Hjalmar Ekdal is a fictional character from the play "The Wild Duck," written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. He is portrayed as a well-meaning but weak man who struggles with his self-image and the expectations of those around him. Hjalmar is the son of Old Ekdal, a former military officer, and he works as a photographer, often feeling overshadowed by his more successful peers. Throughout the play, Hjalmar's life is complicated by his relationships with his family, particularly his wife Gina and his daughter Hedvig. His character embodies themes of illusion and reality, as he grapples with the truth about his life and the impact of deception on his family dynamics.