Hedda Gabler
Every time I teach Hedda Gabler, students have a variety of strong opinions about Hedda. So let’s focus on characterization this week and look into her character and the characters around her. While everyone can have an opinion, all arguments are stronger when we can explain the “why” of our opinions or perspectives–ideally incorporating some kind of evidence (in our case, textual evidence) into that explanation. What are your thoughts on Hedda? What specific details from the text inform or support your opinion on Hedda or her choices? What other character in the text, besides Hedda, interests you? Why? What details make that other character interesting?
In addition, your initial post needs to be at least 450 words in length.The discussion instructions state that these responses are to be your own original responses to the readings and are not to use any outside sources.
Answer preview
Hedda is a complicated yet interesting female character in Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler. I find Hedda to have quite a demanding character. This presents itself in Act I where both her husband, George and Aunt Julie strive to ensure specific details will satisfy her. George mentions of picking a house that matched Hedda’s prior demands. Both George and Aunt Julie adjust their respective behaviors to what Hedda would expect from them. Hedda is also disrespectful as witnessed in Act I, where she makes an unappreciated comment towards Aunt Julie’s hat and punctuality.
Hedda has an inquisitive nature. She has several conversations with Mrs. Elvsted throughout the play to find out more information about certain situations. In Act I, she goes further to distract her husband with an activity of writing a letter to have Mrs. Elvsted alone. To gain the information,…
(450 words)