Hedda Gabler Essay

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Sheneki Walley Dr. Jordan English 212 17 January 2012 Hedda Gabler: Master of Manipulation “People just don’t act that way” (Ibsen 661). In Henrik Ibsen’s play, Hedda Gabler, the main character, Hedda Gabler, uses this phrase, relentlessly to shun people and their actions. She thinks of herself as being above and beyond society. Have you ever imagined living life only to please others? Acting in this manner could result in a vicious, unruly, or malicious individual. Hedda not only portrayed those characteristics but also was extremely controlling and very concerned with society’s view of her. Hedda felt as though she was better than everyone else because of her father’s wealthy stature of being a prominent general. It was her belief that she could obtain whomever or whatever her heart desired at the opponent’s expense. Although Hedda’s selfish behavior had an impact on her becoming a haughty, manipulating, and deceitful individual, one sympathizes with her in the end. When Hedda Gabler is introduced in Act I, one could detect her haughtiness. She has already started her complaining. “Look at that. That maid opened the door. I’m drowning in all this sunlight” (Ibsen 659). How hard would it have been for her to close the door? It wouldn’t have been that hard at all. That was just one of the many antics that Hedda pulled to demean people. She continuously makes it a point to humiliate people for self gratification. For example, she refers to Aunt Julie’s hat as an “old hat”, and she is not the least apologetic or remorseful (Ibsen 660). Not only was Hedda haughty, but she was also a master manipulator. It was evident that Hedda was manipulative when she persuaded Mrs. Elvsted into believing that she was her friend. Hedda was even more convincing when she told her to call her by her first name. Poor Mrs. Elvsted, she had no idea that
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