Imagine a time when women had no opportunity to express themselves to their full potential. Instead of discovering their inner-selves, they had to complete whatever task their husband presented to them. Women had to take responsibility to not only ensure the safety of themselves, but the safety of their husbands and children as well. Although they took part in manly duties, they were still seen as effeminate. While their husbands went about making money for the house, women completed every single task at home. In a sense, they became bedridden to their own homes. Spending countless numbers of days cooped up within the same walls drove the women crazy with wonder of the outer world. Their only image of the outside came through views of windows. …show more content…
Just what you’re so desperately afraid of…
(707). Hedda, although strong, still has weaknesses. Even though, during the Victorian era, she had morals that held her from her goal, she still became a victim to the forces that surrounded her. Victorian women became oblivious to the harshness of other people. They wanted to be accepted as an unwomanly people. Hedda tried to achieve this goal, but failed because she was not prepared for the real world. Hedda believed that she could bend the will of other people, yet was unable to because of her gender. Hedda Gabler’s cunning and mischievous ways of gaining power showed nineteenth century England that women had as much power as men: they could create scandal, manipulate the minds of others, and drive people insane. Hedda is an illustration of how unrealistic conventional stereotypes of Victorian women were. Hedda’s actions proved that nineteenth century English women had enough power to overthrow the reality of others’ minds. By gaining power from money and manipulation, Hedda validated the fact that women contained the ability to see the world for what it truly was, a place of stereotypes and false realities. Hedda, although daring, succumbed to the harshness that was the verisimilitude of the world. Whereas Hedda’s England was a place of scandal and rumors, the real England was oblivious to reformations and war. Hedda confirmed that women can live through just as much hatred and insecurity as men. Despite her tragic demise, Hedda showed England, Europe, and the entire world that women held power deep within, not releasing it until the most opportune