In Henrik Ibsen's famous but controversial play The Wild Duck, most of the significant events are mental and psychological. More precisely, it is Hjalmar Ekdal's subconscious thoughts that construct the piece. As the protagonist of the play, Hjalmar Ekdal seems to be living a lie. He is not aware of his wife's affair or his daughter's illegitimacy until the end of the play. Although Ibsen subtly hints throughout the play that he might know the truth, Hjalmar never reveals it out of fear that it might be true. Hjalmar also unconsciously tries to take revenge on old Werle through his daughter Hedvig. Even though sometimes it seems like he really loves her, he never treats her like he really loves her. Hjalmar is a very complex character and by understanding him the audience can understand the play. Through Hjalmar's awakening and final acceptance of his subconscious thoughts and feelings, Henrik Ibsen's The Wild Duck unfolds and provides the audience with a sense of excitement, suspense and climax. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay Through a clever use of dramatic irony, Ibsen informs the audience of knowledge that Hjalmar himself is unaware of . On the one hand, the audience knows about the affair that Gina, Hjalmar's wife, had while she was a housekeeper for the Werles. Apparently Hjalmar is unaware of this. However, in Act II, Hjalmar demonstrates that he may be aware of the affair. In Act II, Gregers, the son of old Werle, enters the Ekdal house. As he settles in, Gregers asks seemingly innocent questions about the Ekdals. These questions include Hedvig's age as well as the length of Hjalmar and Gina's marriage. In this brief interrogation, it becomes clear that Gregers suspects Hedvig of being his half-sister. But before the conversation drags on, Hjalmar quickly changes the subject: “Yes, that’s true. Fifteen years, except for a few months. (Changes subject) They must have seemed to you for many years at the factory, Gregers (II). Hjalmar does this perhaps to spare his wife, Gina, unnecessary embarrassment in talking about her premarital affairs. Additionally, Hjalmar doesn't want to talk about Hedvig's childhood, because that might lead to the risk of talking about who her "real" father is. Although Hedvig spends his life with Hjalmar, it is likely that old Werle is Hedvig's biological father. Hjalmar wants nothing to do with old Werle. Throughout his life his main goal has been to try to maintain the illusion that he has no need of old Werle and is in fact independent of him. Hjalmar has never been able to accept the fact that Hedvig truly loves him. Hjalmar believes that Hedvig, like the wild duck, is a reject passed down from old Werle. In order to justify himself, Hjalmar constantly tests Hedvig to prove his love for her. Throughout the play, Hjalmar treats Hedvig not as a daughter but rather as a tool, telling her to do things for him and get things for him. Unfortunately, Hedvig does not see this and is determined to win Hjalmar's love. Hjalmar's revenge against old Werle lies in the mistreatment of his "real" daughter, Hedvig. In Hjalmar's subconscious, he does not want Hedvig and ultimately wants to end his life. In Act IV, Hjalmar declares: “As for that accursed wild duck, I would have great pleasure in wringing its neck!” » (IV). Hjalmar compares the wild duck to Hedvig and in this statement it is clear that he wants to kill them both. It is also stated that he would have “great pleasure” in doing so. After Hjalmar said, 1958.