The Wild Duck, Journal Two

The perception Gregers has of Hjalmer is extremely unique. Gregers believes Hjalmer is an innocent and loyal man. This is shown when Gregers refers to Hjalmer as being his "best and only friend" (122). This illustrates how Gregers perceives Hjalmer as a man who has essentially never done anything wrong. This creates complexity within the play because Gregers believes that Gina is an adulteress and the wrong doings are her fault. Although, Gregers does not know that Hjalmer does not do any work and that it is Gina who keeps Hjalmer's life together. But still, Gregers believes Gina is putting on a facade in order to protect herself and Hjalmer is the victim, so Gregers feels the need to plunge Hjalmer out of the swamp of lies and reveal the truth. This is shown in the quote, "And there he sits right now, he with his great, guileless, childlike mind plunged in deception-living under the same roof with that creature, not knowing that what he calls his home is built on a lie" (135). Gregers refers to Gina as being a "creature", which is insulting because he is dehumanizing her. It is obvious that Gregers perceives Gina as a monster. 

Another interesting relationship in the play is between Gregers and his father Werle. Right off the bat, we see tension between the father and son. Gregers, who loves Hjalmer, is angered with this father for having sexual relations with Gina. Gregers perceives his father as a traitor because it happened right after the death of Gregers' mother. Gregers also perceives Werle as the bad guy and believes he has created a facade of being a moral man. Many people look up to Werle for his economic status and Gregers believes this is all a facade to cover up his faults and past hiccups.