The three plays in this volume all deal with the moral courage needed to tell the truth. They are peopled by complex individuals pitted against, or part, of a society that Ibsen felt was morally abhorrent.

The only play in which Ibsen denies the validity of revolt, The Wild Duck suggest that under certain conditions, domestic falsehoods are entirely necessary to survival. In its open form, its harshly satirical tone, and its unresolved conclusion, the play contains the strongest criticism Ibsen ever directed against himself. Robert Brustein's new adaptation makes The Wild Duck beautifully playable for today's audiences.