Wild Duck #5

I am tracking rumors and how they affect the characters that they are told to and told about.

In Oedipus, I discovered that rumors and what people say is very important. The idea that Oedipus is not his father's son is very important and is one reason for his tragic fall. Oedipus hears a rumor that he is not his father's son and be becomes filled with anxiety; "Some man at a banquet who had drunk too much / shouted out - he was far gone, mind you - / that I am not my father's son. Fighting words!" (lines 858-860). This shows Oedipus' emotional attachment to this topic. Also, the affect of the drunk man's rumors causes Oedipus to fear its truthfulness, but it also helps set up the plot of the play. Another occurrence of when Oedipus is affected by rumors is when the messenger comes to Thebes to share information with Oedipus; "He's from Corinth, he's come to tell you / your father is no more - Polybus - he's dead!" (lines 1045-1046). The messenger's rumors affect Oedipus because it goes further to discuss his fate and the rumor also proves to be true. Oedipus is affected by these rumors because they are true and he fears the outcome of the action that makes them true.

In Wild Duck, I found that the rumors (and gossip) are important because they also created a tragic fall for Hedvig. However, especially in Wild Duck, it is seen that the elite, social, and "upper" class are the ones that primarily spread rumors. Werle tells Gregers that he will marry Mrs. Sorby and a glimpse into the society is seen by the reader; "I'm afraid she won't put up with it much longer/ And even if she did - even if, out of her feeling for me, she ignored the gossip and backbiting and so on" (Ibsen 134). This shows an insight into the gossip of the elite culture. Relationships are affected by rumors and the reactions people have towards them. Also, Werle causes a rumors to form a rift in the relationship between Hjalmar and Gina; "Is it true - can it possibly be that - that there was some kind of involvement between you and Mr. Werle while you were in service there?" (Ibsen 182). This shows that rumors can affect relationships, even those between married couples. This rumor causes Hjalmar to disown Hedvig leading to her tragic downfall.