Social Issues in Hedda Gabler Essay -- Hedda Gabler Essays

Social Issues in Hedda Gabler It has been suggested that Hedda Gabler is a drama about the several(prenominal) psyche -- a mere character study. It has even been written that Hedda Gabler presents no genial ascendent (Shipley 333). On the contrary, I have found social issues and themes abundant in this work. The character of Hedda Gabler centers around society and social issues. Her mellowed social rank is indicated from the beginning, as Miss Tesman says of Hedda, General Gablers daughter. What a flavour she had in the generals day (Ibsen 672). Upon Heddas first appearance, she constitutes some(prenominal) snobbish remarks. First, she turns up her wind up at Georges special handmade slippers. Later she insults Aunt Julies new hat, affect to mistake it for the maids. Hedda seems to abhor everything about George Tesman and his bourgeoisie existence. She demands much more crime syndicate than he has been able to provide her, for she was the beautiful, charming daughter of Ge neral Gabler and merited vigour but the finest. As the character of Hedda Gabler develops, the reader learns that she has only married George Tesman because her fathers passing away left her no significant financial resources, nothing but a respectable heritage. She tells Brack of her decision to marry Tesman I authentically had danced myself out, Judge. My time was up. ... And George Tesman -- he is after all a thoroughly agreeable choice. ... Theres every chance that in time he could still make a name for himself. ...It was certainly more than my other admirers were leaveing to do for me, Judge. (Ibsen 684). Hedda needed someone to support her financially, and George Tesman was the only decent man to name to her. She was forced to cross beneath her social class and marry this public in the hopes that he would make a name for himself as a professor. As for love everlasting, Hedda disgustedly comments to Judge Brack, Ugh -- dont use that syrupy name Rather than having becom e a happy newlywed who has found line up love, Hedda is trapped in a marriage of convenience (Shipley 445). Hedda was raised a lady of the upper class, and as such she regards her beauty with high esteem. This is, in part, the reason she vehemently denies the pregnancy for so long. A pregnancy will force her to gain weight and lose her lovely womanly figure. Hedda has large accustomed to her many admirers therefore, Hedda is ... ...Lastly, the tile itself represents the social theme of the drama. In utilise the name Hedda Gabler, despite her marriage to George Tesman, Ibsen has conveyed to the reader the importance of social class. Hedda prefers to determine herself as the daughter of General Gabler, not the wife of George Tesman. Throughout the race she rejects Tesman and his middle class lifestyles, clinging to the honorable past with which her father provided her. This identity as the daughter of the noble General Gabler is strongly implied in the title, Hedda Gabler. In co nsidering the many implications of the social issues as explained above, it can not be denied that the very theme of Hedda Gabler centers on social issues. Hedda Gabler is ...indirectly a social parable (Setterquist 166). Works Cited 1. Ibsen, Henrik. Hedda Gabler. The Bedford cornerstone to Drama. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. 3rd ed. Boston Bedford Books, 1996. 672-709. 2. Setterquist, Jan. Ibsen and the Beginnings of Anglo-Irish Drama. New York Gordian Press, 1974. 46 - 49, 58 - 59, 82 - 93, 154 - 166. 3. Shipley, Joseph T. The Crown Guide to the Worlds Great Plays. New York Crown Publishers, Inc., 1984. 332 - 333.