Monday, January 2, 2012

The Wild Duck Journal #5

From what me and my group discussed about the Wild Duck and reading the articles about a tragedy, I didn't feel like The Wild Duck was a tragedy. It seems to have some of the elements of a tragedy but is also lacking in a few areas. Hedvig's death could definitely be called "undeserved suffering" and according to the article, that alone does not make it tragic. It's definitely sad, but I don't know if it's truly a "tragedy". It seems to lack a strong character that could compare to the likes of Hamlet, or Romeo, or Antigone. The closest thing I suppose is Gregers. Plus, as far as catharsis, or emotional cleansing, Gregers sort of realizes the way that he has hurt this family and that maybe his way of thinking and truth isn't right in all scenarios but then again he never comes out and says that. So I don't know if it's really "cleansing". And, it's not even his daughter that died. He ruined someone elses life.
It's interesting that it doesn't exactly seem to fit with the mold of "tragedy" since this play seems like it is more sad than Antigone because the person who dies is completely innocent and naiive and didn't even really understand the situation. She just died for no reason and no good or change really came out of it. Her parents marraige seems like it's worse and Gregers doesn't even really seem to understand any more than he did before. I feel that mostly it lacks a sense of relief and cleansing for the audience.

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