Reviews for The Wild Duck
Review - Wild Duck, The
Why I read the book: It is on the Racine list — 43 more to go.
What I expected: To become really depressed.
What the book was about: Hjalmar Ekdal lives in poverty with his father, his wife Gina and his beloved 14-year-old daughter Hedvig. Most of their money comes from Werle, a businessman who used to be the partner of Hjalmar’s father. Werle’s estranged son Gregers comes for a visit and decides to inspire his old friend Hjalmar to make something of himself. He tells Hjalmar that Gina once had an affair with Werle, and that Hadvig might be Werle’s daughter. Hjalmar reacts in horror and spurns Hadvig. Gregers, still interfering, convinces Hadvig that she can regain her father’s love by killing her pet duck, which will prove how much she loves him. Instead, Hadvig takes one of her grandfather’s pistols and kills herself.
What I liked about the book: The entire time I was reading it, I realized it was the last Ibsen play on the Racine list and therefore the last one I would ever have to read. The part about Hjalmar’s father, who used to be a famous hunter, hunting pet rabbits in the attic, was pretty funny.
What I didn’t like about the book: I know that many people live depressing lives, and I can even understand why someone like Ibsen might want to write about his depressing life. But wouldn’t other people who live depressing lives want to escape from depression? Would they really want to go see a play about depressing people? Is this the whole “misery loves company” thing?
The most interesting quote: N/A
Recommendation: Skip all of Ibsen’s plays except An Enemy of the People. That one is on the Carp 500 list and will give you all the taste of Ibsen you’ll ever need. It’s the only one I cared for of the six I’ve read. I gave it a 7. I gave this one a 3.
What I expected: To become really depressed.
What the book was about: Hjalmar Ekdal lives in poverty with his father, his wife Gina and his beloved 14-year-old daughter Hedvig. Most of their money comes from Werle, a businessman who used to be the partner of Hjalmar’s father. Werle’s estranged son Gregers comes for a visit and decides to inspire his old friend Hjalmar to make something of himself. He tells Hjalmar that Gina once had an affair with Werle, and that Hadvig might be Werle’s daughter. Hjalmar reacts in horror and spurns Hadvig. Gregers, still interfering, convinces Hadvig that she can regain her father’s love by killing her pet duck, which will prove how much she loves him. Instead, Hadvig takes one of her grandfather’s pistols and kills herself.
What I liked about the book: The entire time I was reading it, I realized it was the last Ibsen play on the Racine list and therefore the last one I would ever have to read. The part about Hjalmar’s father, who used to be a famous hunter, hunting pet rabbits in the attic, was pretty funny.
What I didn’t like about the book: I know that many people live depressing lives, and I can even understand why someone like Ibsen might want to write about his depressing life. But wouldn’t other people who live depressing lives want to escape from depression? Would they really want to go see a play about depressing people? Is this the whole “misery loves company” thing?
The most interesting quote: N/A
Recommendation: Skip all of Ibsen’s plays except An Enemy of the People. That one is on the Carp 500 list and will give you all the taste of Ibsen you’ll ever need. It’s the only one I cared for of the six I’ve read. I gave it a 7. I gave this one a 3.
Reviewed by Roger on 2008-08-20 13:50:01