Symbolism in The Wild Duck
Symbolism in The Wild Duck

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“The Wild Duck” by Henrick Ibsen is a play full of symbolism. This symbolism pertains to several factors: settings, objects, characters, and circumstances. In fact, the symbolism in its very title constitutes an integral part of the play. Understanding the symbolism in Ibsen’s “The Wild Duck” is crucial to understanding the play itself.
However, symbolism is not crucial to its plot. There is already a tragic story: Old Ekdal takes the fall for Hakon Werle in a legal/business matter, and so Werle uses this as an excuse to take care of his son, Hjalmar Ekdal. In truth, Werle has sired a daughter with his maid Gina, and sets up Hjalmar’s marriage and life in order to cover up this secret. Gregers Werle (his son) comes back with the intention of bringing the truth out, so as to punish his despicable father. He succeeds, and the truth eventually does come out, which results in Hjalmar rejecting his daughter, Hedvig, even more than usual. He leaves the house, and when Hedvig realizes that it is because of her existence, she shoots herself.
So, symbolism is not absolutely necessary to make the play work. The strongest themes are already present: truth is not always noble, and though it may triumph, it hurts those it affects; the new poor versus the still rich; dwelling on the past does not help the present or the future; that daily life, as it is perceived, may be merely an illusion. Therefore, the symbolism only adds to this base, to such an extent that it transforms the play into a philosophical adventure, perhaps giving the play more interest. This transformation turns the basic plot into Henrick Ibsen’s specialty: the well-made play, where all the elements elaborately intertwine to ultimately form a harmonious, albeit disturbing, whole. The best way to understand this whole is by unraveling the intertwined strands one by one – in this case, those having to do with the symbols used in the play.
Settings are obvious symbols of socio-economic status. The wealthy Werle, of high status in the town lives in a great manor, where the opening scene takes place. The Ekdals live in a small apartment, reflecting their lack of wealth and drop in status. The attic, due to the objects that are kept there, is a place where time stands still, refuting the reality of the moment. In becoming old Ekdal’s hunting grounds, it becomes his illusion of reality.
The attic contains an old clock that no longer works, books with pictures, an old double-barreled pistol, and the wild duck. The clock is broken, and thus time stands still. The books represent freedom outside of daily life, possibilities, and opportunities that are not being offered (mainly to Hedvig). The pistol irrevocably represents death, and comes from times past – the past which is to bring about Hedvig’s death. The wild duck represents Hedvig, as it too is deprived of its freedom and birthright. It also symbolizes the Ekdal family in general, trapped in a place where time stands still, and having been brought down to “the depths of the sea,” then saved.
It is Werle, in fact, who has hurt then literally saved the wild duck and each of the members of the Ekdal family in one way or another. He shot then recuperated the wild duck, had Old Ekdal take the fall but then offered him monetary support, impregnated Gina and cast her aside, but set her up with a husband and job, and denied Hedvig her birthright while still providing for her. Werle has demonstrated substantial power over these people’s lives, to the point of having manipulated them to fit his own whims and needs. He is the one who turned their lives into a collective illusion.
Because of this, Gregers Werle despises his father. He returns home as the thirteenth man at the table. He is the individual who brings forth the unlucky number, bringing evil misgivings to those around him. He is also the bearer of illusion-shattering truth, and though his secondary intentions may pass as noble (his primary intention being to punish his father), he disregards the effects that truth may have upon his subjects. Furthermore, he shares an understanding of underlying symbols with Hedvig, and uses it to push her to commit suicide. Therefore, it can be said that Gregers Werle is up to no good, although he tries to mask his actions with philosophical ideals.
Hjalmar Ekdal spends his time working on an invention. It becomes obvious that there is no real invention, only the dream of one. This reflects how Hjalmar is not only ignorantly living an illusion, but is in denial of his reality, naively seeing his future through another illusion. As the play evolves, these illusions both come crashing down, and he is comes to face the reality that Gregers is force-feeding him. Until then, he is lazy, unappreciative, and ungrateful. He does not realize what he has until he loses it.
He loses Hedvig, who is collaterally related to the wild duck. She should have been the future of the family, yet she is ignored by both her fathers. She is thus caged and kept from her dreams and aspirations. She is trapped with the past and misery of the others (except for Gina, who seems content). Like the wild duck, it is only after she has gone to “the depths of the sea” that she becomes loved by those who caused her unhappiness. She is a symbol of freedom and happiness, which they try to lock up, and ultimately kill.

Symbolism in “The Wild Duck” by Henrick Ibsen, though not absolutely necessary to the plot, adds unequivocal meaning and purpose to the play. It transpires through the characters, objects, settings, and circumstances (i.e. thirteen at the table), and thus becomes an integral part of the play. It is the element that transforms it into the “well-made play” for which Ibsen is known. Therefore, understanding the play’s symbolism is crucial to understanding the play itself, a feat now accomplished. To do otherwise would be to deny the reality of the symbolism of this well-made play, and to trap oneself in the illusion offered by its relatively simple basis.