Monologue

Hjalmar Monologue from The Wild Duck

From The Wild Duck by Henrik Ibsen

male · anguished · 1:34 min

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No. In that decisive moment I gained the victory over myself. I went on living. But, believe me, it needed courage to choose life under such conditions. (GREGERS: It depends on the point of view.) Yes, entirely. But it was better so; for now I shall soon make the invention; and then Doctor Relling believes, as I do, myself, that father will get leave to wear his uniform again. I shall ask this as my sole reward. (GREGERS: So it’s the uniform that he----?) Yes; it is that that he most hankers and pines after. You can not imagine how this cuts me to the heart for his sake. Whenever we have a little family feast here--such as Gina’s and my wedding-day, or anything of that sort--the old man comes in here dressed in his lieutenant uniform of happier days. But as soon as there’s a knock at the door--for he mustn’t show himself before strangers you know--he hurries off to his room again as fast as his old legs will carry him. It lacerates a filial heart to see that!

About this piece

Hjalmar reflects on the emotional pain of witnessing his father's longing for the past during family gatherings, highlighting the tension between familial duty and personal sorrow.

30s · sadness · family · identity · longing · isolation

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