Hedda Gabler is one of Henrik Ibsen’s important “problem plays”. The play depicts conflict in Hedda’s life as she tries to fit into her new life as a married person.
She used to belong to an aristocratic family but is delegated to a bourgeois life as she married Tesman. Hedda Gabler is an apt title to this play because what Ibsen attempted to depict is that Hedda is to be regarded as the father’s daughter rather than her husband’s wife. Her personality being that of an aristocrat identifies her more of her previous life with her family rather than her present role as a wife of a bourgeois.
Hedda subjects herself to societal norms even at the risk of losing the one she adores in order to conform to society. In her need to stick to conventions, she marries Dr. Tesman whose status in life promises stability and respectability for her instead of marrying a poor rake like Ejlert Lövborg whom she finds fascinating.
The life she seeks through Tesman leads her to boredom and uselessness though. She shows disregard for Aunt Julia who raises her husband and provides for them financially. She is mean to Mrs. Elvsted who is a former classmate of Hedda.
Hedda Gabler is the epitome of a worldly woman. She is sophisticated, well-bred and pretty. She feels trapped as she assumed the inevitable role of a middle class courtesy of her marrying one. This results to feelings of boredom which brings dire consequences at the end.
Another condition that leads to her feelings of boredom is her pregnancy. Being selfish, she finds her predicament unsettling and unbearable. Her selfishness and inability to find better use of her time drives her to commit ghastly acts. She flirts with her former lover Ejlert and develops alliance with Judge Brack, despite her being very much married and pregnant. She hides Ejlert’s manuscript and encourages him to commit suicide even hands him one of her pistol. And in the ultimate act of selfishness, she commits suicide at the end.
The other male characters seem in love with Hedda. It could be due to her sense of beauty in a decadent way. Brack wants to start a relationship with her and Ejlert hopes that she shares his “passion for life.” She finds these ideas quite ridiculous. She rejects Ejlert’s views and teases Brack by referring to him as “the cock of the walk.” Even Mrs. Elvsted does not feel uncomfortable around Hedda because she had bad experience with her in the past when they were classmates.
Despite Hedda’s apparent faults, she portrays the most influential character. She manipulates other people because she has no peace or happiness in her life. Hedda’s power is so broad that her self-destruction tendencies lead to the ruin of the lives of other characters. The rest of the characters only serve to show what Hedda does and does not have.
Her lack of sympathy is apparent when she burns Ejlert manuscript, encourages him to commit suicide and begging him to do it beautifully. Her questionable morals are revealed when she associates with Judge Brack. Her meanness shows when she deals with Aunt Julia and Mrs. Elvsted. The way Hedda relates to the people surrounding her shows callousness and utter disregard.
When Hedda perceived that Ejlert has failed her by not shooting himself at the temple but is killed accidentally in a scuffle, disillusionment sets in. Her burden is further compounded when she learns that a scandal might occur for her. Her strong need to conform being threatened, Hedda sees no way out but to shoot herself.
A number of reasons come into play that eventually paves the way for Hedda’s
suicide. Her spiritual poverty prevents her to appreciate what she has. Hedda manipulates everyone around her. She is strong but in an unguided and coarse way. She is also cruel and insolent. She does not hesitate to hurt other people just for the pleasure it provides.
The life of ease as defined by an aristocracy enables Hedda to appreciate the good life. The good life being in the midst of wealth and beauty. She forms a certain standard in mind which she desires to come up to. She never worries a day in her life being in the upper class. She is amused by how much Tesman worries about making a living.
Being the wife of a middle class however wakes her up to the painful reality of having to work to earn a living. Hedda’s appreciation for the good life even reveals in suicide. She even wishes Ejlert a “beautiful” suicide when he expresses his need to commit suicide and she hands him one of her pistol. To Hedda, life ought to be beautiful even in bleak times such as suicide.
Hedda’s morals leave much to be desired. She does not hesitate on flirting with other guys while her husband is not around even encourages their attention. Her values are based on aesthetic standards not on moral standards. To her, what is beautiful matters more even if at the expense of morality or values.
Her natural predisposition to aristocratic ways prevents her to sympathize with her husband, Tesman’s plight. She is shallow. It is easy to see that whatever burdens she feel is due to her character or the apparent absence of it.
Due to her shortcomings, it is difficult for her to see another person’s point of view. Her false standards of happiness prevent her from looking beyond what is obvious. She is like an empty jar – beautiful to look at but nothing inside.
