Ibsen's Hedda Gabler

Personally, it is always a joy to read Ibsen. I enjoy the socially charged content and examining the psychology of each character. While reading Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, I would often relate the plot to A Doll's House, another on of Ibsen's plays. One of the most striking things about the play is the character development. I found it interesting that the setting of the play rarely changes; the characters drive the plot. I think that throughout the play, the author makes an interesting commentary on socal grievances that plaugued his time as well as ours. The true nature of Hedda's character is indeed questionable. I found it hard to distinguish her manipulative tactics from her actual self; however this is the beauty of the play. Hedda Gabler embodies a human flaw that we all have: obsession with the self. Though Hedda signifies a magnified version of this human flaww, her actions put people that she "cared" for and people that she disregarded in great danger. One might observe this as evidence of insanity, but I think that the author is making a commentary on the nature of humanity. In the end, when Hedda realizes that she is under fire and that the manipulating she has done will lead to her demise, she opts for suicide. This could be seen as cowardly, but I believe that it's just another example of her obsession with control. While reading, I loved experiencing a full range of emotion, which for me, defines a successful play.