Act I

Act I opens in Hakon Werle's home. In honor of his son's return after a long absence, he is hosting a dinner party. Gregers Werle has invited his old school friend, Hjalmar Ekdal. The men have not seen each other for more than 15 years, and Gregers learns that in the interim, Hjalmar has married Gina, a former housemaid of the Werles; been set up in a photography studio by Hakon; and had a child, Hedvig. The conversation also reveals Hjalmar's father's past: a business partner of Hakon's, Old Ekdal had been found guilty of illegal tree felling and sentenced to prison. This disgrace ruined the life that he had known, as well as his son's, who had to drop out of college. Now, Hakon generously compensates Old Ekdal for copying work. Gregers notes that his father was "a kind of Providence for you, "to which Hjalmar...