Symbolism in Hedda Gabler

 Hedda Gabler

By Henrik Ibsen

✓Discuss the significance of symbolism in Hedda Gabler.

The use of symbolism is the modern technique which provides deeper meanings and connotations. It also becomes the psychological link between the reader and the writer. Henrik Ibsen also employs this technique in his well renowned drama Hedda Gabler. This drama is replete with symbolisms which provide deeper analysis of the Characters, their psyche, their action and different themes of drama. some of these symbols are Title_Hedda Gabler, setting of the house, flowers, colours, window, picture of General Gabler, Pistols,  arm chair, piano, manuscript, stock, Hair, Vine leaves, etc and even the characters: Hedda, Tesman,  Brack, Loevborg, Aunt Juju, Aunt Rina, Thea, Prostitution etc are symbolic. All these provides profundity and deepness to the drama.

 The title of the drama Hedda Gabbar is highly symbolic because it appraises us of the main story about Hedda who is father fixated and suffering from inferiority as well as superiority complex at the same time and wants to be called Hedda Gabler instead of Hedda Tesman because: 

She is more the daughter of his father than the wife of her husband.

 Setting of the house is very symbolic and even the house has very symbolic connotation. This house was first occupied by an ex-minister and now by Tesman who is a professor by profession. The exchange of fortune shows that the aristocracy is now deteriorating. Fortunes is changing. However the setting of the house, its interior and furniture show that the man who is mere a professor and belongs to the middle class is trying his best to please his wife who belongs to the aristocratic class. If viewed the  traditional setting of the house, it symbolises the society which binds women in the four walls of the house. House is just like a golden cage for Hedda.

 Windows and peeping of Hedda through window are also highly symbolic in the play. Windows are usually the source of looking outward of the house. Hedda times and again looks through the windows. Her peeping through Windows shows her aspiration to go outside the cage. It also shows her crave for freedom.

 Picture of Gabler also has symbolic effects especially on Hedda and generally on the overall settings of the drama. His picture symbolises his presence in the life of Hedda Gabler. The personality of General Gabler effects Hedda throughout the play. No doubt, he is not present physically but he effects psychologically and mentally his daughter. It also shows the masculine upbringing of Hedda. 

Pistols of General Gabler are also symbolic. They are heritage of Gabler to Hedda. They are the symbol of power and authority.  Hedda throughout the novel craves for power and authority. These are the source of freedom and end up her boredom and tideousness.

 The presence and removal of Flowers are highly symbolic. As they refer to the change from prosperity to adversity or the withering life which was otherwise healthy and beautiful. The sombre colours in the house also symbolises the boring, colorless and dull life of Hedda Gabler.

 Arm-Chair and piano are also used as symbols because they are used to show power and authority and aesthetic beauty respectively. They show the aesthetic taste of the aristocratic class. Carpet also show this thing.

Hair are also symbolisd here because they apprise us of the inherent nature of the characters. For instance, the hair of Hedda shows her sturdiness and further non-creativity. They also do not intice sexuality. On the other hand, hair of Thea shows her prosperous nature, creativity and sexuality.

Manuscript has also been symbolically asserted to be the child in the novel. This is the product of Thea and Loevborg's mutual relationship, hard work and creativity.

 The remarkable thing is that Henrik Ibsen has employed his Characters symbolically. For instance, the character of Hedda Gabler is symbolic of a woman who is caught up in the Norms, traditions and rules and regulations of the society which does not let woman to fly in the sky freely. On the other hand, the character of Tesman is the symbol of those men who have feministic qualities but have been assigned the stereotypical male role by the society. His marriage also highlights the marriage of convenience. 

Judge Brack is also very symbolic figure. He symbolises the men who are bachelors but have illicit relationship with the wives of other men. He is famous and respected in the society. This thing shows that the hypocrisy of the society.  Moreover, the character of Eliert Loevborg is also very symbolic. He is an artist but not valued. His deteriorated condition is the true picture of this type of society. The image of wine leaves on his head is highly symbolic because Hedda finds him the one who sets aside the rules and regulation of the society and leads a bohemian life.

 Thea is also highly symbolic figure. She symbolises those women who can flee from the society and their houses for their own happiness and those who do not care for scandals and for what people will say. They know to fly in the sky and makes way for themselves. 

 Through Aunt Juju and Aunt Rina, Ibsen meets us with a different but stereotypical face of the society. Society accepts women like them who end up their life being Nun or those who slaughter their desires and aspiration at the alter of the society. These are embraced by society. Prostitution is also symbolised with those women who fulfill their desires and attain complete freedom through the negative use of body. They sell their bodies for comfort of life. Prostitute stands in contrast with Loevborg. As Loevborg also employs negative ways to attain freedom but when he gives up these ways, he is accepted but if prostitute decides to give up and be part of the society again, society will never accept her.

To cut short our discussion, Hedda Gabler is  replete with different symbols which provide profundity to his writings and promote the themes of the drama and provide it a strange lustre.