The Wild Duck, Journal 5

The Wild Duck pertains many traits that lead the audience to perceive the play as a tragedy, although I do not believe The Wild Duck is actually a true tragedy. In a tragedy, the character who dies has a fatal flaw and this fatal flaw is often the cause of their death. In the case of The Wild Duck, Hedvig does not have a fatal flaw. Her death is not her fault, but the fault of the misleading adults in her life. Hedvig's death also does not appeal to the audience in the same way as Antigone's or Macbeth's deaths. Deaths in tragedies are supposed to bring the audience a sensation of pleasure, but Hedvig's death is not pleasurable. It's heart-breaking. Just because a play contains death does not make it tragic. The suffering the character undergoes before their death is what's vital and Hedvig's suffering is profoundly different than Antigone's. Hedvig does not have an internal struggle like Hjalmer or Greggers. Hedvig is innocent and unaware and her only struggle is protecting her father's love for her. On the other hand, Greggers has an internal struggle in defending what he believes in. Also, if Greggers would have died, the audience would probably feel pleasure and experience catharsis.