In the
play Hedda Gabler, written by Henrik
Ibsen, George Tesman character shows his wife Hedda Tesman is the one who wears
the pants in their household. George Tesman is an intelligent person who was
raised by his aunts and Hedda Tesman comes from a military family (her dad was
a General). They are not a good match
from the beginning. Hedda new that George was soft so she took his kindness for
weakness. She replies, “Yes, I did. And then when he went around constantly
begging with all his strength, begging for permission to let him take care of
me, well I see why I shouldn’t take him up on it” (Ibsen 802). In the play George and Hedda have a group of
friends with different classes. The one that stands out the most is Barack (the
Judge). He and Hedda seem to be close, so close that her husband George never
pays attention to them flirting with one another. Hedda says, “I am so bored:
six whole months never meeting with a soul who knew the slightest thing about
our circle. No one we could talk with about our kinds of things” (Ibsen
801). A normal person will not allow
their wife to indulge in a conversation with another man unless he is a duck
(weak). Hedda showed no respect for George, she treated him as though he was
the woman and she was the man.
I agree that Hedda had all the power in her marriage, with Tesman. Henrick Ibsen takes a turn with society's roles. Even though Tesman is still educated and the money maker in his household; he doesn't take a hold on his marriage and allows Hedda to use power over him, so he can have acceptance in the relationship. Brack is a man of a high class and has major importance and power around him. Ibsen shows Hedda's power with her association with Brack, in which she talks to him with secracy and knowledge. They do this behind Tesman's back and she knew her manipulation she had on Tesman. Hedda percieved herself more powerful from that knowledge that she had as secracy. Hedda could get Brack to talk about anything by using her erotics and words. Brack states, "George Tesman is a very naive soul, Mrs. Hedda," and Hedda says in return, "God knows, he is. But is there something more behind this," and Brack goes on to say, "I'd have to say so" (Ibsen 822). Hedda gets lead way into situations from other circumstance by using what she knows and how to use her control. Hedda is able to begin this control from the marriage she enters with the unstable, less of a man, Tesman, in order to start the rest of her manipulation and power in the society.
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