Ibsen: Hedda Gabler, Essay Example

The Personality Traits and Hedda Gabler’s Motivations for Entering a Marriage without Love.

Hedda Gabler is a woman who knows that she is unable to get the lifestyle she wants herself. Hedda is an impulsive lady, as she admits, she is unable to control her impulses, and she needs to get entertained all the time. As the servant in the first scene, Berta says she used to be the apple of the eye of her father and she was spoiled. She is trying to get the same treatment from her husband, without giving anything back and creating reciprocity in the marriage.

Throughout the play, Brack acts like Hedda’s unconscious mind, who seems to understand her thoughts, motivation, coldness and foolish actions. He might be called the “Judge”, but he does not judge the woman at all. She even admits that she would not mind another person to enter the marriage. “Oh, reasons– [Watching him closely.] And George Tesman–after all, you must admit that he is correctness itself” (Ibsen, Act 2.)

When she talks to Brack, she concludes her motivations: “I had positively danced myself tired, my dear Judge. My day was done– [With a slight shudder.] Oh no–I won’t say that; nor think it either!” (Ibsen, Act 2.)

Lovborg asks Hedda straight if she loves her husband. She answers: “Love? What an idea!” (Ibsen, Act 2.). Lovborg says that Hedda has a craving for life, while the Judge thinks of being wiser than her and tries to manipulate her. While he sees her personality and motivation, he figures out the already existing love triangle and turns it into his advantage. Hedda concludes that she was entering the marriage because Tesman “made an offer” to provide for her. She seems to be interested about her horses, dresses and amusements, while she completely ignores her husband’s motivations to succeed. She is only interested in the results, so she can have her own life the way she wants it to be. Her home, her admirers, amusement and beautiful things is all she cares about. However, these things are only important for her because she lacks love and caring. This is the main reason why she enters the marriage without love and devotion. As previously discussed and reflected by Brack, Hedda was only devoted to herself, which means that her selfishness prevented her from being happy. Although she accepted marriage without love, she could have tried to respect her husband for being hard-working and think outside her interest. She truly did not have any choice, being used to things happening her way and having the power of manipulating people. She wanted to manipulate her husband, Lovborg and Brack, and when she did not succeed, she took it as a failure and ended her life.