Personal convictions and shared beliefs.
Both Oedipus the King and The Wild Duck touch on the private and the public life. Both the private and the public life are different things, hence the different descriptions, and this is why they are at odds in the modern world. The private is just that, to remain private, and only a few select people know, not for everyone to see on Facebook, or in The Wild Duck and Oedipus the King times, to be told to everyone in the area that knows the person. Some things are meant to be public though. Such as Oedipus’ helping the city of Thebes while it is in turmoil. This is seen as a heroic act, as Oedipus is helping a city plagued with disease and crime. He couldn’t have come at a better time for the city, and is greatly needed. However the contrast between private and public is also seen. When Oedipus admits to the Chorus that he has birthed four children from his own mother. This is an area where the private life clearly should have stayed private. He has just ruined his children’s lives because now everyone will know what their father has done. People will say such things as “Oh, your that kid who’s dad impregnated his mother.”
Similar to this private life in Oedipus the King, there is also mention of things in The Wild Duck that should remain private. At this point in The Wild Duck, the private life is kept private, where Gregers is talking to his father Werle, “Gregers: I wasn’t. But---(Dropping his voice.) there were others in the house who were quite interested in her.
Wirle: What do you mean by that? (Storming at him.) You’re not referring to me!
Gregers: (quietly but firmly). Yes, I’m referring to you” (Ibsen 132)
Gregers lowers his voice, but still keeps the same tone about this affair. This is important as he is trying to keep this topic private, however I believe he is also using it to point out to his father Wirle, that he still remembers what went on. Tension is built up between Gregers and Wirle in this passage because of this topic that he built up. It could be possible foreshadowing for an explosion of conflict and chaos.
Both Oedipus the King and The Wild Duck touch on the private and public life. In Oedipus the King, Sophocles uses the conflict between the private and public life to further illuminate Oedipus’ flaws and the chaos that is occurring. In The Wild Duck, Ibsen uses the tension between Gregers and Wirle to bring to light this private life, and how much it could affect them both in later decisions.
What is Ibsen trying to say, if anything, when Gregers describes his father Wirle's eyes as "They've always been weak"(Ibsen 133).
Are the Bald-Headed Gest, The Fat Guest, The Nearsighted Guest supposed to symolize something? Are they significant/what role do they play?
Are they replacing the Chorus?
This idea of having both a private/public life is a very interesting. I had not picked up on how Ibsen and Sophocles include this. I would look at this a bit more and try to develop an overall theme. Good work bud!
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