Analysis Week 11: Hedda Gabler

Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen Pages 781-738

I found this play to be very entertaining and I did not expect it to end the way it did with Hedda taking her own life.  Hedda's character was a major impact in how the play went and without her character traits the story would not have been as entertaining.  

I think Hedda's character comes off as snooty and also selfish.  Hedda comes from an upper-middle class family, whereas her husband George comes from a lower-middle class family.  This difference in social class causes some tension between Hedda and George.  For example, on page 789 Hedda is upset that George's Aunt left her hat on a chair.  Hedda states, "But where did she get her manners, flinging her hat around any way she likes here in the drawing room.  People just don't act that way" (789).  George, from the lower-middle class, set his aunt's hat there and he thought it was appropriate.  Being that these two are from different classes, they each have different expectations and rules around the house.  

Another example of the difference in social class backgrounds can be seen when George asks Hedda to address the Aunt as "Aunt Julie".  George tells Hedda, "If you just bring yourself to call her Aunt Julie, for my sake Hedda, hm?" (789).  Hedda being from the upper middle class did not feel that she should have to address her that way.  She responded with, "Tesman, for God's sake, don't ask me to do that" (789).  

Hedda was not willing to lower her standards even though she married into a lower-middle class family.  She still wanted to hold her standards higher and also wanted to live the lavish life she had with her father.  George bought a large house just to please Hedda, even though it meant stretching past his financial means.