How is the symbol Wild duck fundamental to the play?
The play ‘Wild Duck’ written by Henrik Ibsen deals with two opposite concepts of ‘idealism ‘and ‘realism’.
The writer makes use of the Wild Duck as the central symbol in the play.
Innocent Hedvig like the wild duck is an indirect gift from Old Werle to the Ekdals. Just like the wild Duck who has forgotten the freedom of sky and woods and is happy at the cage, Hedvig is also happy at home and unable to realize the shallow love of Hialmar.
The Wild Duck symbolizes the entire Ekdal family. Just like Wild Duck who got drowned into the river and suffocated by the sea weeds, the Ekdals are also drowned in their lives of fantasy. Old Ekdal is still dreaming about his glorious youthful days. Hialmar is running after some useless invention. And poor Hedvig is unknown about her father’s shallow love.
Gregers Werle thinks that his mission is to rescue the Ekdals from drowning into the sea of self deception. But failing to achieve his mission and driving Hedvig to death, Gregers himself becomes the Wild Duck . Because just like the Wild Duck who when wounded dives into underwater weeds and drowns, Gregers also despite of realizing the hollowness of his ideals clings to the illusory “claim of the ideals.”