The Wild Duck- Journal #2

Literary Topics
Prompt: Setting: This included cultural as well as geographical and historical setting. What effect does the setting have on the story, character, theme?

In The Wild Duck, Ibsen places the characters in two main specific locations. In Act 1, the story occurs in an ornate, wealthy man's house. The entire atmosphere is just luxurious and sophisticated- upper class basically. In Act 2, the setting changes from Werle's house to Hjalmer's home. The atmosphere is a little shabby, and the reader gets the effect that they are upon hard times financialy. This is mostly because of the fact that where they live is also where they work, has well has Gina's unhappiness with what they spent on food. By placing these two conflicting places right next to each other, it shows something about the importance of social position, and how silly the wealthy are. At Werle's house, all of the people were decadent and rather silly with the things that concerned them. However, at Hjalmer's the conversation was more serious and the reader witnessed the struggles that family carried. Ibsen is trying to show how ignorant and silly the upper class can be, and more often than not, is. It highlights the difference a social class can make and Ibsen shows how people change based on their income level.