44 pages1 hour read

Hedda Gabler

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1890

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Summary and Study Guide

Overview

Hedda Gabler is an 1891 play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It is widely considered one of the most accomplished plays of the 19th century. Ibsen was a prolific and highly acclaimed writer who penned over two dozen plays. Many of his most famous works focus on the challenging relationships between family members and the quiet tragedies of ordinary life. Hedda Gabler is one of the most complex, challenging, and sought-after roles in theater. Many notable actresses have portrayed her on stage and screen since the play was first published. Hedda Gabler tells the story of a woman in an unhappy marriage, her complex relationships with three different men, and her desire for control over her own life and over the destinies of others. Though the play was originally written in Norwegian, it has been translated into English many times.

This guide is based on the 2014 e-book edition of Kenneth McLeish’s 1995 translation, published by Nick Hern Books.

Content Warning: This play pivots around Hedda Gabler’s death by suicide and the ambiguous death by suicide or accidental death of Ejlert Løvborg. It also discusses alcohol addiction. 

Plot Summary

The play is set in

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