Henrik Ibsen’s The Wild Duck, first performed in 1884, is one of his most haunting plays.
It tells the story of the Ekdal family, who live in fragile happiness, sustained by small illusions and a hidden attic where they keep a wounded wild duck. Into their world comes Gregers Werle, an idealist who believes that truth must be told at all costs. He tries to expose the family’s secrets, but his honesty brings devastation rather than freedom.
At the heart of the play is Hedvig, a young girl whose innocence and love become caught in the clash between illusion and reality.
Ibsen called The Wild Duck his “tragedy of the ideal.” It asks: do we need comforting lies to survive? Or can truth alone sustain us?
With its blend of realism and symbolism, The Wild Duck remains a deeply moving drama about family, illusion, and the cost of truth.