Hedda Gabler Study Guide

Hedda Gabler

Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen

Hedda Gabler is an 1890 play by Henrik Ibsen. Hedda Gabler's new husband, George Tesman is an academic who is threatened by the brilliant work of Eilert Loveborg. Afraid that Loveberg's forthcoming publication will ruin her husband's success, Hedda manages to steal the manuscript and burn it. When Loveborg confesses to Hedda that he has lost the manuscript, she convinces him to commit suicide, giving him a gun. Later Hedda realizes her participation may be discovered and she kills herself.

Hedda Gabler Characters

Table of Contents
  • Hedda Tesman née Gabler — The main character, newly married and bored with both her marriage and life, seeking to influence a human fate for the first time. She is the daughter of General Gabler.
  • George (Jørgen) Tesman — Hedda's husband, an academic who is as interested in research and travel as he is in his wife. Despite George's presumed rivalry with Eilert over Hedda, he remains a congenial and compassionate host, and even plans to return Eilert's manuscript after Eilert loses it in a drunken stupor.
  • Juliana (Juliane) Tesman — George's loving aunt who has raised him since early childhood. She is also called Aunt Julle in the play, and Aunt Ju-Ju by George.
  • Thea Elvsted — A younger schoolmate of Hedda and a former acquaintance of George. Nervous and shy, Thea is in an unhappy marriage.
  • Judge Brack — An unscrupulous family friend.
  • Eilert Lövborg (Ejlert Løvborg) — George's former colleague, who now competes with George to achieve publication and a teaching position. Eilert was once in love with Hedda.
  • Bertha (Berte) — A servant of the Tesmans.
  • Diana — Owner of a brothel where Eilert Lövborg dies.

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