The Hedda Gabler play took a slightly different turn than what I was expecting. Although I had guessed that there would be some kind of tragic ending, I actually thought things would end up working out entirely in Hedda's favor. Before reading Act Four, it was looking like Hedda would be the death of Testman, because he seemed to be very gullible throughout the play. Being gullible seems to be a weakness that usually ends up harming a character in the long run. Suprisingly, Testman lives and crazy Hedda ends up killing herself. Sooo not expecting that.
Their were two events in the story that caused Hedda to lose her power. The first let down for her occurs when she discovers that Eilert's wound was in a different place than she had expected. "That too! Oh absurdity! It hangs like a curse over everything I so much as touch (Ibsen 835)." The deal is sealed for her when Judge Brack reveals that he knows about the pistol and that him keeping quiet will be her only chance. "So I'm in your power now, Judge. You have a hold over me from now on (Ibsen 837)." This is really the last straw for her because until now she has had some kind of power over all of the other characters. Once she loses her control, the jig is up for Hedda!
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