You have now read the entire play, Hedda Gabler. Now re-read Act I and write a 1

Question

You have now read the entire play, Hedda Gabler. Now re-read Act I and write a 1200-word (3+ pages, double-speed) discussion of what we learn from Act I that will determine the course of the play. In other words, there's not a lot of action in Act I, but there is a huge amount going on among the characters, and it sets up everything that will be played out in the rest of the play. There are two ways to do this, and you should use both. One way is to use the "A wants B but C" formula to show how the goals or wishes of the various characters lead to conflict and complication. The other is simply to read "through" the action to see the inner elements of character on display as the characters interact with each other-what's really going on under all the chit-chat. For example, notice how everyone wants to please Hedda, but everything they do seems just to irritate her all the more-the flowers, the open windows. If you really look closely, almost everything anyone says or does gives us a warning about the fireworks that will occur later on.

Explanation / Answer

This entire play takes place in the Tesman's living room and a smaller room adjacent to it. Jurgen Tesman and Hedda Tesman are newly wed couples and have just returned from their honeymoon of 6 months. Hedda Tesman, the daughter of famous General was used to live a high class and luxurious living as a child and it was very hard to please her. She is married to Jurgen Tesman an intelligent scholar who wants a position in a college. He is researching in the field of history to publish his book. Tesman tries very hard to please his wife Hedda. Tesman was raised by his aunt Jullee. Aunt Julle also tries very hard to please Hedda but their difference of background is quite obvious. Bette is the servant of Tesman , she also tries very hard to please her new mistress i.e Hedda. Eljert Lovborg was an old academic rival of Tesman and now he is back in town.

Hedda Gabler is a sign of a well assemble play of characters.In the first half of this section, Act 1, writer introduces the main problems that face the characters. Hedda is elite and hard to please. The entire play takes place in the Tesman's living room. We learn that Hedda and Tesman were not a perfect couple. Hedda is clearly of a higher class than Tesman. Even before hedda enters, we see that Berte( the servant of Tesman) is afraid that hedda cannot be pleased; for example writer shown one incident in his novel is when Hedda enters, she complains without any intervening that Berte has opened the window.Another example of Hedda's intractable behaviour is aunt Julie hat incident. In that incident Hedda criticizes about aunt's hat.

Tesman recogniges his wife rudeness but refuges to acknowledge the problem. This as shown in incident that Tesman warns Hedda to be nicer to Aunt Julie. Tesman respects aunt Julie because George’s own father, Jochum, has died, and Julie has taken the role of both father and mother for him.

Hedda is spoiled the happy environment and treats Tesman just as badly, same as she does Berte and Julie. Hedda neglect her husband Tesman's feelings. This is illustrated by her refusal to look at his beloved slippers. Writer Isben illustrates categorically that Tesman remains unaware of the pregnancy. This is an another indication that their relationship suffers from a lack of openness and awareness. This may be headed toward some serious problems later in the play. Although Tesman & Hedda never come directly into dispute. The tension between them is the basis for much of the tragedy in Hedda Gabler.

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