Journal 3: Blame

In the Wild Duck, I'd have to say that the most obvious character at fault is Gregers. Although Gregers believes he is doing the right thing (his heart is in the "right place"), he is the catalyst that springs the whole show into action. If it hadn't been for his intervention, none of the horrible things would have happened. It must be said, though, that he is not the only character at fault. In fact, almost every character plays a role in the sad events that unfold. Werle, who pressured Gina into a romantic affair and then set her up with Hjalmar. Hjalmar, who tells his daughter he can't stand to be around her and tells his wife that he is moving out from their house of deception. Relling, who insisted that everyone be kept in the dark and believing in their "life lies" to keep them happy. Gina, who chose not to tell Hjalmar of her past. Old Ekdal, who was the one convicted of a crime many years before that thrust his family into long-lasting dishonor, should not have committed the crime. And even Hedvig is to blame, because she is the one who is at fault for her own death; it was a suicide after all. And finally, if Sørby had waited perhaps one more day to give Hedvig the letter, Hjalmar might not have had the reaction that he did after having time to cool down, and none of this would have turned out so horribly. Of the truly main characters, there is no one completely free of blame, whether their actions were intentional or accidental.
The characters who actually accept their fault and realize it are Gina and Hjalmar. Gina apologizes to Hjalmar right away when he confronts her and she admits to her mistake. Hjalmar, after finding his daughter dead, takes responsibility and believes it is his fault completely. Gregers, on the other hand, refuses to accept the possibility that his actions were wrong, and Relling shifts the blame entirely to Gregers, and doesn't even give thought to his own actions.