Meeting: December 11, 2025
We have two books for December: Shyness and Dignity by Dag Solstad and The Wild Duck by Henrik Ibsen (optional). With Shyness and Dignity, Dag Solstad – praised in Norway as one of the most innovative novelists of his generation – offers an intricate and richly drawn portrait of a man who feels irrevocably alienated from contemporary culture, politics, and, ultimately, humanity. In Shyness and Dignity, the character Elias Rukla begins yet another day under the leaden Oslo sky. At the high school where he teaches, a novel insight into Ibsen’s The Wild Duck grips him with a passion so intense that he barely notices the disinterest of his students. After the lesson, when a broken umbrella provokes an unpredictable rage, he barely notices the students’ intense curiosity. He soon realizes, however, that this day will be the decisive day of his life.
The Wild Duck by by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in 1884, delves into themes of self-deception, personal integrity, and the complexities of familial relationships. The narrative centers around Gregers Werle, the son of a wealthy industrialist, who grapples with the unethical practices of his father. Upon returning home after his mother’s death, Gregers invites his old friend Hjalmar Ekdal to a family dinner, setting off a chain of events that confronts both Hjalmar’s life choices and the hidden truths of his family. The Ekdal household, although struggling and steeped in illusions, maintains a facade of happiness, largely upheld by Gina, Hjalmar’s wife. The inclusion of a wild duck, wounded and retrieved by Gregers’s father’s dog, serves as a poignant symbol of the characters’ entrapment in their own delusions. As Gregers attempts to unveil uncomfortable truths, including the potential illegitimacy of Hjalmar’s daughter, Hedvig, he inadvertently leads to tragic consequences. The play engages with the moral dilemmas faced by individuals and raises questions about the nature of truth and the cost of revealing it. Ibsen’s work remains a compelling exploration of the human condition, inviting audiences to reflect on their own perceptions of reality and the sacrifices made for love and family.