Hedda Gabler

Hedda Gabler is a play written by Henrik Ibsen, during the literary era realism, that challenges society's morals from the use of a women to control the environment she is in. The literary era, realism focuses on the dark side of human nature and the truths which lie in between those natures. Higher classes, men, and women still have a separate role in their society in order to structure the realms in that period of time. In Hedda Gabler, Hedda gets away from her natural environment and then becomes part of a new social status and environment. She takes in all awareness to social means and turns to manipulation, control for power, and ambition to center herself right in the middle of all the action. From the jump Hedda takes control of the situation during conversation with Lovborg and Mrs. Elvsted, when Hedda says, "No, you don't, little Thea, not there. Come right over here next to me. I want to be in the middle between you" (Ibsen 813).  During the realism era women were struggling for power and a voice in society. As life got more complex then the more society became of order and power over that matter and energy as it became a patriarchy. Ibsen introduces realism in theater which gives a visual insight with the emotions, moral questioning, and truth behind people's condition. Hedda has a vision to better her life with beauty, ideas, and fulfillment to herself but through out the story she is still tied down to her status in life. Even though she has most of the control around her; it isn't until towards the second half of the play that the higher status judge character takes more control. Brack states, as he goes back and forth with Hedda, What if life suddenly should offer you some purpose or other, something to live for" (Ibsen 805)?