Tragedy Journal #3

 I feel that there are a hand full of characters at fault for Hedvig's death, those being, Gina, Greggers, Hjalmar, and ultimately Hedvig. Gina is to blame because she is the one that brought Hedvig into this world. She is the one that, fueled the facade, at any point in time Gina could have told Hjalmar that she was already pregnant before they met, but she hadn't. I understand that in that time it is unheard of for a woman to have an illegitimate child, and be honest about it, but had she have been honest none of this would have happened, in fact her and Hjalmar may not have even married. I feel that Greggers takes a lot of responsibility as well because he is the character who metaphorically speaking, opens a pandora's box when he comes into town. Had Greggers have not intervened it is possible that the Ekdals could have continued their lives happily without any acknowledgement of the truth. Greggers also tells Hedvig how to kill the wild duck, which is how she actually kills herself, but he also calls her the wild duck so he is confusing her in her vulnerable state. Hjalmar is the next character to take responsibility for Hedvig's death because of his reaction. Hedvig is only thirteen years old and she is unable to fully grasp what is going on. Because of Hjalmars reaction Hedvig thought he hated her. However, I do feel that it is unfair to blame Hjalmar all that harshly for his reaction because I feel that if a person found of what he did, they have every right to explode. Lastly is Hedvig because she was the one who killed herself, I feel that she shouldn't have but she didn't know what else to do because she felt that her father hated her. In the end Greggers feels responsible I think because he thought she killed the wild duck, and when he sees she shot herself he doesn't understand it, so I don't think he foresaw she would do that, however he never blatantly admits his guilt or that he feels responsible.