Subjects:
value of color and light. He uses the theme of light to contrast Old
Werle, a stingy rich man, with Old Ekdal, a poor helpless man. Ibsen
connects the color green with the loss of eyesight of Old Werle. A
possible affair between Old Werle and Gina, Hedvig's mother, may
suggest the cause of Hedvig's loss of sight. By using sun and moon,
Ibsen establishes the atmosphere of the scene. The story line
deteriorates from peaceful to tragic. Similarly, does the setting in
the last four acts. In the Wild Duck, Henrik Ibsen employs the image
of light to portray certain characteristics in order to construct the
plot and to adjust the mood of the scene.
F.L. Lucas analyzes the opening arrangement and writes "In the
outer room the lamps are dimmed, with green shades, in contrast to the
brilliance of the room behind"(190). We understand that this meant
that the outer room, lit with soft and shaded light, implies poverty,
where as the inner room, illuminated with bright candles, expresses
wealth. The darkened room, insinuating poverty, is the office in which
the poor Old Ekdal 'does some extra copying,' and in return receives a
. . .
" 'The daylight falls through the large windows in the slanting
roof. One
implication of the color green, is the affair between Old Werle and
Gina, through eye trouble. This contrasts the previous scene from the
present scene, by means of setting and contents. ' "Further, green is the color of romantic
unreality-the world of the Wild Duck caught in the seaweed below the
waters of the fjord"(190), adds Lucas. The distinctions of these
two lit rooms contrast Old Ekdal and Old Werle. The fact that this day was Hedvig's
birthday may suggest that she was the perfect person, living an exact
number of years. This lighting
early in the Wild Duck hints that '[Old Werle] is going blind' which
relates him to Hedvig, where 'there is every probability that she will
lose her eyesight. "[Old Werle] escaped by the skin of his
teeth," while they sentenced Old Ekdal to prison. These examples of 'cold reality' also show
Ibsens consistency of parallel scenery and content. Gregers takes the approach of truth
to improve the marriage, which is another major theme of the Wild
duck. Gina admitted her affair with Old Werle and explained
that '[Old Werle] didn't give up till he had his way.
Essay's Topics
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