Wild Duck Journal #1

With some historical context behind the play, I have noticed Ibsen puts a lot of emphasis on relationships. Ibsen had a very strained relationship with his father as he didn't talk to him for 20 years and he also had a very non-existent relationship with his own son. So far in the play an emphasis has been put on the strained relationships between Hjalmar and Gregers with their fathers. Because Ibsen never experience a good father-son relationship, he does not write about them. In his writing it also becomes apparent that this was an important part of his life and had a large influence on who he became. I think relationships, particularly the father-son relationships, will be a focal point in this play.