Literary Devices in Hedda Gabler
Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
As evidenced by the title, names are a big deal in Hedda Gabler (see "What's Up With the Title?"). They reflect the tension between formality and intimacy or between single and married life. Here a...
Setting
The town of Christiana (now called Oslo) is specified along with the list of players, but the time period is not. Henrik Ibsen wrote this play in 1890 and it appears that Hedda is set in what for h...
Narrator Point of View
Though all works of literature present the author’s point of view, they don’t all have a narrator or a narrative voice that ties together and presents the story. This particular piece o...
Genre
Drama is all about conflict, and Hedda Gabler is full of it. Hedda, Eilert, Thea, George, Brack, and Aunt Julie all want different things, and they’re fighting, as Brack says, with "every wea...
Tone
Ibsen isn’t beating around the bush here. He’s making a clear argument about the dangers of Victorian values and the damage they cause to the individual – especially to women. He...
Writing Style
Just read any exchange between Hedda and Brack – like this one:HEDDA: I’ve been up in my room dressing […].BRACK: And there’s not the least little crack in the door […...
What’s Up With the Title?
Let’s ask Ibsen. Hey, Ibsen, why did you call it "Hedda Gabler" if the woman’s name is "Hedda Tesman?"Ibsen, in his writing: "My intention in giving it this name was to indicate that He...
What’s Up With the Ending?
To understand why Hedda commits suicide, you have to understand a lot about Hedda’s character. So we address the whole question of her untimely death in "Character Analysis." Here, we’r...
Plot Analysis
Hedda is miserable, and probably pregnant. George is going to get a post as a professor. Aunt Rina is sick and will likely die soon.This is the situation when the play begins. There is inherent con...
Booker's Seven Basic Plots Analysis
Eilert is back in town.Hedda perks up a bit when she hears that Eilert is back in town. As we find out later, he’s one of the people who allows her "a glimpse into a forbidden world." Hedda i...
Three Act Plot Analysis
Thea reveals that Eilert is back in town and worries he will fall back into his old alcoholic habits. Hedda’s latent boredom and frustration become more apparent. She toys with Eilert and sen...
Trivia
Henrik Ibsen always wanted to be a painter, not a writer. His wife convinced him otherwise.Partway through his career, Ibsen changed his dress, speech, mannerisms, movements, and script to be more...
Steaminess Rating
Rated PG-13 for adult themes and the most hidden bawdy banter we’ve ever witnessed. After a quick read through of Hedda Gabler, you might realize that you’ve never once seen the words "...