Wild Duck Journal #1

• Option 2: Examine how characters perceive themselves or others.  Who has false conceptions of him/herself?  Who has misconceptions of others?  Who recognizes the facades created by other characters?  Does the character embrace the facade, ignore it, or confront it?

In the Wild Duck, characters perceive each other quite differently then they do themselves. At the start of Chapter 2, Hedvig and Gina are conversing. Hedvig brings up her Dad, Hjamler, numerous times, awing at how he is at a dinner party. "Isn't it something to think that Daddy's at a big dinner party at old Mr. Werle's?" (138). She is very excited when he returns as well. "At last you're home, Daddy!" (140). Hedvig's perception of Hjalmer is imaginative and full of illusions that even Hjalmer wants to believe. As his wife and daughter ask him about his dinner party, he weaves in lies about what really happened. "'So you served that up to them, eh?' Hjalmer. 'Smack between the eyes they got it'" (142). Hjalmer depends on his illusions for his life goal to make the Ekdals something to be proud of. Another interesting part of the text was the disagreement of whether or not Hjalmer's hair is curly or wavy. Although this does not seem to be important, it can be added to Hedvig's view of Hjalmer. Curly hair is natural and wild, amounting to a facade  of innocence. 

At times, Hjalmer does show signs of knowing that he is not as great as he appears to his daughter. He uses the method of self pity and ignorance though. "What incredible things a family breadwinner is asked to remember; and if he forgets even the tiniest detail" (144). And when Hedvig calls him 'dearest', he replies, "No, don't call me that. There I sat, helping myself at a rich man's table, gorging myself with all good things" (145). Hjalmer is obsessed with money, success, and his image. Having those things are what keeps him living. This is why when he learns Hedvig may not be his real daughter, he goes mad conceiving that Hedvig's admiration for him was all a disguise. 


Hedvig's happiness and innocence is also a lie. Hjalmer shields her from the truth; her eyes will fail her in the future. "She suspects nothing. She's carefree, gay, and singing like a tiny bird" (148). It is ironic, Hjalmer reacts so viciously when the truth was revealed to him but he has no problem keeping Hedvig's reality to himself. He says 'he doesn't have the heart to tell her'. Gina definitely took this approach as well when the to got married.