The Wild Duck Journal #3

I don't think that the question 'who is at fault?' for Hedvig's death is 100% valid. Gregers definitely didn't expose the truth so that a child would die. The biggest problem with this whole ordeal is that no one considered the most important puzzle piece in this mystery- being Hedvig herself. None of the characters explain to her about her past nor would it (most likely) be told in the right way. I would say though that Gregers should be mindful of his actions though. Essentially, if he had minded his own business, maybe Hedvig would actually be alive. I could see the truth unfolding correctly only in 2 scenarios in terms of what was best for Hedvig. Either Gina and Werle should have been honest from day one or it should have just been a secret. I think that it is the fault of all of the charcters who knew though to keep quite and mind their own business. The only character who I could realistically see being without fault would be Old Ekdal, considering that he is somewhat delusional and can't always tell what's going on in his surroundings. I think that the biggest person to blame would be Relling in the end- because he sees what Gregers is trying to do and does nothing to stop him from meddling into another's affairs. Also, I'd partially blame Hjalmar and the way he treated Hedvig when he came into the house again, because I think that was the final straw for her and not feeling loved. Overall, none of the characters truly take any responsibility because they don't stop Gregers from exposing the truth and Hjalmar is very much at fault for his rude interactions with Hedvig in the moments before she killed herself.