Journal 1

Nothing in Act II so captures some of the themes of The Wild Duck so well as Hialmar’s conversation with Old Ekdal and Gina when they discuss names and the happenings at the dinner party. Hialmar says of the participants, that “they only talked nonsense. They wanted me to recite something for them; but I knew better than that.” This, of course, is the problem. He does not know better himself and his assessment of what goes on at the party—of others and himself, is pure banality and self-congratulation. He stands for nothing but self-love. He pronounces that “one mustn’t be at everybody’s beck and call” but that is exactly what he is—the sieve through which passes everyone’s else’s latest boring comment in a boring and meaningless life. Hialmar drifts purposelessly from non-event to non-event and comments proudly on his accomplishments, showing how empty he is of meaning. He says, “I don’t see why I should bother myself to entertain people on the rare occasions when I go into society. Let the others exert themselves.” How silly he looks. And when he comments on vintages, and Gina says, “Why, you know everything, Ekdal” the irony of his knowing—and doing—so little is primo! Egotism and delusion are important themes in Act II. Nothing is so important as purpose and character and Hialmar, so far anyway, has none of these.