Hedda Gabler

This was definitely an interesting play. Close attention must be paid to detail, in order to get a true understanding of the characters. Hedda comes off as a very cold and cynical person, but she does it in such a way that in the opening act, it could be easily be mistaken and leave the reader in confusion.
I finished reading the play on my own, and was still a little unsure of exactly what happened, and why. I knew that Eilert Loveborg had died, but I was a little uncertain as to whether or not he had shot himself with the pistol, given to him by Hedda. I was also curious if Hedda was indeed encouraging Loveborg to commit suicide.
After discussing the play in class, and hearing the interpretations from other people, I got a much clearer picture of the events that were taking place in the play. Hedda was obviously thinking that Loveborg would go to such an extreme when she came into possession of the manuscript and decided to burn it. We know now that Eilert’s intentions were to end his life, but it was not quite so apparent when he told Hedda that he’d lost the manuscript. Loveborg: “Well then you must also understand that she and I cannot possibly ever see each other again.” Hedda: “Where will you go?” Loveborg: “Nowhere. I just want to put an end to it all. As soon as possible.” Hedda: “Eilert Loveborg, listen to me. Do it beautifully (Ibsen 1508). It seems that Hedda is prepared to push Eilert to suicide before we even realize that he has decided to kill himself