Written for AQA Theatre Studies A-Level, but can be used for other exams too.
Complete grids on key themes and their relationship to the social, cultural and historical context of the play, how they are shown in the play and quotes that highlight each theme.
Written by a straight A* student. Well...
Hedda Gabler Themes
• “The title of the play is ‘Hedda Gabler.’ My intention in giving it this name was to indicate that Hedda, as a personality, is to be regarded rather as
her father’s daughter than as her husband’s wife.” - Ibsen
SCH: Social, Cultural, Historical
Theme SCH contextual knowledge In Hedda Gabler Quotes
Manipulation • Schemes become a sort of game for • Hedda is famous as a cold-hearted, manipulative • TESMAN “Yes, of course—it makes it a little more expensive. But Hedda had to
Hedda, a way of escaping the woman years ahead of her time have this trip, Auntie! She really had to. Nothing else would have done” (p.7) -
boredom of Victorian-era Norway • Her ability to in uence others has a lot to do with Hedda doesn’t have to manipulate him as he acts the subordinate idiot on his own
• Because women can’t seek power her sexuality and good looks • HEDDA “Oh, it was a little episode with Miss Tesman this morning. She had laid
through careers or scholarship, Hedda • Notice that Hedda is always the one asking the down her bonnet on the chair there—[Looks at him and smiles.]—and I pretended
seeks it through controlling others questions, and very rarely the one revealing any to think it was the servant’s” (p.42) - The Judge is only one she confesses the truth
information about herself to and yet, she still manages to control him, at least in the rst few acts
• BRACK “Dearest Hedda—believe me—I shall not abuse my advantage.” HEDDA “I
am in your power none the less. Subject to your will and your demands. A slave, a
slave then!” (p.102) - Hedda is losing her power and Brack is now manipulating her
Women and • Hedda Gabler takes place in Norway • The women in this play all seek to solve one • BRACK “Not even—the specialist one happens to love?” HEDDA “Oh, don’t use
Femininity in the late 1800s fundamental problem: what to do with their life that sickly, stupid word.” (p.38) - Hedda shies away from female emotions and the
• Women are restricted by Victorian • Emptiness and unhappiness are the only institution of marriage
values and prevented from having any common factors between them, however, as the • BRACK “A new responsibility, Mrs. Hedda?” HEDDA "[Angrily.] Be quiet! Nothing of
real lives of their own and as such, various "solutions" to this "problem" di er greatly that sort will ever happen!” (p.45) - she systematically rejects all the elements of
they exist only in relation to men • In Ibsen’s time, pistols would have been marriage and womanhood
decidedly male objects and Hedda’s liking for
them remind us that she lacks typical feminine
characteristics
• Hedda is a very human character, a portrait of
what happens to a woman whose life will not
allow her to grow, to use her brain and creativity
Wealth • Interests, mannerisms, even • Hedda Gabler explores a marriage between an • MISS TESMAN “Well, you can't wonder at that—General Gabler's daughter! Think
personalities and friendships are all aristocratic woman and a seemingly middle-class of the sort of life she was accustomed to in her father's time.” (p.2) - money puts a
tied to class man barrier between Hedda and Tesman
• The notion of "rich" and "poor" is • Wealth is a constant barrier between them, not • HEDDA “No, no—no exchanging. I don't want to part with it. Suppose we put it
often more about power, in uence, only as far as money is concerned but also in there in the inner room, and then get another here in its place. When it's
and reputation than it is about cash regards to class convenient, I mean.” (p.15) - Hedda has grown up with excessive wealth so has no
• Brack is the symbol of wealth as he holds sense of practicality when it comes to matters of money
nancial superiority over the family as he helped • HEDDA “Do you think that is worth the trouble? Oh, if you could only understand
George put a deposit on Hedda’s ‘dream’ house how poor I am. And fate has made you so rich! [Clasps her passionately in her
and helped furnish it too arms.] I think I must burn your hair o after all.” (p.64) - here, Hedda isn’t just
• Brack and Hedda are from the same class of resenting her new lifestyle with George and lack on money, she resents the
wealth as each other bargaining power she used to have when she was single
Page 1 of 3 Theatre Studies A Level
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