The Wild Duck

In the Wild Duck, Henrik Ibsen begins his play by emphasizing the
value of color and light. He uses the theme of light to contrast Old
Werle, a stingy rich man, with Old Ekdal, a poor helpless man. Ibsen
connects the color green with the loss of eyesight of Old Werle. A
possible affair between Old Werle and Gina, Hedvig's mother, may
suggest the cause of Hedvig's loss of sight. By using sun and moon,
Ibsen establishes the atmosphere of the scene. The story line
deteriorates from peaceful to tragic. Similarly, does the setting in
the last four acts. In the Wild Duck, Henrik Ibsen employs the image
of light to portray certain characteristics in order to construct the
plot and to adjust the mood of the scene.

F.L. Lucas analyzes the opening arrangement and writes "In the
outer room the lamps are dimmed, with green shades, in contrast to the
brilliance of the room behind"(190). We understand that this meant
that the outer room, lit with soft and shaded li...