Hedda Gabler Essay

In the play Hedda Gabler, Hedda’s obvious crippled state of mind accurately reveals the theme of the play. Her search for power and her challenges against the societal norm of her time most clearly depict this theme: the boundaries that society places on individuals, specifically women, and how those individuals react against those limitations. On the surface, it only seems as though Hedda is a rude, critical women however through further inspection on certain events, her behavior can be understood once applied to the central theme of the play. Throughout the play, Hedda struggles to gain power that her society will not give to her easily, reflecting that major theme, as her behavior is a response to the limitations of her society. Hedda

Thea cries, “Oh my god, Hedda! What are you saying? What are you doing?” (Act II, 42) In reality, Hedda does not desire to take Lövborg’s affection away from Thea in hopes that it will be directed toward her instead. Rather, this action is a perfect example of Hedda’s search for power. By altering the course of a future of two individuals, she gains power, even if it is not power directed at her own life. Another similar example that represents the main point of this play is when Hedda burns Lövborg and Thea’s manuscript. With pride, Hedda claims, “Now I am burning your child, Thea!---Burning it, curly-locks! Your child and Eilert Lövborg’s. I am burning---I am burning your child.” (Act III, 59) Lastly, another great representation of the theme occurs as Hedda realizes she is at the mercy of Brack as she desperately claims, “I am in your power none the less. Subject

One way in which she does this is when she manipulates Thea into spilling her more personal stories by creating the illusion that she actually cares about Thea’s wellbeing. (Act I, 15) After Hedda gains the information she needed from Thea, she threatens, “I think I must burn your hair off, after all.” (Act II, 45) Being so harsh and un-ladylike is definitely a challenge to the limitations placed on women by society on Hedda’s behalf. Similarly, Hedda breaks another moral code by speaking lowly of her husband Tesman to Judge Brack. (Act II, 27-28) By this point it is clear that her own oppression causes Hedda to defensively rebel in any way she can to gain personal entertainment and eradicate her boredom. Another way that Hedda challenges society is her use and admiration of guns. To her, playing with her pistols is a way to “kill time” as she describes to Tesman. (Act I, 23) As Tesman and even Brack agree, guns were to be left in the possession of men during that time, as they were considered brutal and manly. In other words, they were too harsh for a Victorian lady such as Hedda. Yet again, Hedda’s obsession with her pistols is a way for her to openly challenge the expected behavior of