Don't Call Me Hedda!
When Henrik Ibsen, set out to write the play "Hedda Gabler", one can't be sure he didn't mean to make Hedda into a villain. One may not like her, but really one can't blame her for being a victim of her society. If one looks close they can see how her up bring; such as her education and lack of a mother figure impacted her. Along with her environment in which she was exposed, this helps form her entire outlook on life. As one reads the play, one can feel oneself become deeply engrossed in the actuality of each characters emotional baggage. While one may not agree with what Hedda is feeling, she is a very strong female. Who truly wants to have her cake and eat it to. While Hedda does use her sexuality to control both men and women, is this not common place?However this is more accepted now a days, but can one argue that
men take advantage of women, also. Men often use power to get there way, take Judge Brack for example. Once he has Hedda right were he wants her he demonstrates his power over her; "[w]ell luckily there's no danger as long as I hold my tongue" (1517). This leaves Hedda with weak and exposed. Once she realizes she this she proclaims; "[i]n other words, I'm in your power, Judge.From now on, you've got your hold over me" (1517). While both are used to playing cat and mouse games neither one wins the battle. Judge Brack ends up alone, and he is faced with the cold hard fact that he let Hedda elude the law. This leaves Hedda with but a few options, forcing her to become irrational. Therefore she chooses to commit suicide. While this may seem fitting for the play. This outcome can be seen as shocking for some. They may have been expecting rainbows and butterflies. However one should have know better.