Four Great Plays of Henrik Ibsen

A Doll's House, The Wild Duck, Hedda Gabler, The M

Henrick Ibsen

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781451685671
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: European Drama
• Index: Literature

Four of the most popular and profound works from the playwright known as the "father of modern theater." A Doll's House (1879) and Ghosts (1881) established Ibsen's reputation as one of the finest playwrights in Europe, but his next two plays— Hedda Gabler (1890) and The Master Builder (1892)—gave him undisputed international fame. This edition includes:
-A concise introduction that gives readers important background information
-A chronology of the author's life and work
-A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context
-An outline of key themes and plot points to help readers form their own interpretations
-Detailed explanatory notes
-Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work
-Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction
-A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experienceEnriched Classics offer readers affordable editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and insightful commentary. The scholarship provided in Enriched Classics enables readers to appreciate, understand, and enjoy the world's finest books to their full potential.

THE WILD DUCK

ACT ONE

At WERLE’s house. A richly and comfortably furnished study; bookcases and upholstered furniture; a writing table, with papers and documents, in the center of the room; lighted lamps with green shades, giving a subdued light. At the back, open folding doors with curtains drawn back. Within is seen a large and handsome room, brilliantly lighted with lamps and branching candlesticks. In front, on the right (in the study), a small baize door leads into WERLE’S office. On the left, in front, a fireplace with a glowing coal fire, and farther back a double door leading into the dining room.

WERLE’S servant, PETTERSEN, in livery, and JENSEN, the hired waiter, in black, are putting the study in order. In the large room, two or three other hired waiters are moving about, arranging things and lighting more candles. From the dining room, the hum of conversation and laughter of many voices are heard; a glass is tapped with a knife; silence follows, and a toast is proposed; shouts of “Bravo!” and then again a buzz of conversation.

PETTERSEN (lights a lamp on the chimney place and places a shade over it): Hark to them, Jensen! now the old man’s on his legs holding a long palaver about Mrs. Sörby.

JENSEN (pushing forward an armchair): Is it true, what folks say, that they’re—very good friends, eh?

PETTERSEN: Lord knows.

JENSEN: I’ve heard tell as he’s been a lively customer in his day.¹

PETTERSEN: Maybe.

JENSEN: And he’s giving this spread in honor of his son, they say.

PETTERSEN: Yes. His son came home yesterday.

JENSEN: This is the first time I ever heard as Mr. Werle had a son.

PETTERSEN: Oh, yes, he has a son, right enough. But he’s a fixture, as you might say, up at the Höidal works.² He’s never once come to town all the years I’ve been in service here.

A WAITER (in the doorway of the other room): Pettersen, here’s an old fellow wanting—

PETTERSEN (mutters): The devil—who’s this now?

OLD EKDAL appears from the right, in the inner room. He is dressed in a threadbare overcoat with a high collar; he wears woolen mittens and carries in his hand a stick and a fur cap. Under his arm, a brown paper parcel. Dirty red-brown wig and small gray mustache.

PETTERSEN (goes toward him): Good Lord—what do you want here?

EKDAL (in the doorway): Must get into the office, Pettersen.

PETTERSEN: The office was closed an hour ago, and—

EKDAL: So they told me at the front door. But Gråberg’s in there still. Let me slip in this way, Pettersen; there’s a good fellow. (Points toward the baize door.) It’s not the first time I’ve come this way.

PETTERSEN: Well, you may pass. (Opens the door.) But mind you go out again the proper way, for we’ve got company.

EKDAL: I know, I know—hm! Thanks, Pettersen, good old friend! Thanks! (Mutters softly.) Ass!

He goes into the office; PETTERSEN shuts the door after him.

JENSEN: Is he one of the office people?

PETTERSEN: No he’s only an outside hand that does odd jobs of copying. But he’s been a tip-topper in his day, has old Ekdal.

JENSEN: You can see he’s been through a lot.

PETTERSEN: Yes; he was an army officer, you know.

JENSEN: You don’t say so?

PETTERSEN: No mistake about it. But then he went into the timber trade or something of the sort. They say he once played Mr. Werle a very nasty trick. They were partners in the Höidal works at the time. Oh, I know old Ekdal well, I do. Many a nip of bitters and bottle of ale we two have drunk at Madam Eriksen’s.

JENSEN: He don’t look as if he’d much to stand treat with.

PETTERSEN: Why, bless you, Jensen, it’s me that stands treat. I always think there’s no harm in being a bit civil to folks that have seen better days.

JENSEN: Did he go bankrupt, then?

PETTERSEN: Worse than that. He went to prison.

JENSEN: To prison!

PETTERSEN: Or perhaps it was the penitentiary. (Listens.)

Sh! They’re leaving the table.

The dining room door is thrown open from within by a couple of waiters. MRS. SÖRBY comes out conversing with two gentlemen. Gradually the whole company follows, among them WERLE. Last come HIALMAR EKDAL and GREGERS WERLE.

MRS. SÖRBY (in passing, to the servant): Tell them to serve the coffee in the music room, Pettersen.

PETTERSEN: Very well, Madam.

She goes with the two gentlemen into the inner room and thence out to the right. PETTERSEN and JENSEN go out the same way.

A FLABBY GENTLEMAN (to a THIN-HAIRED GENTLEMAN): Whew! What a dinner!—It was no joke to do it justice!

THE THIN-HAIRED GENTLEMAN: Oh, with a little goodwill one can get through a lot in three hours.

THE FLABBY GENTLEMAN: Yes, but afterward, afterward, my dear Chamberlain!

A THIRD GENTLEMAN: I hear the coffee and maraschino³ are to be served in the music room.

THE FLABBY GENTLEMAN: Bravo! Then perhaps Mrs. Sörby will play us something.

THE THIN-HAIRED GENTLEMAN (in a low voice): I hope Mrs. Sörby mayn’t play us a tune we don’t like, one of these days!

THE FLABBY GENTLEMAN: Oh, no, not she! Bertha will never turn against her old friends.

They laugh and pass into the inner room.

WERLE (in a low voice, dejectedly): I don’t think anybody noticed it, Gregers.

GREGERS (looks at him): Noticed what?

WERLE: Did you not notice it either?

GREGERS: What do you mean?

WERLE: We were thirteen at table.

GREGERS: Indeed? Were there thirteen of us?

WERLE (glances toward...