Hedda Gabler: Quotations

Question 1

Hedda’s ennui with life

Answer 1

• Hedda “[sighs audibly]” when Brack mentions “someone” being “interested in – more subjects than one” revealing that she craves intellectual fulfilment but is only met with Tesman’s futile fascinations.
• Hedda “coldy” exclaims that “spending every minute of one’s life with - with the same person” greatly displeases her.
• At one point, she sits “motionless in her chair” listless about the professorship contest, claiming that she “can’t wait to see who will win”.

Question 2

Role of the setting in revealing Hedda’s struggles

Answer 2

• “Most of the flowers have been removed“ though “Mrs Elvsted’s bouquet stands on the larger table, downstage“ showing that Hedda’s lack of youth and activity has been ousted and Thea, as the ‘new woman’, has taken over.
• Hedda is visibly irritated with her life, as shown by her “drumming on the pane” by the french windows. She also stares out of the windows a lot, longing for a different life and escape.
• Brack comes and goes as he pleases, entering through the “french windows” as well as entering “from the hall”. Meanwhile, Hedda is stuck inside the house, never leaving throughout the course of the play. All she can do is “look down into the garden” and call out.

Question 3

The expectation for Hedda to become pregnant and fulfil her ‘biological destiny’

Answer 3

• Even before Hedda is properly introduced to the audience, George is questioned by Aunty Juju/Miss Tesman by her asking “haven’t you any - any extra little piece of news to give me”.
• Hedda tries to “free herself politely” from the grasp of Miss Tesman reflecting how she wants to flee from society’s grasp of her and their expectations.
• Hedda knows she can’t live up to what society wants of her, so she does the one thing she can - ending her life. She does this “beautifully”, just like she tells Loevborg too, but reflects her helplessness and despair in society which she just could not express.

Question 4

Extra quotes

Answer 4

• The dainty “flower printed” furnishings with the “thick carpets”.
• Hedda is often lost in her own train of thought, caught many times “standing by the French windows”.
• She feels trapped inside this “darkened room” of her own household.