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A review by ellie_bronte
Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen
5.0
Since I had to read it for class I entered the play knowing what to look out for; however, even without a set goal in mind this is a very thought-provoking piece. Strange enough I could sympathize with Hedda although she was very unstable and manipulative. The lifestyle she married into seemed like a nightmare, having a husband who found the excitement in old documents and organizing. Of course, she shouldn't have married into that lifestyle if she knew she wouldn't be happy, but I digress.
A theme of the play that I loved was the restraint that society and daily matters place on different classes. Hedda couldn't do very much without raising suspicion of those around her, a baby on the way threatened to take her beauty away, her husband is as exciting as dryer lint and the man she had an affair with in the past spent his time with a very meek woman. Not to mention someone like Judge Brack breathing down her neck throughout the play... man that guy is creepy. I know it's stupid to say that I love the conversation of the play but there was something so real about it to me. The characters weren't black and white, good or bad. Everyone was complex and it showed through their words. And it just seemed like something I could overhear my neighbors talking about - maybe not shooting but regular things like slippers, job situations, etc.
I'm glad I had to read this play and all of its subtle and unsubtle wickedness!
A theme of the play that I loved was the restraint that society and daily matters place on different classes. Hedda couldn't do very much without raising suspicion of those around her, a baby on the way threatened to take her beauty away, her husband is as exciting as dryer lint and the man she had an affair with in the past spent his time with a very meek woman. Not to mention someone like Judge Brack breathing down her neck throughout the play... man that guy is creepy. I know it's stupid to say that I love the conversation of the play but there was something so real about it to me. The characters weren't black and white, good or bad. Everyone was complex and it showed through their words. And it just seemed like something I could overhear my neighbors talking about - maybe not shooting but regular things like slippers, job situations, etc.
I'm glad I had to read this play and all of its subtle and unsubtle wickedness!