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Class Conflict in Hedda Gabler Assignment-1

The document discusses class conflict in Henrik Ibsen's play Hedda Gabler. It analyzes the relationships between Hedda and her three lovers from different social classes - Judge Brack from the upper bourgeoisie, Eilert Lovborg from the middle bourgeoisie, and George Tesman who Hedda marries to maintain her social standing. Hedda feels dissatisfied and trapped in her loveless marriage to Tesman. She also had a past connection with Lovborg as intellectuals who felt the same pains and desires for freedom. The rise of the bourgeoisie during this time period led to conflicts between social classes in Victorian era society.

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Arshad Munir
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650 views

Class Conflict in Hedda Gabler Assignment-1

The document discusses class conflict in Henrik Ibsen's play Hedda Gabler. It analyzes the relationships between Hedda and her three lovers from different social classes - Judge Brack from the upper bourgeoisie, Eilert Lovborg from the middle bourgeoisie, and George Tesman who Hedda marries to maintain her social standing. Hedda feels dissatisfied and trapped in her loveless marriage to Tesman. She also had a past connection with Lovborg as intellectuals who felt the same pains and desires for freedom. The rise of the bourgeoisie during this time period led to conflicts between social classes in Victorian era society.

Uploaded by

Arshad Munir
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Class conflict in Hedda Gabler

The political, social, and economic rise of the bourgeoisie and the subsequent fall of the
aristocracy led to a conflict between Hedda and her three lovers of different classes in Hedda
Gabler. The society that has professed liberalism only by name. It has distanced itself from
the ideals of freedom, equality, and truth and has emerged as a society of injustice,
inequality, and hypocrisy.

Brack, Hedda. and Eilert Lovborg belongs to the upper bourgeoisie whereas the other
characters belong to the middle bourgeoisie. This bourgeoisie differed greatly from our ideas
about the middle class in America; their wealth was inherited and their social customs were
extremely limited. There is an inherent conflict in Hedda's dissatisfaction, cold behavior, and
insensitive cruelty towards Aunt Julie, but these are only appetizers for what is to come in the
next phase.

Hedda and Tesman

Hedda is afraid of scandal so by trapping herself in a marriage without love or similarities


between her and George, she ends up angry, bored, and powerless.

Tessman’s lack of motivation to push forward and discharge himself from the basic
knowledge and understanding of society represents him as a member of the bourgeoisie.

The impact of categorization of social classes on people's lives. Hedda's desire to marry was
based on her desire to maintain her high social standing. Tesman, on the other hand, used
their marriage to be publicly admired and submit to a loveless union.

Hedda/Lovborg

Lovborg pushes the boundaries and explores subjects that are currently unknown. He is
creative, intellectual, and a driving force in society.

Hedda and Lovborg connect very deeply because they are both intellectuals who feel the
same pain and aspire to the same freedoms.
Hedda and Lovborg represent people who have fallen from the aristocracy.

Hedda influences others into developing. Lovborg writes a novel to meet his financial needs.
Hedda destroys handwriting; sets up her control over Lovborg financially. Burning
manuscripts represents Hedda's bad enormous-passion.

Hedda and Brack

 Both of the aristocratic class


 Hedda gains control over characters because of her manipulative skills.
 To hold on to the aristocratic lifestyle by trying to attain power and trying to become
"rich" through it.
 Judge Brack, the most manipulative character, loses his calculating self. Knowledge is
the source of power.

Economics in the Victorian Era and Hedda Gabler

The economic structure developed in favor of the bourgeoisie; often associated with the
growth of cities and the expansion of the economy. Marx considered the bourgeoisie
pointless. He viewed the capitalist class as exploiting the middle class. The rise of the
bourgeoisie caused conflict between the classes

Conclusion;

I think the play upon the title reflects the conflict between formality and intimacy or between
single and married life. It may be suggested that the play «Hedda Gabler» is a tragedy on the
individual psyche. So that drama is all about conflict and Hedda Gabler is the center of it. Her
tragedy lies not only in her suicide but in her desire. According to Ejlert: she hopes that life
can be beautiful, can measure up to a certain standard, regardless of practicalities like
professional success or failure.

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