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William Morrison, Jenna Huckaby, Robert Dong THEA 2100H “Hedda Gabler” Script Analysis

French Scenes are labeled on the copy of the play which is linked to Jenna’s profile along with the analysis.

Write a short paragraph describing in your own words the backstory of the play. Prior to the play, Hedda Gabler, the catch of the town, marries the boring George Tesman simply because she ran out of time. They go on a six-month honeymoon while George collects information for his own book. Upon their return, they are received by Judge Brack and George’s aunt Julianna Tesman and are escorted to their newly purchased home where they retire for the night. Also, Eilert Lovborg, a former acquaintance of Hedda and George, has written a great book and has found solace in the friendship of Mrs. Elvsted.

Make a diagram of the floor plan of the set or sets so that you may consider the context of each act or scene and its importance to the content of the work. [separate]

Describe the language used by the characters. The language used by each character points strongly to the time period of the piece and reflects the character of each person. George Tesman’s language reflects his easy-going, genuine nature. By ending most sentences with the repetitive question “eh?”, he seeks for assurance and affirmation that he is in agreement and harmony with those around him. Even when discussing serious subject matter, such as the suicide of his wife, he uses lighthearted expressions such as “fancy that!”. On the other hand, his wife, Hedda, is manipulative and deceitful in her speech. She matches her emotion and word choice according to what she wants to get out of the receiver of her speech. She can be quite harsh one second and then gentle and pleasing to the same person in her next sentence. Brack speaks with authority and confidence with whomever he talks to. He openly displays his willingness to spend time with Hedda even to her husband and speaks with authority to her in private, epecially at the end when he knows she is responsible for Eilert’s death. Mrs. Elvsted exhibits the typical speech of the stereotypical woman, with occasional whining and constant show of transparent emotion in her voice.

What is the general mood of the play and each of the French scenes? The general mood of the play is oppressed and sad, with shifting specific moods in each scene. In the first set of french scenes, the mood is tense as Hedda expresses clear disregard for Miss Tesman, despite George’s affections for her. Each scene gets progressively more tense as new plotlines are introduced and new relations and secrets are formed between Hedda and others. The intensity builds to the french scene when Hedda gives Eilert the gun and then all the way to when she shoots herself in the very last scene.

What is the social status of the characters? The main characters of Hedda Gabler are all upper class. Hedda is the daughter of a famous and successful general. She grew up in affluence. Tesman, Heda’s husband, is a scholar who strives to be a history professor. He also tries to give Hedda the wealthy lifestyle that she lived before. Brack is a judge and Lovborg is a scholar and writer.

What is the relationship between the characters? Hedda Gabler is married to Tesman. Tesman is a vying for professorship in competition to Lovborg. Judge Brack is an old friend that visits often. Aunt Julie and Aunt Rina were the caretakers of Tesman when he was younger. Mrs. Elvsted is a neighbor that had previously knew Heda when they were children and is currently in love with Lovborg. This creates tension because Heda may still have some feelings for Lovborg.

What are the family relationships in the play and how do they influence the dramatic action? There are familial relationships between Hedda and Tesman’s family. Aunt Rina and Aunt Julie took care of Tesman when he was younger, so he is greatly attached to them. Hedda is more flippant in her relationship to the aunts. In the play she plays a trick on the aunt for nothing but laughs.

Is the play realistic or non-realistic? What is the style of the play? Is the play presentational or representational? What time period is the play set? What period was the play written? “Hedda Gabler” is a representational, realistic play that shows the life of women in the Victorian Era. The exact date of the setting for the play in unknown, but judging by the clues within the play, it can be assumed that the play takes place either in the present or close past to the time it was written in 1890.

Examine the sequence of the dramatic actions: What happens that causes what else to happen? Examine the actions from back to front as well as front to back in order to determine what the immediate cause of each action was. After Hedda and Tesman come back from their honeymoon, they are met by the news that an old acquaintance of hedda and academic rival of Tesman is back in town. This man, Ejlert Lovborg, is a reformed drunk and successful writer. The arrival of Lovborg intensifies the action and intrigue in the play by bringing up Hedda’s past and shattering the carefree stasis of the play. When Hedda discovers Lovborg’s relationship with Mrs. Elvsted, Hedda tries to sabotage the relationship by playing the two against each other. She cunningly makes Lovborg believe that Mrs. Elvsted has no faith in his capacity for drink. This causes him to drink immensely and lose track of where his beautiful manuscript is. His loss of the manuscript brings about Hedda’s possession of it. After some thought, she burns the manuscript. When Lovborg comes back to her home to look for the manuscript she tells him that it is gone and that if he were a real man that he would kill himself. She then gives him a gun to do so. Lovborg’s possession of the gun causes his death as he accidently shoots himself. Judge Brack discovers Hedda’s gun in Lovborg’s possession. This leads to Judge Brack using the gun to blackmail Hedda into doing whichever he pleases. Because Hedda is a wild spirit, she chooses death instead of the caged life of a servent to Brack’s desires. She shoots herself and ends the play.

What is the play’s stasis? State it in terms of when, where, who, and what. A major stasis of the play Hedda Gabbler is when they are back from their honeymoon. No action has occurred yet, but intense action is to follow. After this stasis of playfulness is where the drama of Hedda’s past relationship with Lovborg is introduced and the events leading to her death unfold.

What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis and causes the dramatic action to proceed until it reaches a conclusion at the end of the work? The intrusion that disrupts their moment of peace is Mrs. Elvsted’s visit. She tells Hedda of the coming arrival of Lovborg. This event removes Heda from her thoughts of the honeymoon and her new home. The fact that she inquires deeply into the situation that Lovborg is in gives the audience a glimpse into her past that is soon to enter her future.

What is the unique factor that causes the action to occur at this point in time? The action is occurring at this time because of the completion of Lovborg’s newest novel. This novel has gained critical acclaim and has supported him in his quest to write his best manuscript yet. This new writing brings him back into Hedda’s life because of his desire to show his talent by gaining a professorship.

What is the major dramatic question that is answered by the end of the play? The final dramatic question of Hedda Gabbler is whether she has died a beautiful death. This “beautiful” death is what she has urged Lovborg to seek. She views this death as a romantic bullet through the heart. When she achieves her own death, she does it to escape. One must ask whether this escape from her troubles is equivalent to the beautiful death that she desires.

Are there other dramatic questions that are asked in the play and how are they answered? Another major dramatic question is the situation of the loved ones that Lovborg and Hedda have left behind. Even though Heda did not love Tesman, he loved her greatly. Mrs. Elvsted also loved Lovborg greatly. The question is what impact their deaths will have on those who are still living. Will there will to recreate Lovborg’s manuscript be crushed by the multitudes of deaths. Tesman has lost both Hedda and one of his Aunts who took care of him. One can only wonder whether he will still have the will to live and whether he may just take his own life.

Examine each character in terms of her/his race, ethnicity, religion, special characteristics (disabilities). Hedda Gabbler- She is a white, attractive female with a fiery attitude that is not common in this time period. Most women were subservient and quiet. She was raised by a general, so she has gained many passion connected to the military, such as shooting and riding. A trait that disables her from friendly interaction is her innate need to manipulate those around her. When she jests at the Aunt by playfully miscalling the Aunt’s hat raggedy and the servant’s, it was easy to see that she could use this quick wit to control the colleagues around her. Her religion is never specifically mentioned, but it can be assumed by the time period that she was a professed Christian. Tesman- He is Hedda’s seemingly plain and unattractive husband. He is a quiet fellow that gives in to all of Hedda’s demands. He seems to worship more than love Hedda. His crippling characteristic is his unwavering servitude to Heda’s every beck and call. Brack- He is a judge and friend of Tesman’s. He is a white man and is slightly than George with larger features, Christian. He has a glass eye. He is also manipulative in his actions to get what he wants. In the end of the play one can see his devious side. He tries to blackmail Heda into giving him whatever he desires. Mrs. Elvstead- She is a quiet woman that is a neighbor of Heda’s. She was harassed by Heda when she was a young girl. Heda used to pull her hair. The adult Mrs. Elvstead is still very quiet. She is a better representation of how the average women acted in this time period. She is a very attractive white female, a few years younger than Hedda. She has thick wavy, flaxen hair and large blue eyes. Lovborg- Lovborg is a man that Heda has known in her past. When he was younger he was a drunk and a vagrant. Because of this, he developed a bad reputation around the town. He is also crippled by his own genius. His newest work was so magnificent that others became extremely jealous. His loss of his magnificent book leads to his own demise as he goes about looking for it. He is white and assumed Christian. He is most likely more physically attractive than George but of the same age. Miss Tesmen- an older white female, Christian Berta- A plain, white, middle aged woman.

Who or what is that character’s major opposing force(s)? Each character has his or her own opposing force. For the main character Hedda Gabler, the force is boredom that is part of the life of a woman in the Victorian age. Many times throughout the play she remarks about the impact that boredom has on her. All the manipulation she does throughout the play is to keep herself from being bored. George Tesman’s opposing force is his inability to be original. Although he is very scholarly, he cannot create his own ideas for a book and therefore not support his precious wife as much as he would like or compete with the talents of his rival. Eilert Lovborg is opposed by the choice of which part of his personality should dominate. He can either be the drunkard of the past in love with Hedda or the mentor of the present in love with Mrs. Elvsted. Mrs. Elvsted’s opposing force is Hedda. Hedda seems to resent Mrs. Elvsted and her femininity, her flowing hair and her inspiring affect on Lovborg, so she manipulates Lovborg in order to destroy what Mrs. Elvsted treasured. Miss Tesman doesn’t seem to have a personal, dramatic opposing force. She has devoted her life to serving others. So, it could be said that her opposing forces are those of the other characters that she has decided to care for. It is hard to determine the force that acts against Judge Brack. He is man of wealth and action. He knows what he wants, and he gets it. The only thing that is unreachable to him is Hedda. Therefore, it can be said that Hedda’s reluctance to enter into a relationship with him, whether openly or secretly, is the only thing that opposes him. Berta’s force is Hedda, or more specifically, George’s marriage to Hedda. Because George married Hedda and they needed a servant, Berta is forced to leave Julianna and Rina Tesman to take care of the new couple. She resents this and longs to return to George’s aunts.

What is the driving force in the play? The driving force for the play is Hedda’s manipulation of the other characters in order to escape a life of boredom. This manipulation is what causes Lovborg to start drinking again and eventually leads to his death from Hedda’s gun. It is only then, when dominated by Judge Brack by the threat of a scandal, that she understands that she is now the one manipulated, which causes her to take her own life and end the play.

Examine the wants of the chief character and determine what obstacles keep them from being obtained. State them in terms of: Me vs. myself Me vs. someone else Me vs. society Me vs. the universe, nature, the gods or god Hedda- Hedda essentially wants everything. She wants material wealth and status and receives it through her husband. It is clear, however, that she also wants more in life. She wants excitement, and she wants love, despite how bitter she seems to the idea. She is an obstacle to herself because, although she has a husband who tries to provide her everything she wants, she will not allow herself to be pleased or content with him. She will always be unsatisfied no matter what her fortune is. If she has material wealth, she wants deeper happiness, and if she finds love and fulfillment, she wants a nicer house with social status. In this sense, Hedda is also fighting the obstacle of society as she fights against the social norm of a woman’s role. Rather than pursuing a homemaking married life with kids, she strives to be independent and self-serving.

What is the climax or high point of the dramatic action? Why do you think that is the major climax of the work? The greatest moment of action was when Hedda burns the manuscript that Lovborg calls his child. Many people would go mad at hearing about their own child’s death. This dread is what Lovborg feels when Hedda tells him that the manuscript is gone. This is the major climax of the work because it brigns about the demise of two of the main characters in the play. Another high point would be when the family hears of Lovborg’s death. His death brings about many feelings of regret. One of the regrets is the loss of such a great manuscript.

Identify some of the theatrical moments in the work. The burning of the manuscript is most certainly a theatrical moment as the focus is all on Hedda as she burns the pages of the dear manuscript which is so important to Lovborg. Another theatrical moment is towards the end when Ms. Elvsted returns in a frenzy about rumors concerning Lovborg. The audience is left to make their conclusions as the characters sort through the new vital information. Judge Brack then comes in with his own information, though it is clear he is hiding something, which is soon revealed openly to Hedda. The action at the end of the play is all very dramatic and theatrical as it leads all the way up to what is perhaps the most theatrical moment of Hedda sitting herself at the piano, playing a lively dance in the midst of the sorrow and then abruptly shooting herself with a pistol and ending her own life.

Which is the most important theatrical moment? Although the scene with Hedda killing herself at the piano is the most dramatic theatrical moment, the most important one is probably the quieter scene with her burning the manuscript because it is the climax of the play and has so much meaning and is a turn in the plot.

What is the denouement and new stasis that arises by the end of the play? The circumstances certainly change when Lovborg kills himself and Hedda burns his manuscript. George changes his entire life focus as a result in order to preserve Lovborg’s legacy and he is content to abandon his own life work. Hedda is even led to take her own life

Make a list of the themes of the work. There are several themes within the play. One important theme is the the struggle between an individual and a group. Hedda is determined to direct the course of her life, but as the play continues, she becomes more restrained by the different expectations from others imposed upon her. With each new expectation, she loses part of her ability to manipulate the lives of those around her. She also understands that she can only have power within a group if she has the ability to manipulate it. She then even loses the control of her own life to Judge Brack and realizes that the only escape would be suicide. Another theme is conflict between true nature and conformity. Hedda Gabler is expected to be the typical Victorian woman, and she puts forth a good front to those around her. But, her inward thoughts and desires are often completely the opposite of what she outwardly portrays to the other characters. Hedda’s true nature bursts forth as she plays the wild piano piece and then shoots herself. A third theme is the idea that dreams are often unobtainable. Each of the characters has his or her own desires and wants. Unfortunately, throughout the play, the characters witness the diminishing possibility of their dreams actually happening. Eilert is not able to publish his new masterpiece, Mrs. Elvsted is not able to be together with Lovborg, and Hedda is not able to maintain control of everyone. This could be said to be the most important theme within the work because it seems to encompass every aspect of the play. Other themes include: Happiness is more than the material things; there are problems with being too outspoken and problems with being under spoken; death is sometimes a better choice than living.

Which do you consider is the most important theme and why? A third theme is the idea that dreams are often unobtainable. Each of the characters has his or her own desires and wants. Unfortunately, throughout the play, the characters witness the diminishing possibility of their dreams actually happening. Eilert is not able to publish his new masterpiece, Mrs. Elvsted is not able to be together with Lovborg, and Hedda is not able to maintain control of everyone. This could be said to be the most important theme within the work because it seems to encompass every aspect of the play.

Collect biographical and/or autobiographical material on the author. Henrik Johan Ibsen was born in 1828 in Skien, Norway and was the eldest of five children after the early death of his older brother. His father, Knud Ibsen, was a sea captain, and his mother was Marichen Cornelia Martie Altenburg. He may not have had the most pleasant of childhoods. It was even rumored that Henrik was the illegitimate son of another man. It was never proved true, but the effects it had on him can be seen by the presence of illegitimate offspring in his works. At the age of fifteen he traveled to Grimstad for an apprenticeship. It is there that he began his literature career through poems and satire. He later moved to the capital Christiania where he wrote his first play Catiline in 1849. Shortly after, in 1851, he received the post of a resident playwright of the Norske Teatret in Bergen. Several years and several plays later, Ibsen moved back to Christiania to become the creative director of the city's Norwegian Theater. Ibsen spent a short time in the capital before spending the next 27 years abroad in Italy and Germany. It was in this time that two of his most famous plays “Hedda Gabler” and “A Doll’s House” were written. He returned to Norway in 1891 and remained there until his death in 1906.

Examine past productions of the work. There have been many productions and there continue to be productions of the play and most criticism comes from how well the actress plays Hedda and how effectively she represents her character without transforming her into the modern-day emotionally unstable woman. (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/18/theater/18ishe.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2)

Examine literary criticism of the work. Much literary criticism is given to the characters in particuluar. The gender roles play a big role in the distinguishing features of each character. For instance, Hedda exhibits dominant male characteristics throughout. George does have a male character, but it is not a man character. He is boyish and still childish in his behavior and personality, but develops into a man by the end of the play despite Hedda’s controlling personality. Judge Brack is said to be the opposite role of Hedda as he portrays a womanly man in nature. 

What were the theatrical practices at the time the work was written and first produced that may have influenced the writing of the work? Hedda Gabler stands out some from many typical theater styles of the time period. Musicals and burlesque type comedies were quite common at the time, and Hedda Gabler is a much more serious straight play.

How many times have you read the play?