Wild Duck Journal #5

A dramatist often creates a gap between what the audience knows and what the characters know. With reference to at least two plays, discuss how and to what effect dramatists have used this technique.

This "gap" between what the audience knows and what the character knows is called dramatic irony. Most dramatists create this irony by using the common knowledge of the audience (such as in Oedipus the King by Sophocles) or the literary technique of foreshadowing (such as in Wild Duck by Henrik Ibsen). The technique can have several effects which include creating a sort of dark humor, building tension or developing the tragic nature of the play.

In Oedipus the King, Sophocles uses this technique by creating a play based off a common myth told by Greeks. The audience watching Oedipus the King would have been very familar with this story. This gap between what the audience knows and what Oedipus and the other characters know is dramatic irony. Sophocles includes foreshadowing in the play, such as when Oedipus says "I would be blind to misery / not to pity the people at my feet". The audience knows that Oedipus will eventually blind himself, but Oedipus is unaware of that fact. One of the effects of this gap of knowledge is developing the tragic nature of Oedipus. He does what he thinks is the right course of action but this will lead to him blinding himself. The audience see Oedipus and how he is unable to change his fate. This is tragic that Oedipus, a king and hero, falls from power and then blinds himself, not knowing he is fulfilling his destiny.

Henrik Ibsen creates dramatic irony differently than Sophocles. In The Wild Duck dramatic irony is created through dialogue and not necessarily knowledge outside of the text. When Gregers expresses his desire to board in the Ekdal's home, Gina tries to persudae him to stay elsewhere, so much that he says "You don't seem to like the idea of having me in the house, Mrs. Ekdal". Gina's husband, Hjalmar, does not understand why she is so opposed to Gregers lodging in their home. The audience has an idea of why Gina feels the way she does as earlier in the play it has been insinuated that Gregers and her might have been in a relationship previously. This irony builds tension between Gina and Hjalmar and the audience becomes unsure of the characters' motivations.