Hedda Gablar Essay

Back in the 1890’s when this play was written, women didn’t have the rights that they have now in modern society. Hedda Gablar represents this idea that women in society have a plan that they should follow. This plan included getting married at a certain time and having children. In the play, Hedda Gablar, Hedda is married to a man she doesn’t actually love, George Tesman, and complains about her boring life. In response to this, she begins to manipulate the people around her, Thea and Eilert, for control, but in the end she kills herself because of societal pressures and her pregnancy. Although Hedda desires control in her life, it’s not strong enough to veer away from the societal expectations of how her lifestyle should be coming from wealth
Hedda doesn’t have any desire to be a mother. Throughout the play, hints pop up about Hedda being pregnant. George has returned from his honeymoon and is talking to Aunt about his research and his trip when Miss Tesman asks George if there’s something he wants to tell her (Isben 857). She is hinting to whether Hedda has become pregnant during their honeymoon or not. Then, Hedda comes into the house and George asks his Aunt if she has noticed how Hedda has filled out (Isben 860). By “filled out,” George means put on weight, which obviously happens when one is pregnant. When Judge Brack comes to visit, he begins talking to Hedda about her relationship with Tesman, when he tells her “but when you find yourself facing what one calls in elegant language a profound and solemn calling – a new calling, my dear little Mrs. Hedda” (Isben 878). When Brack says this what he means by “calling” is motherhood. Hedda angrily replies that it will never happen (Isben 878). Hedda doesn’t like the thought of something that will take away her freedom. In the end, Hedda shoots herself in the temple, killing not only herself, but also the baby she is carrying. This is a response to not only the pressure of society but the thought of motherhood she would be facing