The Limited Freedom of Women in Hedda Gabler Essay

It seems to be a pretty well known fact that until the latter part of the twentieth century women were far from truly and self-riotously independent. Herik Ibsens Hedda Gabler is a play that really reaches down to the core of that mindset. The main character, a woman of a certain age, Hedda Tesman plays an entrapped woman during the late nineteenth century, who, because of her constant repression dreams of an independence from the society in which she is trapped in. The constant theme in the play is that since Hedda is so entranced with the idea of freedom, that every chance she sees as an opportunity to escape, leads her into a harsher trap then before. From her relationship with her husband, Tesman, to her partial affair with Judge Brack, Hedda is continues to fall further down the rabbit hole as she is trying to escape.

Heddas marriage to Tesman was an escape from society- since she was able to withdraw from the pressures of being a single woman who is of age. The culture from which Hedda had come from was extremely strict and refined since she was a Generals daughter, and she always has the constant paranoia of what would people think of her. Since Hedda and Tesman were married under an understanding, it seems as if Heddas advantage to the agreement was that since her husband was constantly buried in his work, she would have the liberty to do as she pleased. Though this agreement seemed ideal Hedda was once again jammed back into this oppression by being trapped in her house, where she was under the constant eye of not only Ant Julle and other members of Tesmans world but also her Father. There is a rather large portrait of her father, the General hanging over the piano in the Drawing room (where the whole play takes place). It appears as if the portrait is a constant reminder for Hedda that not only what she came from, but how she was constant judged by her peers and continues to be even when she is married. Also, in Act one there is a reference to Hedda filling out, yet she refutes the claim each time, showing that she is trying to escape form having babies, because if she were to have children then she would be permanently trapped in her household. I would consider one of her major downfalls- the fact that she is persistently afraid of what others will think of her, and that she must act proper- it is an evident reason for her to yearn for independence.

From there, it seems that Hedda seeks another opportunity to salvage herself through an affair with the honorable Brack. Since their first encounter, Brack and Hedda had chemistry, that seemed as if it were going to lead into some sort of wildly romantic affair, and though they did discuss it, the affair never actually set off. There seemed to be some sort of obsession with an idea of having a love triangle, and in particular Brack was interested in keeping it a triangle. This becomes apparent in Act three, where Brack comes to tell Hedda of Ejlerts fantastic night. If her were to force his way in, superfluous and an intruder, into- Into the triangle? Precisely. It would simply amount to my finding myself without a home. Ah yes. The only cock in the yard, thats your idea. Yes, that is my idea. And Ill fight for that idea with all my means at my command. You really are Dangerous person, when it comes to the point Do you think so? Yes, I am beginning to think so now. Im heartily thankful youve no hold or power over me- and I hope you never will. (Act 3, p. 337-338). The whole intersection is the turning point in Hedda and Bracks relationship. The idea of the triangle was that Hedda would be at the apex in control (having power and liberty), but it seems that at this point Heddas triangle is confining her, and that Brack is taking control. Due to this, Hedda will then be trapped in a loveless marriage, but also a straining affair where Brack will dominate over her. Though Hedda had originally considered the affair to be a release, it seemed as if it created more damage and subjugation.

Though Hedda Gabler is a girl who has limited freedom and therefore causing her to have a limited existence. Through each step she takes, it seems to her that she will gain an escape, where as in reality, each step is drawing her in, even more, into confinement. With her relationships with men- she saw routes of escape, yet both Tesman and Brack were able to create more obstacles for Hedda. It is no wonder that due to all of this limitation Hedda finally seeks and escape through suicide. Through that final release it seems that Hedda truly did find her identity, and died Hedda Gabler rather then Hedda Tesman. The play of Hedda Gabler depicts the non-existent freedom of a woman during this Victorian era in its truest terms.