Wild Duck Journal # 1

"Defiance becomes our duty in the face of injustice" Referring to at least two plays, explore the ways in which writers have attmepted to persuade us to accept or challenge this view

In both plays the idea of disobedience/defiance is relevant in the respect that when characters do contrary to what is commanded or expected of them, terrible things occur as a result. These characters do not disobey out of pure defiance and do not necessarily wish to break down the one they have dishonored. Rather they feel it is in the best interest of all involved to go against what is expected of them. However well meaning the intentions are, it always ends with something terrible occurring.

In Oedipus the shepherd begins the curse by saving the baby from death and allowing him to grow up in Corinth, the neighboring kingdom. The shepherd was given strict command to take the child and see to it's murder, however he took pity on the baby and allowed him to live. Now the shepherd was not trying to send the curse upon Laius, it is uncertain if he even knew about the child's fate. He merely felt it a crime for the baby to be killed, when it was defenseless and so innocent. This act of kindness, which was defiance towards the kings command, brought about Oedipus' curse of killing his own father and marrying his mother. If the baby had been killed as was planned then all the pain and suffering felt by Oedipus' family and the citizens of Thebes would not have occurred. But because the shepherd felt it was his duty to save the child, he actually created the curse upon the land and upon Oedipus.
In Wild Duck, Gregers has terrible relations with his father because he believed that his father had dealt unjustly to his business partners. Gregers was friends with the Edkal family and it hurt him to see their misfortune because of his own father's selfishness. So he decides to break away from his father, and it results in him holding a grudge against the man. However when he discovers that his father has been helping the Edkal family he realizes that his judgements were rash and harsh. However he still cannot forgive his father and refuses to stay under his roof. This shows Gregers deep emotions of defiance against his father's rule and he wishes to be an individual and help his friends by his own hand. He believes that because his father has been unjust he must make amends and help the Edkals solve their problems. However, though his intentions were good, he creates a larger and more tragic situation for the Edkals to deal with. Gregers begins by disobeying his father's advice of leaving the Edkals to themselves, and ends by making matters worse for the very people he desires to help.
In both plays when the character tries to help and individual or a family, by defying command, it ends up being worse for the ones they wanted to help. This continual theme of defiance ending in misfortune warns the audience against trying to take matters into their own hands. Even when an injustice is felt, it is far worse to try and repay the injustice with favor then to try and help the individual overcome the injustice. Through defiance ill fates arise and so it is best to allow others to solve their own problems and merely give aid as a support, not the sole care giver.