Wild Duck #2

Motifs play a significant role in the development of the characters in the Wild Duck. The motifs of death, sickness and illness are caused from lies that are created. Death is portrayed through the recurrence of the pistol. The purpose of the pistol and how Hedvig talks about a book she read about death once, all contribute to the foreshadowing of Hedvig killing herself. Also, Ibsen mentioned the motif of decay in regard to alcohol and how Hedvig's eyes get worse, or decay. Hjalmar talks about retouching photographs when he talks about Hedvig. He wants to shelter her, and re-shape her life. Hedvig has the mindset that staying at home is the best scenario where she can "help Daddy and Mother" (163). I noticed Relling, a doctor, talks of disease in the play. He says that Gregers has "got a disease in his system" (177). Relling states that Gregers has a "moralistic fever", as well. Relling sees through Gregers and finds him to be sick because he is such a man of truth. Later, when Hjalmar is ill, Relling prescribes to him the "standard one. I try to keep up the life-lie in him" (202). Relling does not like Gregers because he believes in the exact opposite viewpoint. Ibsen says through Relling that the truth is not necessary all the time, and it can be destructive because of the way he portrays how the Ekdal family is torn apart by the truth.