Hedda Gabler

Hedda was the only daughter of thefamous General Gabler, and she married beneath her when she married Tesman,even though Tesman and his aunts all spent money they didn’t have to attempt togive her the life she's used to. Note that the title of the play is HeddaGabler, even though her name, now that she's married, is technically HeddaTesman. To Hedda, Tesman is annoying, boring, and an aunties' boy , and beingmarried is like a chore for her. Back then, no respectable woman could just staysingle, and divorce didn't really exist yet. There's a possibility throughoutthe show that she's pregnant with his child, which may be one of the reasonsshe hates the situation even more. Lovborg used to be a fling of Hedda's,and also had a drinking problem. He went out in the country and tutored Mrs.Elvsted's children, and she helped quit his habit. Now Lovborg has returned totown, and may be a potential career rival to Tesman. They are both experts on acertain branch of history, and a university may be interested in offering oneof them a position. Mrs. Elvsted, an old schoolmate of Hedda's, has run awayfrom home to follow Lovborg to the city, because she has grown very attached tohim, following him around like his own personal secretary. When Elvsted showsup at the Tesmans' home, Hedda manipulates her by telling Lovborg that she’sonly there because she’s afraid he might start drinking again. A big open question in the show is, whatdoes Hedda want? Is she desperate,crazy, or just evil? Tesman returns home from the party first, alerting Hedda that Lovborg had dropped his manuscriptand he had picked it up. Tesman planned on giving it back but left it in theroom with Hedda. Then Loveborg comes back drunk and tells Mrs. Elvsted that hedestroyed the manuscript and she leaves immediately. Then he confesses to Heddathat he lost the manuscript and was contemplating suicide. Hedda then hands himone of her pistols, and tells him to have a “beautiful death”. Hedda is later disappointedto hear that Lovborgs death, though caused by the gun, was an accident. When the Judge tells Hedda of this news, shegoes into the other room and, after playing piano for a little bit, shootsherself in the head. An important symbol is in this play is Loveborg’smanuscript. The manuscript has often been compared to a baby, as it is acreation, and Hedda's burning it reflects her contempt for Tesman. In Act I,Hedda enters the parlor and is displeased to find the glass door open and lightpouring in. She immediately has George close the curtains. She also dislikedthe smell of flowers spreading throughout her house, and instructs her husbandto keep the door open for fresh air. Already we’re seeing that for Hedda, lightand flowers,which are typical signs of life, are making her feel uncomfortable,possibly symbolizing that she doesn’t want to have a baby.
Later, in Act II, Hedda comments againon the smell of flowers, this time to Judge Brack. She says that there is"an odor of morbidity about it." It reminds her "of a bouquet theday after a ball." This symbolizes that Hedda, no longer a single and freewoman, is herself like a bouquet after the ball, especially now that she’spregnant.