Hedda Gabler: A Portrait of Jealousy and Desperation

Categories: Hedda Gabler

In Ibsen’s drama Hedda Gabler, Hedda was a wealthy woman with a great background, until she marries Mr. Tesman. When she is chained down to this man she starts to become unstable and reveals how truly devilish she can be. From manipulating her loved ones to down-right killing them.

These incidents occur because of jealousy and boredom. Hedda’s first act of despicableness is first presented when she talks to her husband’s aunt. She mentions that the maid will be unsuitable because “She’s left her old hat behind her on the chair.”, when really, it was Miss Tesman’s hat.

We later find out when she is speaking to Brack that she had known all along it was her hat and just wanted to insult her.

This shows how bored Hedda is where she feels the need to come up with something like that. She is also unhappy with her marriage so she doesn’t want to get close to any of her husbands family.

Get quality help now
Writer Lyla
Writer Lyla
checked Verified writer

Proficient in: Free Essays

star star star star 5 (876)

“ Have been using her for a while and please believe when I tell you, she never fail. Thanks Writer Lyla you are indeed awesome ”

avatar avatar avatar
+84 relevant experts are online
Hire writer

In act 4 of the play Hedda gives Lovborg a pistol so he can “die beautifully”. She does this because she is still somewhat attached to Lovborg and is jealous of him and Thea’s relationship that was forming. She even starts to go somewhat mad after Lovborg and Thea leave.

The manuscript begins to get ripped apart by Hedda, as she throws it into the fire saying, “I’m burning your child Thea!” This shows that she has basically reached a breaking point and has officially gone off the end.

Get to Know The Price Estimate For Your Paper
Topic
Number of pages
Email Invalid email

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

"You must agree to out terms of services and privacy policy"
Write my paper

You won’t be charged yet!

Hedda is a very hard character to play. This is because she is very contradicting, as Ibsen states, “sympathetically unsympathetic”. You feel sympathy for Hedda because she seems to be broken. She has been socially trapped into marriage and baring a child.

Although this does not justify her actions which still keeps you scornful towards her. All in all Hedda is a very indifferent woman with a independence that she will not be taken away from her. She manipulates and deceives people in order to get her way. Yet she was slowly killing herself by doing so. This may be why her character is so hard to play, she is in a way, a very non-relatable character.

Updated: Nov 20, 2023
Cite this page

Hedda Gabler: A Portrait of Jealousy and Desperation. (2016, May 29). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/hedda-gabler-5-essay

Hedda Gabler: A Portrait of Jealousy and Desperation essay
Live chat  with support 24/7

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

get help with your assignment