The Wild Duck by Henrik Ibsen
"The Wild Duck" is a tragicomedy that explores themes of reality and illusion, as well as the destructive power of idealism. The story revolves around a man who returns home after 16 years to find his father married to his former lover. He believes he is doing the right thing by revealing the truth about their past, but his idealistic pursuit of the truth only leads to the destruction of the family's harmony. The wild duck in the story symbolizes the damage caused by harsh reality, suggesting that sometimes illusion is necessary for survival.
The 14822nd greatest book of all time
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- Published
- 1884
- Nationality
- Norwegian
- Length
- Very Short
- Pages
- 80-120
- Original Language
- Norwegian
- Avg User Rating
-
(4.3)
- Alternate Titles
- None
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This book is on the following 2 lists:
- 46th on From Oedipus to The History Boys: Michael Billington's 101 greatest plays (The Guardian)
- Great Books of the Western World (Great Books Foundation)