Likewise, Hedda expresses a lack of emotional response to other emotion evoking events. After insulting Aunt Julie’s hat, she shows a lack or remorse or embarrassment for her actions. George informs her of her mistake exclaiming in shock and disbelief, “Hedda- that’s Aunt Julie’s hat!”, while Hedda’s only response is “Really?” (Ibsen 230). Additionally, after George was out for the entire night, when asked if Hedda was concerned about his well-being, her only response was “Hm? No, that never occured to me” (Ibsen 276). Most wives would perturbed and worried if their husband was gone all night without knowledge of his well-being but not Hedda. She was unphased as her tone implies in her reply. Onomatopoeia was again employed when she said “Hm?”
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Although the entirety of the play takes place after Hedda and George have been married for over six months, there are many hints that she did or still does, even after being married, engage in affairs or “questionable sexual activity”. Despite the fact that Hedda cannot feel or receive genuine love, she flirts with Judge Brack and they create a “triangle” (Ibsen 252). While “bantering” with Judge Brack, Hedda reveals that she “never really held out any hopes for you (Brack)” (Ibsen 251). Ibsen’s word choice of the term “bantering” creates a lightheartedness between the two as bantering means to joke or exchange remarks in a teasing or joking way. This lightheartedness is character of flirting. Furthermore, Ibsen italicizes the word “you” to put emphasis on her interest in him and not her husband George. As a matter of fact, Hedda and Judge Brack come to an agreement to form “triangular arrangement” between her, him, and George that one “can’t imagine how satisfying it will be all around” (Ibsen 252). The term “triangular” is never defined as to what it will specifically entail but Judge Brack’s next quote leaves it up the imagination. Ibsen never needed to define it, though, for readers to figure out something sexually deviant is going on between Hedda and Judge Brack. He leaves it up to the readers to figure this out through his selective language with the words “satisfying” and “triangular” both of which carry sexually suggestive connotations in this context. Additionally, before Hedda was married, she had some sort of fling with Løvborg where Hedda often asked him “devious questions” (Ibsen 265). Ibsen never suggests Løvborg and Hedda did anything more than just talk but what they discussed is indicated as questionable. Hedda wanted to know about Løvborg’s previous sexual endeavors with women and he took this as
Although the entirety of the play takes place after Hedda and George have been married for over six months, there are many hints that she did or still does, even after being married, engage in affairs or “questionable sexual activity”. Despite the fact that Hedda cannot feel or receive genuine love, she flirts with Judge Brack and they create a “triangle” (Ibsen 252). While “bantering” with Judge Brack, Hedda reveals that she “never really held out any hopes for you (Brack)” (Ibsen 251). Ibsen’s word choice of the term “bantering” creates a lightheartedness between the two as bantering means to joke or exchange remarks in a teasing or joking way. This lightheartedness is character of flirting. Furthermore, Ibsen italicizes the word “you” to put emphasis on her interest in him and not her husband George. As a matter of fact, Hedda and Judge Brack come to an agreement to form “triangular arrangement” between her, him, and George that one “can’t imagine how satisfying it will be all around” (Ibsen 252). The term “triangular” is never defined as to what it will specifically entail but Judge Brack’s next quote leaves it up the imagination. Ibsen never needed to define it, though, for readers to figure out something sexually deviant is going on between Hedda and Judge Brack. He leaves it up to the readers to figure this out through his selective language with the words “satisfying” and “triangular” both of which carry sexually suggestive connotations in this context. Additionally, before Hedda was married, she had some sort of fling with Løvborg where Hedda often asked him “devious questions” (Ibsen 265). Ibsen never suggests Løvborg and Hedda did anything more than just talk but what they discussed is indicated as questionable. Hedda wanted to know about Løvborg’s previous sexual endeavors with women and he took this as