Journal #3

I think the blame for the events happening can't be put on a single character. Many of the main characters of the play each carry some of the blame, even Hedvig who is the victim of all this chaos. I think the whole conflict can be traced back to Gina. If Gina had confronted Hjalmar about her past and made sure everything was clear about who the father of Hedvig was, this conflict would either not have started or would have taken place in a softer manner with the absence of Hedvig. Looking back even further, if Gina had not had any relationship with Werle, none of this would happen. After all, the only reason Gina got married to Hjalmar was to cover up the scandal between Gina and Werle. Gregers can also take some of the blame as well. It isn't until he enters town that things in the Ekdal family start to shake. It is easiest to see when you picture the story without Gregers. Eventually, the truth may find its way out, but Gregers heavily sped up the process. The deep lies from the past were brought up, causing Hjalmar to feel betrayed and to leave the family. If Gregers never entered the story, things may have continued to look fine on the outside, and the lies from the past would stay hidden. Hjalmar's reaction to all this revelation may have also contributed to the death of Hedvig. Hedvig takes Hjalmar's reactions very seriously, devastated at the thought that her "father" no longer loves her. I think that although Hjalmar has some blame, it is less than what Gina or Gregers has. I think Hedvig has the least amount of guilt. She really did not do anything and had no control of being brought into the world in a complicated situation. However, her action of killing herself is the ultimate action of the conflict. Looking beyond the connection of Hedvig being the Wild Duck, it is confusing as to why she killed herself.

Journal #2

I think Ibsen uses the motif of decay, disease, and illness to show the deterioration of the temporary safety or cover a lie creates. Lying can get you out of a sticky situation, but Ibsen shows that this safety or cover inevitably deteriorates as time goes on. The lie in this case is Gina's lie about her past and Hedvig. In many cases, there is a disease or illness within characters. For example, when Hjalmar is talking to Gregers about Hedvig, he mentions that "there's the gravest imminent danger of her losing her sight" (147). With the fact that Werle also having fading eyesight already established, this new information chips away at the "wall of safety" and partially reveals a possible hereditary connection between Hedvig and Werle. When this connection is revealed in the end, the cover that Gina's lie created is gone and the truth is out. The motif shows that the temporary safety a lie creates can also decay in a way eyesight does in the play. Another instance of decay or illness is seen when Relling claims that Gregers is "suffering from an acute case of moralistic fever" (178). Because Gregers plays a major role in the truth being revealed, his "fever" helps reveal the truth that Gina has kept hidden. I think Relling is trying to explain that Gregers may be trying to be morally just by bringing the Ekdal family up from the scandal from the past, but instead the fever has caused the opposite. The family starts to fall apart. When Werle says that Gregers looks at him with "his mothers eyes- which were clouded at times" (135) it is almost as if Gregers' eyes have an illness as well. These clouded eyes always look at Werle in a negative light, which contributes to the revealing of the truth as well. If Werle was looked at in a positive light, there would not be much suspicion. By placing Werle in a negative light, the readers are able to see that there could be some conflict involved with Werle. The lie that involves Gina also involves Werle as well, so this also helps tear down the lie. Overall, this motif of decay, disease, and illness is used to show the deterioration of the temporary cover a lie creates.

Journal #1

Ibsen creates many physical boundaries within the characters. I think this is most clearly seen through the motif of decay or dying away. Both Hedvig and Werle have the physical boundary of fading eyesight. This adds to the motif of decay but also shows the boundary Ibsen creates. By giving them both the same boundary, it is interesting to look at how the other characters respond or react to the same physical boundary. While not much is mentioned about Werle and his eyesight, Hedvig receives much sympathy and care from her parents and even Gregers appears to be interested. Old age can also be seen as a physical boundary. This also adds to the motif of decay and dying away as seen by Ekdal and his diminishing life. Another physical boundary is created through the motif of alcohol. With the consumption of alcohol, a physical and mental boundary is created. From Ekdal to the less important character of Molvik, alcohol is present in many scenes. Alcohol creates a dazed state of mind and alters physical coordination, but I don't see much criticism of the use of alcohol. It is so common that in the eyes of the characters, it probably wouldn't be seen as a boundary.

Journal #3

A different motif seen in the last third of the book. The motif that I previously wrote about is almost gone now. However, the clearness is back. I found the narration less confusing than the second third, but glass isn't mentioned or seen as much. Glass does play an important role at the end with the Bell Jar though. One motif I noticed was laughter. I don't remember seeing anything about laughter until the last third of the book. It can first be seen with I-330 laughing at D-503. While talking, I-330 "burst out laughing, loudly - too loudly. Quickly, in a second, she laughed herself up to some sort of edge - and stepped back, stepped down" (162). I feel like this laughter completely kills the mood. It is very unexpected and almost strange. I think this instance shows the relationship between the two. D-503 has strong feelings for I-330, but I-330 seems to simply use him for the resistance, able to laugh at his thoughts. Another instance of laughter is seen during U's encounter with D after he develops a deep hatred for U for exposing the contents of his journals. In a very intense moment where D has a clear intention of murdering U, laughter kills the mood once again when U misinterprets D's actions. D describes the situation as "so unexpected, so stupid, that I burst into laughter" (184). The last laughter I saw was during D's talk with S. D reveals all that he knows about the resistance only to find out S is a part of the group. All these laughter moments happen during a scene that is quite intense. It really does change the mood of the scene.

Much of the setting is reflected through the weather. It seems the weather is not as sunny or clear as it was in the previous two thirds of the book. I remember reading about the clear blue sky early in the book and how the people really like the spotless, clear sky. Now, images of the wind and cloud are repeatedly seen. I think this is used to show the change that the One State is going through. Before with the clear sky, everything was in order and control was still maintained. The government even had control over the weather. Now, turmoil is slowly accompanying the wind and clouds. It seems D-503 is no longer the only one with an imagination. People are refusing to receive the Operation and the Green Wall has been torn down. All this chaos came along with the change in weather. Nature is now a part of the One State with birds inhibiting the One State. The setting itself does not change much. Much takes place in the One State with a few instances at the Ancient House or outer space when the Integral is launched.

The language, as seen in the second third, does not use much mathematical words anymore. I do see a greater increase in the use of figurative language though. When describing I-330's laughter, he says "she laughed with sparks and joyful flame-tongues in her eyes" (145). This use of figurative language shows the change that D-503 has gone through. Not everything is straight forward like it was with math. With figurative language, there is more room for interpretation, using imagination and creativity in thinking. However, the use of math words is not completely absent. It still appears occasionally, possibly showing the rational, math side of D-503 that will never be absent. He describes his neighbor as having "an enormous yellow parabola for a forehead. Wrinkles on the forehead: a row of yellow illegible lines" (183). He uses math terms to describe his old neighbor. Maybe he only uses this old concept of math words to describe old people and things. At the very end though, after D-503 has received the operation, he concludes by saying "More than that: I know we will win. Because reason should win" (203). It seems the Operation has caused him to finish the full 360 degree turn in his thinking. I think it would be safe to predict that his language will gradually return to math and science terms.

Journal #2

The motif of glass and clearness that I previously wrote about is not as apparent in the second third of the book. In fact, there seems to be a shift in clearness to confusion. Glass is not talked about as much as it was in the first third of the book. Everything is not as clear as it used to be now that D-503 has developed a "soul" and a love for I-330. For example, before D-503 enters the corridors for the second time, he was unsure if he actually did enter them or if he was imagining them. During that experience, he was "scratched by a rough wall [...] There was blood on my finger and it was clear that all this was not a game of my sick imagination" (86). He seems to be sure that it actually happened, but later he writes "the Second Builder assured me that he himself had seen me accidentally touch the polishing wheel with these fingers-and that was the whole reason for it" (88). There are two conflicting ideas as to how his fingers were scratched, adding on to the confusion of the experience. Along with that idea, he thought he was dead for a short time before waking up in the darkness. There is little certainty in what is going on. This all adds to the motif of confusion that is presented, replacing the clearness that was previously keeping D-503 together and properly functioning.

A key setting in the second third of the book is the Ancient House. In the first third, all we knew about this "museum" was that it displayed the savage, primitive life of the Ancients. Through the Ancient House, we learn more about the society and the other societies outside the Green Wall. This Ancient House shows some fallacies and holes in the One State. Some of the civilians are secretly working to bring down the Green Wall. The Guardians that are said to be closely watching the people have not caught these people, showing the imperfect system. Also, during the scene when D-503 is with I-330 in the meeting place, we see an outside society. At first, D-503 is confused as to who they are but comes to the conclusion that "by the looks of them, they were people" (136). These people do not have clothes but are covered with fur. D-503 is in a completely new world and even has trouble walking on the ground that is "not level under my feet" (136). This shows how closed of a society the One State is. The civilians like D-503 are completely unaware of the outside world besides the idea that they are superior to the outside driven into them through propaganda.

The use of mathematical expressions in the language that I previously wrote about seems to have changed as well. I still see it here and there, but it is not as common and apparent. I first noticed this when D-503 describes the two doctors in the Bureau of Medicine. He describes the first as "shortish, with cinder-block legs, and his eyes, like horns, tossed up the patients" (79) and the second as "skinny and sparkling with scissor-lips and a blade for a nose" (79). I asked myself why D-503 did not use some mathematical descriptions to describe the doctors like he normally would. In the first third of the book, mathematical expressions were constantly used to describe things. Now, it is becoming less apparent. I think this could show a change in D-503 or maybe the society itself. Things are not as clear and definite as I previously associated with the math language. D-503 is confused with his "soul" and imagination. Confusion is further added through D-503 constantly cutting off what he was talking about. Frequently he never finishes his thought. For example, he says "But why do I, why do I-" (94). This language manipulation also adds to the confusion seen in D-503 and society.

Journal #1

One motif I noticed was glass and the idea of clearness. Almost everything in the society is made of glass. The walls and furniture are made of glass, and even the city is enclosed in a glass dome. The society is set up this way so that the government and the police can monitor and supervise the civilians. They can look into homes and easily watch the actions of the people. This motif of glass and clearness puts a strong emphasis on the amount of control exerted by the government. It shows just how much the government is able to control the civilians and their actions. Knowing that they are being watched, the civilians are forced to act in favor of the government. However, the people are so accustomed to this glass that they like it and are not bothered by it. In fact, they seem to almost need it. In record seven, D-503 writes that "the glass of the walls was sparkling, the glass chair and table, too. All this was calming; my heart ceased to pound" (30). The glass is calming and this clearness appeals to D-503. It was also explained that the civilians "live in full view, [...] in among our transparent walls, [...] We have nothing to hide from one another" (19). This shows that the society has been conditioned far enough that its members would have nothing to hide and be afraid of. This makes the job of the secret police and Bureau of Guardians much easier.

The setting takes place in the future in a society called the One State. Many times, D-503 mentions the past and refers to it as ancient. Whenever D-503 mentions the past, a criticism of it usually follows. This portrays the idea that their society thinks that their time is better than the past. As the reader, I see that their society is actually quite horrible, which shows that the people are blinded and forced to think they live in a perfect society. I find it interesting that D-503 is aware that he is writing to the past. This doesn't quite logically make sense to me, but maybe it makes sense to D-503, adding on to the idea of their superiority over our time. The setting also takes place during the building of the Integral. The Integral is a spaceship that will go around to other societies to conquer them. The One State believes they have the right to do this because they see themselves as superior. The government is forcing people to create works of art, such as poetry, to show how great the One State is. These works will board the Integral when it takes off. This shows that the One State believes they are the most superior, and the civilians are forced to think that way as well.

The language has many mathematical expressions. I think this is done to show that the society likes clear, exact concepts. Math, in contrast to a subject like English, has little to no breathing room in its answers. This creates an absolute answer to the problems. This type of language would show that the society is ruled by single answers and beliefs. There is no room for them to think their own thoughts and have their own opinions. All that matters is what the One State wants you to believe. For example, D-503 describe the life in the One State as "the mathematically perfect life of the One State" (4). The life is perfect because it is mathematical, meaning it is definite, clear, and absolute. This kind of lifestyle appeals to the people greatly. In contrast, when something like the piano, an instrument of the past, is shown, it is described as "wild, disorgranized, crazy multicolor of tones and shapes" (25). It is not ordered and even, which means it is unacceptable. Through the mathematical language used, it shows the One State likes definite, clear control and concepts.