Hedda Gabler Character Analysis

The play, Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, is about defying society's limitations in order to achieve disclosure of one's essential self. The protagonist, Hedda Gabler, is cunning, deceitful, and manipulative; her disposition is displayed most prominently within passage three, after she acquires Lovborg's manuscript from George Tesman. In the passage, Hedda attempts to convince Lovborg to commit suicide and burns his manuscript after he leaves. In a grasping attempt to seize control over her life, Hedda conceals her true motives and beliefs from the public eye through her wariness of her words and actions. Throughout the development of the play, Hedda is constantly acting covertly and manipulating others to carry out her plans. Although this passage is the first time in the play when Hedda takes direct action, she continues to maintain a certain degree of subtlety to prevent being ousted. When Lovborg admits that he would like to return to his former life of impropriety and alcoholism, Hedda replies: “No, I don't believe in vine leaves any more. But beautifully, all the same. For this once-! Good-bye! You must go now-and never come here again.” (Ibsen 288). In spite of the fact that Hedda regards anything that defies the social norm as 'beautiful', she rejects Lovborg's idea of an escape from
Hedda's choice of words lightens the mood which would have otherwise been bleak. Furthermore, opting to call the pistol a 'souvenir' rather than a gun implies that guns are trivial playthings which can be toyed with for amusement. Hedda uses euphemism to affiliate the pistol with fond memories, suggesting that the next time Lovborg witnesses the gun in use again, another enjoyable memory will be created. Hedda's proficiency in orating allows her to easily alter her victim's mindset to suit her