The play Hedda Gabler had a very interesting plot. Hedda, the main character, was married to George Tessman, a very serious scholar, who she didn’t love. They had just come back from their 6 month honey moon, much of which George spent working, which annoyed Hedda. They are facing economic troubles after coming back, and George is counting on getting a job as a professor. George lived with his aunts before he married Hedda, and was very attached to them. His aunt Julia visits often, but his other aunt is very sick and eventually dies. The judge is a good friend of the couple and visits often, especially to see Hedda. Thea Elvisted came to visit them to try to see if either of them had heard any news of Eljert Lovborg, who was George’s longstanding rival. Thea was in love with Lovborg and had helped him write his new book, but Lovborg was still in love with Hedda, who was the real inspiration for his books. Thea left her husband to move to the city near Lovborg, and when she comes to visit Hedda quickly manipulates her into telling her all about her affair with Lovborg. They invite him to visit later that night, forgetting that George already is going to a party with the judge.

That night, Lovborg comes and shows George, Hedda and the judge his new book, which has not yet been published and he only has one copy of. The book is brilliant and talks about the future. He is alone with Hedda and is very disappointed in her for marrying George, because he still loves her. Thea comes in, and the three of them quickly get into a fight, which ends in Hedda persuading Lovborg, who had been an alcoholic, to drink. Lovborg decides to go to the party at the Judge’s and promises to pick up Thea at 10:00. The women wait and wait, but he never comes. At 6 the next morning George comes in and says that Lovborg had been out of control that night and had lost his manuscript, which George had picked up for him. Then George gets the news that his sick aunt has died, so he rushes away, leaving Hedda with the unpublished book, which she locks away. Lovborg comes in as soon as Hedda is alone and breaks up with Thea, telling her that he tore up the book. She leaves and he tells Hedda that he didn’t want to tell Thea he lost the book. He says that he is done and his career is over. Hedda gives him her pistol, which she puts in his coat pocket. Then she burns the book in the stove. When George comes back she admits what she has done, and says she did it out of love for him. The judge comes with the news that Lovborg has been shot when the pistol discharged and is dead.

Thea and George begin to re write his book by using the notes Thea had saved. Hedda shoots herself with one of her pistols and dies.

The characters in the play Hedda Gabler were very complex. The fact that the play was set in Norway in the 1800s made it harder for us to understand some of their actions, because in that time people were more formal and didn’t just say whatever was on their minds. The main character, Hedda, was married to George, who she didn’t love. Hedda was very manipulative, she charmed Thea into telling her all about her affair with Lovborg. She is always trying to start trouble and doesn’t care about other people and their feelings. George is an absent minded scholar, he doesn’t understand that Hedda isn’t happy. Though he is devoted to his aunts, all he really thinks about his work. Lovborg is trying to reform and become a better man by not drinking, but in the end his demons get the best of him. Thea is very in love with Lovborg, her whole world has revolved around him for three years, even though she is married.