Analysis of Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen

1. A PSYCOLOGICALANALYSIS ON THE
MAIN CHARACTER IN HENRIK IBSEN’S
“HEDDA GABLER”
By : VANNY PUTRI

2. Abstract
In this presentation, the writer tries to analyze Henrik
Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler. The purpose of this writing is to
analyze the psychological analysis on the main character in
this play, theories that are used are textual, contextual, and
hypertextual by close reading method.
keywords : psychology, Character, Hedda Gabler, Henrik Ibsen,

3. 1. Introduction
Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen is a nineteenth century drama.
Hedda Gabler tells about the women who newly married and
bored with both her marriage and life. She is seeking to
influence a human fate so people are easily believed by
Hedda’s words. Hedda Gabler is the daughter of General
Gabler.

4. 2. Poet’s Biography
Henrik Ibsen was born on March 20, 1828, in Skien, Norway. In 1862, he was exiled to
Italy, where he wrote the tragedy Brand. In 1868, Ibsen moved to Germany, where he wrote
one of his most famous works: the play A Doll's House. In 1890, he wrote Hedda
Gabler, creating one of theater's most notorious characters. By 1891, Ibsen had returned to
Norway a literary hero. He died on May 23, 1906, in Oslo, Norway. Ibsen moved to
Christiania (later known as Oslo) in 1850 to prepare for university examinations to study at
the University of Christiania. Living in the capital, he made friends with other writers and
artistic types. One of these friends, Ole Schulerud, paid for the publication of Ibsen's first
play Catilina, which failed to get much notice.

5. 3. Theory and Methodology
3.1 Theory
 Character and Characterization
“Character is the particular combination of qualities in a person or place that
makes them different from others”.
(http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/character
“Characterization in literature refers the step by step process wherein an
author introduces and then describes a character. The character can be
described directly by the author or indirectly through the actions, thoughts,
and speech of the character.”
(http://literary-devices.com/content/characterization)
“Psychological is relating to the human mind and feelings psychological problems”.
(Cambridge Dictionary)
3.2 Methods
 To appreciate the drama of Henrik Ibsen, Hedda Gabler
 To analyze the character in Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler
 To analyze the psychology in Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler

6. 4. Research Object
The objects of research are sorted into a material and
formal object. Material object in this study is Hedda
Gabler by Henrik Ibsen. Formal object of this research to
analyze the character and characterization and the
psychology of Hedda Gabler.

7. 5. Analysis
5.1 Analysis Textual
 Character and characterization
Hedda Gabler : She is the main character, newly married and bored
with both her marriage and life, seeking to influence a human fate for
the first time. She is not a nice person, she is the daughter of General
Gabler.
 George Tesman : He is Hedda's husband, George Tesman, is an
obsessive scholar who spends most of his six-month honeymoon
with his books, rather than with his wife. He loves Hedda, but he is
not a particularly inspired man, content to regurgitate old research
rather than follow his own ideas, and always looking for the approval
of those around him. While Hedda seeks freedom from the norms,
Tesman wants nothing more than to abide by them.
 Juliana Tesman : she is George's loving aunt who has raised him
since early childhood. She is also called Aunt Julle in the play, and
Aunt Ju-Ju by George.

8.  Thea Elvsted : A younger schoolmate of Hedda and a former acquaintance of
George. Nervous and shy, Thea is in an unhappy marriage.
 Judge Brack : He is an unscrupulous family friend. A family friend who is secretly
in love with Hedda. He is often the purveyor of new information in the play, he is a
manipulator on a par with Hedda.
 Eilert Lövborg : George's former colleague, who now competes with George to
achieve publication and a teaching position. Eilert was once in love with Hedda.
 Bertha : she is a servant of the Tesmans. Berta used to work as maid for Miss Julie
and Miss Rina, she has been with the family since George was a little boy. Now
she works as a live-in maid for George and Hedda.
 Aunt Rina : she is Tesman's other aunt, and she is never seen in the play. She is in
poor health and close to death's door.

9. 5.2 Analysis Hypertextual
 Psychological of Hedda Gabler
In Hedda Gabler (1890), Ibsen lays a great emphasis on
individual pshychology. Hedda Gabler is depicted as a
neurotic character and Ibsen shows his deep understanding of
individual psychology, especially abnormal psychology.
Hedda is said to be a manly character. Even without
showing Hedda’s behavior towards designated people,
several evidences can be found of her manly personality, her
psychological profile as a schizophrenic person is another
evidence. Even though Hedda is married to Jorgen Tesman,
she is presented as Hedda Gabler in the title, and later as
general gabler’s daughter (Act I). the title does not only
suggest her independence from her husband, but her
independence from any other person in the play; contrary to
Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, who rather than depending on
her husband to exist, depends on her father and remains “Mrs”
Hedda Gabler remains “Hedda” and the force of her
character is already conveyed through the title. Hedda is also
the socially highest character in the play her aristocratic
background, as compare to the bourgeois society she has to
or rather choose to fit into.

10. 6. Conclusion
Hedda Gabler is a play written by Norwegian
playwright Henrik Ibsen. Henrik Ibsen was present at
the world premiere, which occurred on January 31,
1891 at the Residenztheater in Munich. Hedda Gabler
tells about the women who newly married and bored
with both her marriage and life. She is seeking to
influence a human fate so people are easily believed
by Hedda’s words. In the end of play, Hedda Gabler
decided to suicide.

11. REFERENCES
http://www.biography.com/people/henrik-ibsen-
37014
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/ch
aracter
http://literary devices.com/content/characterization