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the wild duck

In the Wild Duck, Henrik Ibsen begins his play by emphasizing the

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.

Approximate Word count = 1484
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

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