The play, Hedda Gabler invokes many strong feelings in readers. It takes the characters on a wild ride that is very interesting and fast paced. There are many emotions going back and forth between characters and there are also many emotions that the readers are inspired to feel as well. Henrik Ibsen does a spectacular job of creating intricate characters. Hedda Gabler is a very complex character who inspires both understanding and disdain in readers.
There are instances throughout Hedda Gabler where it is easy to feel sympathetic toward Hedda. For instance, when she is explaining to Judge Brack the reasons for her marriage to George, readers are able to see a new and unlikely side of Hedda. She tells him how she took pity on George and began
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Though it can be easy to feel sympathetic toward Hedda Gabler, it is very hard keep that sense of sympathy throughout the whole play due to the mean and manipulative way she acts. From the very start of the play, readers are shown that Hedda is a very uncaring person who has no regard for the people in her life. This is shown when she insinuates that the maid “has left her old bonnet lying about on a chair,” even though the bonnet truly belonged to Miss Tesman. Not only does she insult Miss Tesman by saying that the bonnet belonged to the help, but she also says that the bonnet is old even though Miss Tesman was wearing it for the first time and had even bought it to please Hedda. It was very heartless of Hedda to disregard Miss Tesman’s kind intentions. Even George noticed and commented on the bonnet saying “what a gorgeous bonnet you've been investing in.” Hedda continues to be unscrupulous towards those around her, especially George who has tried so hard to provide her with the life she aspires to have. When George is reunited with his favorite slippers, that he loved and treasured enough to speak about while abroad, Hedda is callous towards his numerous attempts to share them with her. She instead shoots him down saying, “I really don't care about