Characterization of Hedda Gabler

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Hedda is at the same state of happiness as before the honeymoon. This is revealing of the way societal standards have an effect on Hedda. For Hedda to enter a marriage accepting its terms and conditions consistent with all marriages in this society, where it is clear that her life is meant to revolve around a man she doesn't love, shows Hedda is more concerned about finding acceptance as a typical housewife than doing what could reward her with greater self fulfillment, done by placing the control of life in her own hands; which would mean for her to leave her husband. Hedda fears being perceived as an outcast evident by her spontaneous marriage with George Tesman as if she was “running out of time”. Hedda’s fear for scandal regarding marriage is greatly more evident during her interaction with Mrs Elvsted when she tells Hedda that quite frankly her purpose in her own marriage was as “a useful property”(40). Hedda, without hesitation, tells Mrs Elvsted how that had been ...

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that normally would be confidential. Hedda gets Thea to divulge information about leaving her husband, having just now meet her since their schoolgirl days where Hedda had actually in fact bullied Thea. Hedda convinces Thea, through false intimacy, that they ought to “drift together again” and “call each other by [their] christian names”(36). Thea tells Hedda off that she surely must be mistaken. Hedda quickly proposes that they did in fact call each other by their “christian names” and even should now “renew [their] old friendship.” Hedda then “[kisses her cheek]”(36). Hedda is the only character throughout the entire play that gets what she wants by toying with ...

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