Wild Duck #4

I've noticed a few comparisons Wild Duck has with Oedipus. Besides the obvious motifs of blindness,i noticed that both novels include the revealing of some deep, dark family secret. For example in Oedipus, Oeidpus' real birth parents and the situation with Jacosta as his wife come out in the open. Jacosta is not only his wife, but also his mother, and the man he murdered so many years ago was in all actuality his father. In addition, the people he always thought were his real parents were merely his adoptive parents. In Wild Duck, Hjalmar discovers the truth about his wife's relations prior to their marriage. He finds out Gina had a romantic relationship with Werle, the father of his best friend. Later, he discovers through his daughter's blindness that the thing most important to him may not be his. Hedvig might be the daughter of Gina and Werle through their affair. It's all really complicated and confusing.

Another comparison I noticed was the death and suicide tidbit. Both Jacosta and Hedvig, the dearest people to the heroes in both tragedies, end up committing suicide. Why is this significant? Because they are the dearest people to the heroes in the tragedies! The point of a tragedy is for the hero to fall from power and grace. By losing what is most important, the hero loses power of will and life. Jacosta's suicide is the final straw for Oedipus and he immediately gouges his eyes out. Hedvig's suicide (though potentially accidental, but probably purposeful) is obviously the last straw for Hjlamar's pride.