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.