There is no one in his life who loves him enough to make any effort to stop him. They stand back and watch and wait. That's it.
I don't know which is sadder. That duck was never loved by anyone enough to save him or that he doesn't know what a fool he has become in the eyes of everyone. Do you?
Meanwhile Joe has a loving wife and family and has suffered through tragedies he survived.
What tragedy has duck ever had to suffer through? You know he's caving folding fast. He got nuthin'. He is nuthin'. He represents nuthin'. He will be remembered for contributing nuthin' but harm destruction vilification as well as massive hate. Great.