What Makes Hedda Powerful

Hedda was extremely trapped by the society she was living in, and had been in part since her birth. As the general’s daughter, growing up, the public eye was always upon her, and she “always had so many admirers” (Ibsen 225). Not only was she a public figure, but Hedda was also a woman who had a hunger for an “intensity of life which life almost never provides” (Marowitz). Hedda simply wasn’t a typical woman for her time, which trapped her more. With Hedda always being in the spotlight growing up, she developed a fear of scandal. Hedda herself said that “[She]’s much too afraid of scandal” (Ibsen 266). Even Judge Brack acknowledged Hedda’s fear by telling her, “A scandal, yes- the kind you’re deathly afraid of” (302). Her fear confined her to only acting in socially acceptable ways, …show more content…
During the play, Judge Brack used Hedda’s fear of scandal to blackmail her and gain power over her. Earlier, Hedda had said to Judge Brack that she was “thoroughly grateful- that [he has] no kind of hold over [her]” (283). However, when Brack realized that Hedda was partially responsible for Lovborg’s death, he was able to gain power over her by blackmailing her. Hedda had always had the power, but losing power over Brack trapped her even more. Her freedom was restricted by her fear of scandal. There were many events and people that contributed to the trapping of Hedda by society. Hedda was confined by society, which led to her boredom and need for adventure. Hedda wasn’t needed by anyone for anything, so she felt like she wasn’t useful. When Thea and George are trying to put together Lovborg’s notes, she asked George if there was anything they could use her for. George told her that there was