Hedda Gabler Symbolism

Gun

Manuscript

Vine Leaves

Quote:

Quote:

Sybolism:

Real life link: Communist manifesto

Real life link: Growing demand for drug (alcohol)

Symbolism:

Quote:

Hedda: Oh, well…I’ve got one thing at least that I can pass the time with.


Tesman: Oh, thank the good Lord for that! And what might that be, Hedda? Eh?


Hedda: My pistols… Jörgen.

One of her last connections to her old aristocratic life

Represents something inaccessible to a woman like Hedda

Symoblism:

Phallic symbolism

Weapon of warfare

The power that comes with being a man

Something of high value/ precious
“Yes, it is the whole of his precious, irreplaceable manuscript!”

Lovborg's Manuscript- something that belongs to him- means a lot to him
“And as for Eilert Lovborg—he is sitting, with vine-leaves in his hair, reading his manuscript.

Unique
“He has no copy of it, you must know! He told me so.”

Baby of Lovborg and Mrs. Elvsted= collaborative work- symbol of academically driven women/ opportunities for women
“Thea's pure soul was in that book”

The vision of better future (hard work)
“And you can understand, too, that for her and me together no future is possible.”

"Eilert Lovborg—he is sitting, with vine-leaves in his hair, reading his manuscript."

Tesman: "Oh, Hedda, you can't conceive what a book that is going to be! I believe it is one of the most remarkable things that have ever been written. Fancy that!"

Symoblism: The greek god Dionysus (Bachuss) who represents wive, merriment, fertility but with tragic insight.

Pistols from Hedda’s late father, General Gabler

Tesman: "Oh, Hedda, you can't conceive what a book that is going to be! I believe it is one of the most remarkable things that have ever been written. Fancy that!"

Beauty, freedom
“Beautifully? [Smiling.] With vine-leaves in my hair, as you used to dream in the old days—?”

The vision of better future
“And you can understand, too, that for her and me together no future is possible.”

Real life link: Objects women weren’t allowed to use in Victorian times as it was a heavily patriarchal society

if Lövborg cannot live beautifully, she hopes that he can at least die beautifully.

In the end, however, Lövborg only proves that he is no Dionysus, only an alcoholic, and so Hedda’s vision of his courage and beauty must be changed.

In Hedda’s vision, the vine leaves symbolize this almost godlike self-mastery.

Hedda creates a vision of Lövborg with vine leaves in his hair. Hedda wants Lövborg to go to Judge Bracks’ party so that he can prove that he has become a master of himself.

Lovborg has worked on the Manuscript with Mrs. Elvsted which makes it a very unique piece of high value to both of them. Mrs. Elvsted has put her “pure soul in that book” because it was her way of showing she has worth even as a woman. The manuscript therefore symbolizes hard work and women potential

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