World Lit. Quotes

Thesis: In the two plays, Oedipus by Sophocles and Wild Duck by Ibsen, innocence is proved to be better than knowledge. Through the struggles of these two sets of characters to obtain knowledge, the reader can understand that the misuse of power to achieve insight may cause pain and sorrow.

Quotes for Wild Duck:

After finding out about Gina's affair with Mr. Werle, Hjalmar is no longer trusting of his wife: "Oh, this dull, unfeeling content! To me there's something outrageous about it. Just think not one regret!" (183). The way Sophocles writes "not one regret" demonstrates the hurt and betrayal that Hjalmar feels about the situation with Gina. The word choice provides a sense that Hjalmar was expecting at least something, no matter how small, from Gina and is surprised there is nothing. Therefore one can assume that before this incident he was completely trusting of his wife and now there is pain and even sorrow in the way he does not know what to believe.

Through this recently acquired knowledge, Hjalmar begins to assume that other situations have the same conclusions, such as with his daughter, "There's a horrible doubt - maybe Hedvig never really, truly has loved me" (211).

A secret that should not have come out is of Hjalmar's marriage, Gregers becomes stressed when he hears this: "Gregers (getting up and pacing about a little). Tell me - when you became engaged - was it then that my father got you to - I mean, was it then that you started in learning photography?" (125). There is something else going on here that should not have come to light, one can see this through the way that Gregers is "pacing about" and is starting to ask questions to find out when all this happened. In this case the innocence would have been better for Hjalmar because he does not know what Gregers is thinking of.

Hjalmar is obviously distressed by knowledge he would have rather not heard, one can see this through the way he is "(pacing restlessly about)" and saying "I wasn't made to be unhappy, Gregers. I've got to have it snug and secure and peaceful around me." (210). Ibsen has Hjalmar clearly state how this burst in his innocence has changed and affected him. One can see that none of this is at all good through the word choices and descriptions of his life before.

Quotes for Oedipus:

The first person Oedipus turns to for information of the past is Tiresias, but Tiresias does not want to share because he knows the pain it will bring, "How terrible - to see the truth \ when the truth is only pain to him who sees!" (359-360). Ibsen demonstrates how innocence is more desirable than knowledge in certain cases. One can see this through the word choices of "truth is only pain". Ibsen so clearly states this fact that there is no question or possible misunderstanding of the exclamation.

Tiresias is explicit that there will be pain if he releases his knowledge "I'd rather not cause pain for you or me" (378). This proves the point of innocence being better than intelligence.

Oedipus does not believe this until figures it out for himself; "Oh no no, \ I think I've just called down a dreadful curse upon myself - "(819-821). Sophocles writes this to warn the reader of this important topic so that they will not have to experience the consequences as Oedipus has had to.

Jocasta tries to help Oedipus when he does not stop trying to get information, "You're doomed - \may you never fathom who you are!" (1173-1174). Sophocles uses the words "never fathom" to illustrate the great importance it is to Jocasta that Oedipus remains unknowledgeable, for she does not want to see the pain of the secret inflicted upon him.