Destructive Or Tood In Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler

Although many of the actions taken by Hedda Gabler in Henrik Ibsen’s story “Hedda Gabler” can be seen as destructive and condemnable, her reasoning behind her actions is likely misunderstood. Hedda is forced to live a life that she does not particularly enjoy and that is far from what she would consider ideal. Her reaction to this lifestyle can be misinterpreted to be seen negatively, but in reality, she is reacting in a predictable way. Although often seen in a negative light, Hedda Gabler is not an awful person, but instead a victim of the society in which she lived as evidenced by her deviant behaviors that came as a result of her oppression. Hedda Gabler feels out of place in the home in which she lived after marrying her husband, George …show more content…
It is revealed by Brack that the police could not identify the owner of the pistol as evidenced by Brack when he said “No, Hedda Gabler, not as long as I keep quiet” which sets Brack up in the position to hold the information over Hedda’s head (Ibsen 1536). Hedda’s reaction to the accumulation of her victimization by society by ending her life is evidenced when Tesman finds her and exclaims “Shot herself! Shot herself in the temple?”. Brack’s closing line offers great insight into the societal injustices that led to Hedda’s unfortunate end when he says “But God have mercy – People just don’t act that way” (Ibsen 1538). To the majority of society at the time, the actions that Hedda took in regards to ending her life as well as the harm she caused to Løvborg and Thea were seen as irrational and not normal when in reality it was her way of coping with her new life. It is through the societal standard that a woman should be with a man that can provide a decent way of life as opposed to a man of passion that Hedda ended up a victim of society instead of living to her full