Hedda Gabbler Essay Paper Example For Students

Hedda Gabbler Essay Paper A spider becomes caught in its own web. This is an example of an attemptedmanipulation that went awry. Hedda Gabler, by Henrik Ibsen, is a work about awoman who manipulates the fates of others in order to fulfill her own desires. The title character is a woman who has recently returned from a six month honeymoonwith her groom, Tesman, a man whom she does not love. She yearns for freedom,but she feels as if she cannot leave her marriage. To occupy her time, shemanipulates the lives of everyone around her. Hedda kills herself after becomingengorged in her own manipulations. Through the use of theme, setting, and then-current affairs, Ibsen produces awork that uniquely portrays the sources of the motivations of this manipulativewoman. Whether it be the burning of her former loves manuscript or supplying himwith the pistol to shoot himself, Heddas malevolence shows the ability of manto have total disregard for the life of another. Hedda coldly manipulates thelives of everyone around her. Through these manipulative actions, she ruins thelives of all of her acquaintances. Because she is not happy in her marriage, sheattempts to forbid anyone else to live a content life. For example, after shepersuades Eljert Lvborg to consume alcohol, he ruins his reputation and losessomething that is most precious to him: the manuscript of a book that he hadbeen writing with Mrs. Elvsted. Although Hedda realizes the importance of thismanuscript to both Lvborg and Mrs. Elvsted, she chars it. Because Lvborg andMrs. Elvsted have put their souls into this manuscript, Hedda metaphoricallyrelates her action to burning their child. This cold thoughtlessnessdemonstrates Heddas disregard for the life of a fellow human being. Heddasactionsult imately lead to her demise. After giving Lvborg her pistol andinsinuating that he must kill himself, Heddas cruel intentions are finallyrevealed. Judge Brack learns of her dealings and, thus, gains an opportunity totake advantage of this situation. When Hedda realizes that she will always be atthe mercy of Judge Brack, she does the only thing she can do to escape thissituation; she shoots herself. Throughout her manipulations, Hedda maintains afaade of innocence. Her truly malevolent nature, though, is displayed throughher actions that relate this theme of mans inhumanity to man. One may be able to determine the cause for Heddas desire to manipulatewhen the setting is examined. The whole of the play occurs indoors. Therefore,Hedda is constantly submerged in a place in which she is unhappy. Because herhusband Tesman is constantly occupied with other happenings, Hedda is left in asetting that lends itself to plans of manipulation. Heddas true dreams andaspirations are those of freedom and independence.Her setting however, is anantithesis to her proclivity. While Hedda maintains a desire to be free to do asshe pleases, her situation is one in which she is confined in her home. Becauseshe constantly remains in this monotonous setting, she occupies her time withscheming against everyone around her. This is perhaps the principal cause forHeddas manipulations. Category: English