The Wild Duck Journal 3

Within the first morning of Gregers living in the Ekdal house he had already made a mess of his room that Gina had to deal with. "I got the janitor's wife to come and scrub up after him, the pig; but it'll be fit to live in till afternoon" (157). This quote is interesting because it Gina's view of Gregers is seen. She often times has a negative view of him. It seems that Gina knew he would be trouble and he has already made a mess of something. She continues to hint at the idea that she does not like Gregers being in the house. Another thing that was curious was the fact that she had the janitor's wife deal with the mess. even though she is just the wife is she often require to do custodial work?The fact that someone else can do the work for Gina suggest that they have enough wealth to have some sort of service work.


As Hedvig is helping Hjalmar finish working on some photographs Gregers asks her about how the wild duck is and how the loft is in different lighting. "Yes it can change completely. In the morning it looks different from in the afternoon; and when it rains it's different from when it's clear"(162). This description given by Hedvig of the morning shows interesting things about her character and Ibsen's writing. Gregers points out the difference between the day and the night while says that even the different parts of the day change things. Ibsen uses many of the lines to have secret ideas hidden in them especially Gregers. Hedvig is young and is talking about time while Gregers might find a whole other meaning of the conversation. Hedvig takes great notice of the details like the difference in the light of the loft and when she works on the photographers. The idea of her attention to detail is curious because she does not see the hints of Gregers assumptions about her. This makes me curious if the detail of who is her father determines her feelings for Hjalmar and Werle.