Hedda's Father Being A General example essay topic

Hedda from the play, "Hedda Gabler" by Ibsen is greatly affected due to her background. Hedda's father being a general led her to control issues later on in life. She felt weak and needed control over the people in her life. Hedda was born to a great, wonderful, highly regarded and respected general, General Gabler.

Because she was his daughter people would show great respect and loyalty towards her. She was used to people listening and obeying her; she just loved having power over others. When Hedda and her husband, George Tesman got back from their honeymoon George's aunt, MissTesman was telling the maid how particular Hedda is after growing up as General Gabler Daughter, "Well of course. General Gabler's daughter. What a life she had in the General's day! Remember seeing her out with her father-how she'd go galloping past in that long black riding outfit, with a feather in her hat.

' Now that her father is gone she has seemed to lost the power she once had. The only thing she has left is a large portrait of him that hangs over the coach in the inner room and a set of pistols her father left her. Hedda tries time after time to gain the attention and control she once had until she shot herself under the stress of this unbeatable battle. At the age of twenty nine Hedda married George Tesman, a scholar with a doctor's degree and a good friend.

She married him because she really had no other one to turn to and she was getting old. She said, "I had really danced myself out, my time was up". Once they got married it is as if Hedda was George's second wife. George seems to be married to his work and that always came first. Even on their honeymoon George spent most of the time gathering information for a book he planned to write. George would also go out to parties all the time, for hours at a time and just leave Hedda at home all by herself.

Hedda wanted the praise and power that she got when she was a child and tried to change George into her father. Although Hedda tried to gain control over her husband she failed. Hedda tries to gain superiority over George's aunt, Aunt Julie. Aunt Julie is the person that raised George. In a conversation George once had with his aunt he said, "You, who " ve been a father and mother to me both". When Aunt Julie stopped by to welcome Hedda and George back from their honeymoon Hedda talked lowly about Aunt Julie's hat which she picked out just to impress her nephews new wife.

When talking about the maid Hedda said, "See there! She left her old hat lying on a chair. Suppose someone came in and saw it". Hedda also refuses to addressed Aunt Tesman by her sir name and not as if she was family. George once said "If only you could bring yourself to speak to her warmly, by her first name". No-no don't ask me to do that.

I told you this once before. I'll try to call her aunt. That should be enough". By acting this way Hedda tried to return to the life she knew when she was with her father. Another person Hedda try's to take control over is Thea. Thea is an old class mate back from high school who Hedda used to pick on.

However now Thea is going through a tough time and has left her husband from up in the mountains and came to town to be with the person she has fallen in love with, Ei lert Lovborg. In search for a someone to talk to and get advice from she goes to the Tesman. Here Hedda tries to get all of Thea's personal life information. In doing so she actually lets out some of her own feelings "I want to have power over another humans life". But haven't you got that?" I have not" "Not over your husband's". That would be worth having wouldn't it?

Ah, if you could only realize how poor I am. And here you are, offered such riches!" When she finds out about Thea's relationship with Lovborg she gets jealous and try's to break it. In doing so she gets Lovborg to start drinking again and going back to his bad habits that Thea broke him out of. "You really must have a nice cold glass of punch". No thanks".

But if I insist". Makes no difference". Poor me, then I have no power over you". Not in that area".

But seriously I think you ought to, all the same. For your own sake". After this discussion Lovborg took the drink. Then she gets hold of the manuscript Thea and Lovborg worked so hard making and burns it.

Lovborg thought he lost it and then told Thea that he had torn it up and their relationship was over. Hedda did this to show that she had the power to break their relationship because she doesn't have the power in her own life. Frustrated and worn out by her inevitable quest to gain control and the respect she was once used to Hedda ends her life by taking one of her fathers old pistols and shooting herself. Because of the way of life Hedda was used to in her younger days she tried to control and get respect from everyone around her.

She went through a long and exhausting journey to get what see wanted and never came out on top where she was satisfied. And in the end decided being dead was better off then living in such a lifestyle.