The Wild Duck Journal #2

Ibsen uses the motif of decay, disease, and illness to show that people may not be sick with a real illness, but actually be sick because they aren't fully aware of the lies that are being woven around them. Gregers hints throughout the beginning of the book that Hjalmar is blind to some of these things that are occurring. "You've got an insidious disease in your system"(Ibsen170) With this Gregers is suggesting that Hjalmar is blind to the lies. Gregers is also always asking Hjalmar why he thinks Werle was being so nice to him. "Tell me - when you became engaged - was it them my father got you to - I mean."(Ibsen125). This is when is always hinting about the big secret of the story and plants the seed that later grows into the truth coming out. Hjalmar is always blind to the fact that Gregers is trying ti destroy his life he refers to him as a friend. "That's why he needs a friend's watchful eye." (Ibsen177).  This even has the reference of the eye and that Hjalmar's eyes might not be as clear as he thinks.