Hedda Gabler Summary
Hedda Gabler is a play by Henrik Ibsen in which unhappily married Hedda attempts to regain a sense of control by meddling in the life of her former lover, Eilert.
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Hedda is married to a boring academic named George.
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Eilert, Hedda's former lover and George's academic rival, is recovering from his alcoholism and has recently published a successful book.
- Hedda takes Eilert to a party and gets him drunk. As a result, Eilert loses his new manuscript.
- Distraught, Eilert decides to kill himself. Hedda encourages him.
- Instead of committing a "beautiful" suicide, Eilert is accidentally killed while at a brothel.
- Hedda, disgusted and disillusioned, kills herself.
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Summary
The play Hedda Gabler unfolds in the Tesmans' home, located in an upscale part of Christiania, Norway. Hedda and George Tesman have recently returned from their extended honeymoon. The narrative kicks off with domestic discussions involving George's Aunt Juliana and their servant Berta, revolving around family expectations and George's promising career.
Act I
George Tesman greets his Aunt Juliana, sending Berta to put away his luggage while he assists his aunt with her newly purchased bonnet. The conversation turns to his recent marriage to Hedda Gabler, who is admired by many. Aunt Juliana expresses hope for a coming child, while highlighting the debts incurred from their trip and the assistance rendered by Judge Brack in setting up their villa. Despite financial concerns, Juliana assures George of his likely appointment to an academic position, while dismissing Eilert Lovborg, a rival for the job, as a lingering threat due to his tarnished reputation.
Hedda enters the scene with a discontent demeanor. She brushes aside Juliana's presence, complains about the room, and shows no interest in the embroidered slippers made for George by his ailing aunt. Further, she irritates George by dismissing his remarks about her health. When George escorts his aunt out, Hedda's frustration surfaces as she clenches her fists.
Alone with George, Hedda remains distant and cold about Aunt Juliana. Mrs. Elvsted arrives, informing them that Lovborg has returned to town and seeking their support for him. Hedda, seizing the opportunity, dismisses George to draft a welcoming letter to Lovborg, while probing Thea Elvsted about her marriage and connection to Lovborg. Under the guise of friendship, Thea reveals her role in Lovborg's reform and her departure from her husband, hinting at her unrequited love for him, who is still connected to a past lover.
George and Judge Brack's entrance shifts the discussion to Lovborg's new book and his reformed character. Brack breaks the news that George's academic post is now competitive, with Lovborg reemerging as a contender, unsettling the already financially burdened Tesmans. After Brack leaves, George shares his concerns with Hedda, who expresses her boredom and contemplates entertaining herself with her father's pistols.
Act II
As the afternoon wanes, Judge Brack's entry is met with Hedda firing a pistol at him. Displeased, he pushes for a closer rapport with Hedda, who laments her marriage's mundanity and George's scholarly preoccupations. Her disdain for love is evident as she admits to marrying George for stability rather than affection, finding him respectable with promising prospects.
George returns carrying Lovborg's new book along with others. While he delves into his studies, Hedda shares her dislike for their villa and George's aunts with Brack. She admits to feigning belief about the origin of Juliana's bonnet and expresses hopes of enticing George into politics, which Brack dismisses. The mention of potential motherhood is met with disdain from Hedda.
As George reappears, the conversation steers towards Lovborg and the prospect of a bachelor party hosted by Brack. Lovborg arrives, intending to share his manuscript with George, but declines the party invite. However, under Hedda's persuasion, he agrees to dinner with her and Thea Elvsted, and reassures George of not contesting the academic position, much to George's relief.
Left alone with Hedda, Lovborg recounts their past intimacy, and her fear of the scandal that might have ensued. He reassures her by revealing his silence about their past to Thea, whom he regards as too naive to comprehend.
With Mrs. Elvsted's arrival, she expresses joy over aiding in Lovborg's transformation. Hedda hints at Lovborg's unstable nature, inciting fear in Thea by revealing her earlier visit's distress. Lovborg reacts bitterly,...
(This entire section contains 1045 words.)
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choosing to attend the party, intent on reading his manuscript there, leaving Thea distraught and Hedda exhilarated at the thought of Lovborg's return in triumphant, albeit drunken glory.
Act III
The next morning finds Hedda and Thea having awaited Lovborg and Tesman's return all night. While Hedda sleeps on the sofa, Thea dozes in a chair, waking when Berta delivers a letter for George. Hedda sends Thea to rest elsewhere, then learns from George of Lovborg's manuscript, picked up by George after Lovborg's careless misplacement. Despite hesitation, George leaves it with Hedda as he departs to see his dying Aunt Rina.
Brack arrives, detailing Lovborg's previous night, including an encounter at Mademoiselle Diana's, an accusation of paper theft, and an arrest. Brack finds solace in Lovborg's downfall, alleviating his own concerns about Lovborg's potential influence over Hedda.
After Brack departs, Hedda hides Lovborg's manuscript, interrupted only by Lovborg's abrupt entrance, followed by Thea. He manipulates Thea into leaving by fabricating the destruction of their collaborative work, driving her into despair.
Once alone, Lovborg admits losing the manuscript and hints at ending his life. In response, Hedda encourages him to do so "beautifully," handing him a pistol. After his departure, she burns his manuscript, watching its destruction in the stove's flames.
Act IV
Later that evening, Juliana discusses her sister's passing with Hedda and George, expressing a need for new caregiving purposes, and suggesting Hedda has such a role awaiting her, hinting at a child. Post Juliana's exit, Hedda divulges the burning of Lovborg's manuscript to George, who is initially shocked but accepts her explanation of doing it for his sake when she hints at her pregnancy.
Thea joins them, having heard of Lovborg's hospitalization. Judge Brack soon confirms Lovborg's critical state due to a self-inflicted wound, disappointing Hedda, who expected a more noble end. As they ponder Lovborg's lost manuscript, Thea mentions having notes, prompting George to optimistically consider reconstructing the work with her, which they then embark upon.
Left with Hedda, Brack reveals the truth: Lovborg is already dead from a wound incurred at Mademoiselle Diana's. Brack discovers Hedda's involvement through the pistol used by Lovborg, threatening her with scandal. Realizing she is under Brack's control, Hedda's facade begins to crumble.
As Thea and George delve into Lovborg's notes, Hedda withdraws, taking the remaining pistol and musical sheets to another room. She begins playing the piano energetically, prompting George's disapproval due to Rina's death. George and Thea decide to relocate their work, leaving Brack to anticipate future meetings with Hedda. In a dramatic conclusion, a gunshot is heard, and the men discover Hedda has taken her life, leaving Brack in disbelief at her choice.
