Wild Duck revisited

By John Fajo

Abstract

Ibsen’s classic Wild Duck is the epitome of Scandinavian literature with a feministic point of view. In fact, if we look at Ibsen’s other works, like a Doll’s House we see things from a woman’s perspective, in other words we only get one side of the story. This is typical of Norwegian literature.
The current work attempts to remedy this, or better put give insight into the possible feelings of a man, with all the positive and negative aspects. In Wild Duck, Hjalmar Ekdal plays the role of a dull and rather repugnant character, who can only think of selfish goals and comfort. According to society he is more or less a male chauvinist, a bad guy for rebelling against and being bothered by things that should simply be accepted or not questioned at all.
Wild Duck revisited looks at the situation from a modern point of view taking into account of the emancipation of women that had taken place over the past hundred years. The main characters are the same, the storyline loosely follows the classic, but deviates more and more as it advances. Hjalmar is the main character, we see things from his perspective, the singular third person is reserved for him. The book is divided into five parts, the structure and style develops from classical continuous to intermittent modern. The wild duck symbol is present, but some others are included as well, most notably the lion that eats grass and the Viking legend. Conversations and events not from the classical masterpiece have been adopted from real life cases.
Wild duck revisited criticises modern western society and lifestyle for being unable to fulfil the most rudimental of all human needs, the need for love. It also tries to determine how much someone’s identity can be twisted, the limits that nature (genes etc.) impose on the individual.

John Fajo, 2003

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Fajo
• Release date: Jan 12, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465809803

John Fajo

The author has written since the age of 8, has received formal education in biochemistry (MD), mathematics (PhD) and law (MD). His main interest in writing is connected to character development, emotions, thinking processes and social conflicts from a somewhat biased point of view, many times contrary to the established line of thinking.'Software Evolution' can be said to be the first and to this day the major work of the author, written at the age of 21, that he deemed to be presentable to the public. The book attempts to introduce several parallel story lines, and some important emotional and philosophical aspects of scientific research. The work is the third and final version of a project that was to be science fiction in the beginning but the sci-fi aspects completely disappeared in the end; what it evolved to could be termed drama instead. 'Software Evolution' was not only influenced by the author’s study subjects at the time of writing (natural sciences) but by the places and various social systems he had experienced in his childhood (80’s-early 90’s), socialism (Budapest), capitalism (New York) and protestant Puritanism (Bergen).The book 'Wild Duck revisited' was greatly inspired by the second part of a ten-year stay in Bergen (Norway) that included high school and some university classes, and a short time spent at Fantoft Studentby (a student hostel, the ugliest building complex in named city), where all kinds of nationalities could be met. Many passages of the book are conversations that actually took place there; in such a way, the work shows some thoughts on the Scandinavian lifestyle from an outsider’s viewpoint.The author had moved to the south since then.In recent years, the author has been co leader of a contemporary modern art gallery profiling the interconnection of art, science and technology. He is currently secretary of an art academy.John Fajo is the author’s penname, after his grandfather, anglicized. Profile picture taken around 2002.

Book preview

Wild Duck revisited

by John Fajo

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2002, 2012

Proofreading and short description: Christine Kecskemeti (2011, 2012)

Cover design and editing: Csaba Mengyan (2011, 2012)

For correspondence write to [e-mail]

An antithesis to Henrik Ibsen’s Wild Duck

License Notes

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. Although this is a free book, it remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage others to download their own copy.

Chapter 1: First Act

He took a last good look at himself in the glass facade of the new headquarters building before going in; his tie and suit seemed fine. He had to be neat, after all, company chief, Werle, didn’t hold dinner parties too often, especially one in which he was invited. The building, he now entered, was prestigious in appearance representing power and might. Its construction was just recently finished, and it consisted of the most novel materials. With 20 stories shooting to the sky, outside elevators, and an overall post-post-post-modernist architecture, it looked down on the city from a hilltop. Development and improvement, was the slogan of chief Werle, and it showed in every aspect of the company.

He entered the building and went to the reception desk. I have come for the dinner party, he told the receptionist, a young woman he had never seen before.

May I have your invitation card? she asked. He was baffled, because he had no invitation card, and blushed.

I work for the company, he said. The woman looked at him demandingly, and a grimace appeared on her face as if saying I have never seen you here before. I mean, I usually prepare the presentation material, you know... the leaflets and brochures, and the computer imaging of course, he said. Gregers Werle has invited me. I didn’t know an invitation card was needed; he told me nothing.

Just a moment, the receptionist said, and after a short conversation on the phone, instructed him: take the elevator to the 14th floor, and on your right, you’ll find the conference hall.

He thanked the woman reluctantly, and went to the elevator. Somehow he found his suit awkward to wear, it wasn’t tight or loose; he simply wasn’t used to wearing suits. He looked back over his shoulder to the receptionist, who sat there morosely. Despite her demeanor, he thought her pretty with a nice face and body. Women in the north were the most beautiful, he pondered as he stepped into the elevator. He used the short ascent to take a look at the city outside, sparkling in the night. Everything looked different from here; as if it was a different world. He tried to find his workshop, but he couldn’t locate it, it was in the eastern side of the city, on the outskirts.

When he got out of the elevator he almost stumbled into his schoolmate and old friend, Gregers, whom he hadn’t seen in ages. At first they looked at each other, then a joyful expression emerged on their faces, and they embraced each other with the fierceness of youth as if trying to continue where they had left off.

It must be 15 years, Gregers exclaimed excitedly.

Actually almost 16, he said with joy filling his heart. Damn, I sure missed you, they mutually agreed on that.

Come, Hjalmar, Gregers told him, we have time to talk before the dinner party commences, my father is tied up with some overseas investors, so he will be late as usual. There is a bar around the corner.

They went to a lounge area.

What would you like to drink? Gregers asked him, but for a moment he couldn’t respond, because he was amazed at the richness of choice and because he usually didn’t drink. "You will like this 50-year-old, excellent Tokay. We weren’t even in the making when the grapes were harvested for this one. He nodded. He knew Gregers had good and sophisticated taste. Old chap, you sure live well," Gregers said pointing to his paunch.

He smiled and waved his hands. I can’t complain. I put on some weight, he blushed vaguely, I’m a family man now, you know.

No kidding, Gregers showed sincere surprise. I didn’t know. Why didn’t we keep in touch?

Gregers asked himself, but he thought he had to answer. Even your father couldn’t keep track of the places you went to. How many times did you go around the world?

Can’t remember.

They laughed.

You must have met a lot of people.

I sure have. Went to a lot of parties, saw good and evil... But you know what? Seeing you now again makes me feel at home. All these years I have been running, and although I met a lot of people I have always felt lonely. Sure wish you could have come.

16 years on the run is not something for me. You know that I don’t even like to travel that much. It’s tiring, isn’t it?

Gregers hummed.

What were you running from?

From everything. But mostly from myself. They laughed, but this wasn’t a hearty laugh, rather a contemptuous, self-loathing one. My mother died, your dad got into that trouble. I just had to get away.

Those were hard times for me as well. He drank his wine in one gulp. Father went to jail; I suffered a nervous breakdown... I would have really needed a friend. He looked at Gregers, his eyes showed deep sorrow. He usually tried to hide his emotions, but felt untethered from his inhibitions now. His best friend, the party animal was back.

I am terribly sorry, Gregers said and patted him on the shoulder. I couldn’t stay. Gregers poured him another glass of wine. Somehow I felt responsible for your woes, because of my father, that is. After all, they were partners, before...

Before my father was sentenced and yours acquitted, he said with a slight sharpness in his voice. I couldn’t understand what happened. Dad never talks about it. I just simply cannot imagine that he could cheat those pensioners out of their savings. It makes no sense.

Gregers hummed distressed. He glimpsed at him, looking up from his glass. He realised that he had to change the topic. What about the babes?

The babes? What babes? Gregers pretended to have no knowledge of any babes whatsoever, but he remembered him being called the Oksen, the ugly furry northern grazing mammal, known to have very small brains. Oh, I get it. I changed a lot. I was alone, and this gave me time to think. I’m not the insane animal I used to be. I think when I acted irrationally back then, it was always because I was running from something.

Are you running now?

No, not any more. That’s why I came back. To face my destiny. A man has got to do what a man has got to do.

He wasn’t certain what Gregers could have meant about facing his destiny. Perhaps taking over the company soon?

So, I hear you will be vice president, he said enviously, though he attempted not to sound so. Gregers noticed the tone and tried to downplay the importance of the vice presidency.

It’s not a big deal. My father’s gonna run the business in the future as well. But you know, he’s getting into politics. Gregers went silent for a second. So, you are married?

Yes, I am, he said proudly, got a 15-year-old daughter as well. He rummaged in his pocket, then handed over a picture of his daughter to Gregers. She’s pretty, isn’t she?

Gregers looked at the picture, and nodded. What about your wife?

You know her. It’s Gina.

Gina who?

She was your father’s secretary for a short time.

Gregers twisted his lips in an attempt to remember, and then said: Yes, I know.

Somehow he didn’t like the way Gregers said this. He felt some untold secret lay behind these words. Things he had suspected for some time, but never dared to think thoroughly through. He would have pondered on this,