Hedda Gabler Analysis

There are similarities between Medea and Hedda Gabler. Both took on the role as the dutiful wife, the obedient female. Yet, neither ultimately could not abide by the rules required to live that way. Introduced by Julia, the first image of Hedda is riding with her father. Julia goes on to exclaim “what a life she had in the general’s day! […] she’d go galloping past in that long black riding outfit, with a feather in her hat!” (Ibsen 222). While her father was alive, Hedda, as viewed through that little snippet, lived freely and wildly. The scene describes her riding her horse, making it feel like she had the world open to her for whatever she pleased. However, the Hedda of present is no longer that girl; she no longer has the freedom that she enjoyed growing up. The first impression Hedda gives when she appears is of someone who is cold and collected, removed from feeling any sort of emotional bond to any person in the room. It is not until Julia suggests closing the door to the outside, blocking out the light, does she seem to care about something; she immediately responds “no, no – don’t! There, dear, draw the curtains. It gives a softer light” (Ibsen 229). Hedda …show more content…
This adds to her isolation as she is so close to what she wants, but can never truly obtain it. Her attempt at reaching out, trying to make a meaningful connection, is with Brack. She begins to confide in him about her, mostly negative, feelings about the marriage, and the house is in many ways an extension of that. Hedda tells Brack that she thinks she has a “talent for only one think in life […] boring myself to death” (Ibsen 257). While it seems like an amusing comment, it is the second time she directly mentions being bored in the house, and that she did not know what she was going to do. It is not just a passing comment; she does not want to be in that house. She has concluded that her life would be