The Wild Duck Journal #4

"What if you, in a sacraficing spirit, gave up the dearest thing you own and know in the whole world?"
Gregers speaks with Hedvig when she is distraught about the possibility of her father not returning. And he asks her to get rid of the wild duck, which is the "dearest thing [she] own[s] and love[s]" for her father. I found this interesting since of all the characters in the play, Hedvig is the only child and so innocence is associated with her.Since almost everything that is unfolding, all the lies and deception, it all took place before she was even born. So she is actually the only one in the whole story who is truly innocent and free from fault. Yet she is the one who must "sacrafice". It seems to suggest that often times when people make mistakes, the innocent are the ones who end up being hurt.

Hjalmer's position is interesting because he tries to be the character without fault. He seems to legitimately consider himself the victim in the entire scenario. He's completely melodramatic even though he has hardly any hard evidence. And even though Werle has been helping him, now all of a sudden he has lost his "honor".  "That's a good name for it, "debt of honor"! But never mind. I shall repay every penny of it, with five percent interest." (190). Hjlamer has no money. He never even works at his own business. He calls himself the "breadwinner" when in reality, he sits around and does nothing. He has no means to pay off any money. Hjalmer speaks as though he's been completely duped and victimized but now he will work even harder to get his "honor" back. When really he's lazy and naive and working "tirelessly on his invention" is most likely not going to get him the money to pay back Werle. Gregers simply fuels his fire by telling him "You're the man I always thought you were". They are both delusional and have irrational conceptions of reality. Hjalmer is not a complete victim in this ordeal. And he tries to take the situation and twist it so that he comes out the hero. It's interesting how their perceptions can be so tainted.