Literary Review: Hedda Gabler Essays -- essays research papers

Title Hedda GablerAuthor Henrik IbsenSetting Un-named metropolis in Norway (probably Christiania - the Norwegian hood then)Time Period 1890Major CharactersHedda Gabler - (married name Hedda Tesman) Daughter of an aristocratic general who spoiled her. Shes used to a life of luxury in which she gets anything she wants. She is bore with her life because theres nothing new for her to see or experience. She marries George Tesman so that she wont be an oddball in society. Shes intimately thirty and realizes that shes not getting any younger or desirable. Hes the only one of her suitors who grovels for her hand in marriage, so she chooses him. She like a shot sees that she will be able to manipulate him into giving her anything she wants. She puts up with the fact that hes only interested in past civilizations and he doesnt satisfy any of her needs. She wants the power to shape the lives of others, and her obvious ennui wrecks not only her life, but the lives of all who come in contac t with her as well.George Tesman - in truth kind and intelligent man. He was raised by his aunts, Juliana and Rina. He remains devoted to them, even though Rina is an invalid. He does everything in his power to give Hedda the life shes used to. He annoys not only characters in the story, but readers as well. After almost all his sentences he asks the question Eh? (or What? depending on the translation). He is a gentleman and serves Hedda as if he were her slave and not her husband. He even accepts financial support from his aunt Juliana so that he can fork out the kind of life Hedda is used to, and to pay for the house he though she really wanted. He even depends on becoming the professor of history so that shell be proud of him and theyll have more financial security. He doesnt realize Hedda is manipulative, despises him, and doesnt even want to have their child. He believes her lies that she burnt the holograph for him as an act of love.Judge Brack - likes to gossip and be know e verything going on in peoples private affairs. He has connections around the city and uses that to provide information to Tesman about his candidacy for professorship in history. He informs them of the competition from Eilert Lovborg for the professorship, and also of his death. Brack shares an intimate relationship with Hedda, and she confides in him about her tediousness she has with he... ...straight in the lead of her and comments, So that pretty little fool has had her fingers in a mans destiny.Lovborg asks Hedda, Was there no love in your friendship for me either? non a spark--not a tinge of love in it? In this he expresses that he truly felt love for her, and that is what gave her power over him.Hedda asks herself, Oh, why does everything I touch give out mean and ludicrous? Its like a curse This comment emphasizes the fact that her ennui is affecting all of those around her. It has caused her to become nihilistic and wreak havoc on the lives of others for her own amusem ent.Hedda comments, I think I have a natural talent for boring myself to death. She realizes that much of her boredom is self-inflicted, just like when she told Judge Brack that as you make your bed so you must lieLovborg tells Hedda, It wasnt secret knowledge you wanted. You wanted life. They were discussing her curiosity in the past about his sinful life. She replies, I want to have the power to shape a human beings destiny.Hedda says, Yes, theres something in the house of the odor of deathOh, my dear Judge--you cant imagine how horribly Im going to bore myself here.