Comparison: "Although doubt is not a pleasant condition, certainty is an absurd one." In the light of this statement, explore the impressions of doubt and/or certainty conveyed in at least two works you have studied.
In Oedipus, the people of Thebes ask Oedipus to find the killer of Lauis so that they can be free of the plague. As he gains more information, Oedipus discovers coincidences that lead him to suspect himself of killing his father. When Jocasta hears of this, she dismisses it and urges him not to push the matter any further. However, Oedipus is determined to uncover the truth. If he had not felt the need to be certain about his heritage, he would not have discovered the truth about who he is and what he had done. Then, Jocasta may not have killed herself and Oedipus would probably not have blinded himself. Oedipus' need for certainty is what leads to his destruction. However, when Jocasta's initial certainty that Oedipus is not her son wavers and she realizes what happens, she cannot live with the truth. It appears that this false certainty has a different meaning than the certainty in the truth. It could be that being certain of something something which you have no proof of (blind belief), or certainty in a lie, leads to Jocasta's destruction.
In Wild Duck, Gregers is obsessed with telling Hjalmar the truth about his wife's involvement with Mr. Werle, leading Hjalmar to question whether or not Hedvig is his biological daughter. When he first realizes that Hedvig may not be his daughter, he does not hesitate to basically freak out and walk out on his family. He does this because he has doubts, but he is not certain. He leaves before he takes the time to know for sure who the real father is. This lack of a need for certainty leaves us without knowledge of who her real father is. Because of this, it is possible that Hjalmar is indeed the father. Opposite of Oedipus, Hjalmar feels no need to know for certain. His acting on doubts brings his certain destruction. While the reader cannot know what would have happened if he had waited until he was certain, the reader also cannot know for certain if Hjalmar would have had the same fate.
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