The “New Woman” was the term used at the end of the 19th century to describe women who were pushing against the limits which society imposed on women. A woman of Hedda's social class cannot comprehend what freedom and fulfillment might be or how to be independent. This is understandable, since she is a member of a very restrictive social class that completely shuts women out of anything non-domestic. Women of this class and time could only be wives, mothers, or daughters. Not independent entities but property of their fathers’ or husbands’.
Hedda is no longer a member of the upper class because she has no money after her dad dies. Although Hedda still considers herself a member of the upper class and feels she's married into the lower class. …show more content…
Ibsen gives us the visionary Ejlert Lövborg and the phenomenal Hedda Gabler. Judge Brack, Hedda and Eilert Lovborg are from the upper class while Tesman is from the middle class. Hedda and Eilert have both lost their status in the upper class for different reasons. The restricted views on social behavior of the upper class provided serious penalties for anyone who shows individuality or creativity. The life of a non-conformist was difficult, if not impossible in this social class. Eilert Lövborg displays unacceptable social behavior by throwing away his money on his alcoholism and is shunned from society. The restrictions on behavior placed on the freedom, integrity and fulfillment of the individual provide a major issue in Hedda Gabler. Eilert Lövborg has risen from an outcast to an academic with the publication of a conventional book that received enormous praise: “… I wrote a book that nobody could disagree with,” he explains (Ibsen 211). However, Lövborg is not monotonous like Tesman. He has a “baby”, his manuscript that he has put his true self into. It is not about the past but the future. A subject fit only for visionaries. Whether or not Lövborg is a true visionary goes unknown due to his death, but at least he is a free thinker. Lövborg’s alcoholism is a symbol of his passion. It also suggests the extent to which an extraordinary person is out of place in modern society and especially vulnerable to its
Hedda is no longer a member of the upper class because she has no money after her dad dies. Although Hedda still considers herself a member of the upper class and feels she's married into the lower class. …show more content…
Ibsen gives us the visionary Ejlert Lövborg and the phenomenal Hedda Gabler. Judge Brack, Hedda and Eilert Lovborg are from the upper class while Tesman is from the middle class. Hedda and Eilert have both lost their status in the upper class for different reasons. The restricted views on social behavior of the upper class provided serious penalties for anyone who shows individuality or creativity. The life of a non-conformist was difficult, if not impossible in this social class. Eilert Lövborg displays unacceptable social behavior by throwing away his money on his alcoholism and is shunned from society. The restrictions on behavior placed on the freedom, integrity and fulfillment of the individual provide a major issue in Hedda Gabler. Eilert Lövborg has risen from an outcast to an academic with the publication of a conventional book that received enormous praise: “… I wrote a book that nobody could disagree with,” he explains (Ibsen 211). However, Lövborg is not monotonous like Tesman. He has a “baby”, his manuscript that he has put his true self into. It is not about the past but the future. A subject fit only for visionaries. Whether or not Lövborg is a true visionary goes unknown due to his death, but at least he is a free thinker. Lövborg’s alcoholism is a symbol of his passion. It also suggests the extent to which an extraordinary person is out of place in modern society and especially vulnerable to its