The Wild Duck- Journal #3

Literary Topics
Prompt: Stylistic Techniques (imagery, figurative language, sensory detail, symbolism).

The biggest and most obvious symbol found in The Wild Duck, is the wild duck herself. The symbolism of the duck covers more than one idea, but the one that is more interesting personally is the idea of separation created by the duck. All of the characters are amazed by her, yet she is the only one of her kind and out of her natural habitat. Ibsen talks excessively of social classes, and the wild duck is symbolized has the top of her class, the biggest and the best. "The wild duck rules supreme" (Ibsen, 164). It is very clear who the duck represents in real life- the upper class. People like the Werle's or any one in attendance at the party in Act One. After it is established that the duck is superior, the loneliness of the bird is displayed. "And then it's so sad for her; the poor thing has no one to turn to" (Ibsen, 164). The bird is away from her habitat and her fellow wild ducks, because of that, the bird must feel alone and out of place. This shows what Ibsen is trying to portray about the upper class- that once you make it to the top, you are alone. The individual that is the best is always admired, but only admired. No person can be their equal sense they are the best. It also shows what happens to people who are removed from their accepted place in the world. If somebody is taken away from all they ever knew, that person will have a lonely existence indeed. They will only survive if they are able to adapt, just like how the wild duck adapted.