The Wild Duck - Journal #3

Gregers: Not quite that. I wouldn't say you're wounded; but you're wandering in a poisonous swamp, Hjalmar. You've got an insidious disease in your system, and so you've gone down to the bottom to die in the dark.
(170)

So Ibsen essentially shouts at us that "HEY, HJALMAR IS THE WILD DUCK" here, and Gregers mentions that Hjalmar is "wandering in a poisonous swamp", also making remarks to the fumes in his house. And then the "bottom to die in the dark" part intrigued me. Was it saying that although uninjured, Hjalmar is going to live his life happily until he dies even though his life is a life. This draws connections to the whole web of deception mess Gina caused.

Then there is the disease, which we discussed in class. Almost everyone in the play has a disease, and Gregers has a 'moralistic' one himself begging the question of who is really worse off?

Werle: But what are you going to do, then?
Gregers: Simply carry out my life's mission; nothing else.
(176)

Gregers goes on to talk about how he set aside some of his salary to support his life, but cryptically answers Werle's question of how he will live after the money is gone with: "I think it will last my time" (177)

At first glance, my opinion is that Gregers is probably talking about suicide after he helps Hjalmar. Although I find the notion rather ridiculous and wonder what Gregers intends to do with his life afterwards. I think this a quote that I will have to look back on after the play is complete.

Rellings: All right, I'll tell you, Mrs. Ekdal. He's suffering from an acute case of moralistic fever.
(178)

Rellings tells us here that even Gregers himself has a disease. Moralistic fever is referencing Gregers motivation, his desire to right the wrongs Werle inflicted upon the Ekdal's. Fever here could possibly mean that Gregers himself has grown delusional in a sense, and perhaps just as blind as the man he is trying to help.

Gregers: And actually, she's been in the depths of the sea.
Hedvig: (glances at him, suppresses a smile, and asks). Why did you say "depths of the sea"?
Gregers: What else should I say?
Hedvig: You could have said "bottom of the sea" - or "the sea's bottom"?
(164)

Gregers is referencing the Wild Duck concept again, but Hedvig blows that off and inquires to his word choice. I find this interesting as Gregers has been very cryptic when addressing Hjalmar, and never direct as to what his intentions are. He is obfuscating his words and this may have confused Hjalmar quite a bit when he decides to reveal information to him outside.

Relling: (crossing over to him). Listen, Mr. Werle junior, I've got a strong suspicion that you're still going around with the uncut version of that "Summons to the Ideal" in your back pocket.
Gregers: I've got it written in my heart.
(174)

I did some research and found out that "Summons to the Ideal" was a term used by Ibsen to describe the search for absolute truth. Although Gregers is not searching for the absolute truth here, he thinks he KNOWS the absolute truth. And in response to Relling he says that the search for absolute truth is written in his heart, or in other words ingrained in the fabric of his being. Whether or not he truly embodies this concept is debatable.