The Wild Duck Lesson Plan

How has Håkon Werle become so successful and wealthy? What does this tell us about Norwegian society in the 19th century?

The answer to this question is: logging. At the beginning of the 19th century, Norway was still largely an "aristocracy of officials", and elite positions in society were largely held by lawyers, academics and priests, and later, civil servants. As the century progressed, however, more prestige and power became concentrated in the hands of the new middle middle class, particularly the industrialists who were able to make a profit from Norway's expanding timber and fishing industries.

What is the symbolism of Hjalmar being the thirteenth guest at...