsen had such range as a writer. I thought all he wrote about was scandal, suicide and S.T.D.s. in big bold capital letters. I thought he was all booming thunder like a Wagnerian opera and here we get the dazzling lightness of a Mozart sonata. This play is full of sadness and loss but it also has humor and ultimately forgiveness. It is now one of my favorite plays ever.
I'm thinking about adding this to my AP reading list. An interesting foray into modernism, from a prescient playwright. Most interesting was to re-read my annotations from sophomore year in college. What I noticed and what I didn't. Hmm.I vaguely recall writing a paper about Gregers metaphorical existence as a dog diving to the depths of the sea to pull Hedvig to the surface. Oh God.
I have to say that I am not quite sure I completely understand this play, especially the "sicknesses" that the characters are described to have affecting them. I get the gist of it, I think, but it's definitely not something I think I can fully understand on my own.
What I did manage to understand was quite spectacular. I love this bitter, almost comedic reality that Ibsen creates. Poor Hedvig.
What I did manage to understand was quite spectacular. I love this bitter, almost comedic reality that Ibsen creates. Poor Hedvig.
The play is a good portrait of a person who doesn't handle the truth well. Although I don't agree with the cynical Relling, I do think Gregers was a very bad judge of character and his over-enthusiastic idealism while emptying the family's closets of skeletons proved to be far more dangerous than the pistol... but thankfully, not to ducks.
Well... I was so excited to read this again and then somewhat disappointed. I am a huge Ibsen fan and teach "A Doll House" and "Hedda Gabler." I saw echoes in this play of "Ghosts"; the sins of the father are visited upon the innocent child.
One of Ibsen's more tantalizing works strewn with symbols, imagery and dialogue that combine to hint at some overarching or underpinning purpose extrinsic and beyond the dismal droll affair.
There's something I love about Ibsen's melodrama, no idea what it is. It might be that being one of the first "modern" playwrights, he really offers great insight into a new kind of storytelling.
yalmar Ikmar reminds me of all the Iranians. The book is amazing in a way that you dont even realize when it starts getting amazing from a fairly routine scene from our daily life episodes.
It's definitely a play that will be more beneficial to see than read, as every line in the play seems to be heavy, weighted, and can be slightly interpreted. It's a good one, especially if you've read his other plays first.
Again, its not the dialogues...but the narrative in general is what I liked. The "Livslognen" idea was the most interesting one for me...to think about.
I watched the play for a project in 10th grade and I absolutely loved it. Definitely a book you read multiple times to fully understand everything.
Having also read Roshersholm, I see why The Wild Duck is oft cited as one of his best.
Apr 29, 2012
James Klagge
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
literary-criticism,
plays
I read this Norwegian classic b/c we were going to spend a month in Norway.
the doc in this book is Helmar from Doll's House's smarter brother.
Poor Duck.... living with a bunch of loonies!
One of my favorite of Ibsen's plays so far. It deals, in a very pointed way, with the pains associated with growing up especially in a life of poverty. It was written in the height of Ibsen's career as a playwright and still shows the influence Kierkegaard had, although not as blatantly so as in other plays. It also reflects upon scenes from Ibsen's own coming of age (the daughter of the main character is named after Ibsen's sister). Masterfully crafted and ultimately tragic it is an excellent e...more
I should read this again...
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Henrik Johan Ibsen was a major Norwegian playwright largely responsible for the rise of modern realistic drama. He is often referred to as the "father of modern drama." Ibsen is held to be the greatest of Norwegian authors and one of the most important playwrights of all time, celebrated as a national symbol by Norwegians.
His plays were considered scandalous to many of his era, when Victorian valu...more
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His plays were considered scandalous to many of his era, when Victorian valu...more
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“Rob the average man of his life-illusion, and you rob him of his happiness at the same stroke.”
—
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