Tragic Drama Hedda Gabler - Essay Example

?Tragic Drama Ibsen’s plays are symbolically rich – analyze the significance of an important symbol or a set of related symbols in Hedda Gabler. Henrik Ibsen is one of the popular playwrights of 19th century. Originally a Norwegian, he is regarded as the “Father of Realism.” His plays are absolutely realistic in nature, which are associated with the psychological conflict. He was followed by other writers such as Flaubert Dostovsky, Tolstoy, Bernard Shaw etc. He achieved a great popularity and the main reason of his popularity is his usage of symbolist elements in his play. Ibsen’s plays were the fine blend of realism and symbolism. He tried to show the realities hidden behind different facades. The symbols he used in his play also reflect the reality. Conventional symbols are very common such as lily represents purity; the eagle symbolizes strength while red colour is the symbol of passion. Ibsen’s symbolism is different from the conventional symbolism. Some critics have given their opinions about Ibsen’s symbolism. Some say that there is no symbolism in Ibsen’s work, while some of them say that his plays have symbolism. Georg Brandes, his confidential admirer and expounder, “ Ibsen has no symbolism” while Edmund Gosse says “Symbolism is nearly always to be found in his writing.” (Jeannette Lee 2001) Symbolism has played a very crucial role in Ibsen’s plays as these realistic symbols have proved his ability as a great poet as well as playwright. Symbolism also has been very effective for setting of the play. “Symbolism can enrich setting. In fact, symbolism bears on both characterization and theme as well.” (Kelley Griffith 2010) His imagery and use of symbolism are basically functional. The paper has attempted to discuss the special characteristics of Ibsen’s symbolism with reference to his play “Hedda Gabler.” Realism through Symbolism: As mentioned before, Ibsen’s plays are the fine combination of realism or naturalism and symbolism. In Hedda Gabler for instance, he has portrayed a picture of a real characters in a symbolic manner. The significance of Ibsen’s drama lies in both the realistic and symbolic characteristics. It is because purely realistic drama cannot be appropriate for the social changes on its own. Same thing is with purely symbolic drama. Ibsen’s real accomplishment lies in his realistic approach through symbolism. “Before the end of the century, both the advocates of naturalism and of symbolism were claiming Ibsen as master, and taking up hardened position in opposition to each other.” (John Styan1983) In adopting symbolism in natural scenario, Ibsen has shown his lofty descriptive ability. Due to the symbolism, his characters have become rich, multi-faceted and textured. The symbolism of Ibsen reveals the personality of Ibsen and his attitude towards life. Ibsen’s work is mainly associated with the psychological conflict and psychological predicament of the characters. He has used symbols fantastically to describe the psychological aspects of Hedda Gabler, the protagonist. For describing various facets of human nature he frequently uses symbols. For example the play takes place in a single room. The interior of the room is directly connected with the characters’ personality. The drawing room is the social attributes of Hedda while her room represents the inner corner of her personality. Symbolism for the depiction of characters: The protagonist of the play Hedda is a cold, straight, shining, passionless, and explosive lady though in the end of the play she commits suicide. Her explosive nature is depicted by the writer with the use of fire imagery. Her personality is ambiguous and always creates tension. The constant tension is in her name itself. Her maiden name as well as her name after her marriage has been mentioned by the writer. It also represents how her maiden status was more important and how her father was very much important for her. Even the critics describe Hedda “Her father’s daughter more than her husband’s wife.” Hedda’s character also has been connected with Freud. Freud’s wok on psychoanalysis has been related to the behaviour of Hedda who was a complete neurotic heroine. The symbolism used to describe the character of Hedda has made her a living soul. He further has symbolizes Hedda with the pistols. This is the most prominent and powerful symbol in the entire play. Like the pistols, she can any time get triggered. She is deadly like pistols, fire and she can any time create havoc. She is also incalculable and mysterious. The pistols also represent her family background and one more attribute of her personality. Hedda is from a military background. It is the symbol of her upbringing, which took place in a very aristocratic family. That might be the reason why she was very aggressive and masculine. The pistols also symbolize her isolation and rejection from social conducts and morality. The pistols are the representation of her denial to accept her feminism and live like a man. The opposite of Hedda is the character of Thea. Hedda is quite distructive and Thea is shown quite spiritual. For describing Thea’s character the author has given much prominence to her hair. It is the symbol of fertility about which Hedda is very jealous. HEDDA: But to me, dear--! Goodness, we went to the same school together. MRS. ELVSTED: Yes, but you were in the class above me! Oh, how fearfully afraid of you I was then! HEDDA: Were you afraid of me? MRS. ELVSTED: Yes, fearfully afraid. Because when we met on the stairs you always used to pull my hair. HEDDA: No--did I really? MRS. ELVSTED: Yes, and once you said you would scorch it off my head. HEDDA: Oh, that was only nonsense, you know. The hair of both of these ladies reflects their nature. Hedda’s hair is very thin and also very pale. It is “an attractive medium brown in colour, but not particularly ample.” The hair is always tied back when she receives the visitors. This action reflects Hedda’s restraint to do whatever she wants; it might be the symbol of sexual restraint, while Thea’s hair is very thick and luxuriant. They have the sex appeal. The hair imagery also expresses the rivalry between Hedda and Thea. Thea is the symbol of fertility about which Hedda is very jealous. In their school days Thea has always been the rival of Thea. One day Hedda even had threatened her to burn her hair. Through the symbols of act, i.e. the action of burning hair, Ibsen is trying to show the hidden perversities in Hedda’s personality. This symbolism can be called a thematic symbolism. To state the pattern of relationship these symbols are used by Ibsen. For example the dramatist reveals the relationship of Hedda with Aunt Julie. Hedda has never shown calling her by her first name. The audience quickly come to know that these two ladies are not close to each other and their relationship especially the relationship from Hedda’s side is so formal. She hates Aunt Julie but Aunt Julie always calls Hedda by her first name. When the characters are close to each other, or they are intimate to a certain character they call them by their first names. This is itself symbolic. Ibsen uses the symbols related to names to show the human relationship. Hedda’s personality, outlook have also been symbolized through the imagery of fire. Ibsen also has used the symbol of fire to express many actions and nature of the protagonist. The stove on the stage, the manuscript even the pistol, all are the symbols of fire which Hedda constantly uses in her action or behaviour. The stove is the symbol of her inner fire. Her action of peeping out of the French window also is the symbol of her longing for the freedom, which she has not yet obtained. Ejlert loses his manuscript which was burnt by Hedda. The action is the symbol of the end of Ejlert’s burning and destroying future.When Leda says that she feels the flower to have the odour of death, it means that somewhere she is forecasting her own death. The darkness in the room is also the representation of the darkness in Hedda’s life. There is no hope, no happiness no positivity in her life which is portrayed by the dramatist in dark colour. Symbols for representing relationship: The various symbols have been used very effectively be Ibsen. Their relationship is represented through general talk and actions of the characters. For example, the hatred of Hedda feels feeling towards Aunt Julie. Hedda has never shown calling her by her first name. The audience quickly come to know that these two ladies are not close to each other and their relationship especially the relationship from Hedda’s side is so formal. She hates Aunt Julie but Aunt Julie always calls Hedda by her first name. When the characters are close to each other, or they are intimate to a certain character they call them by their first names. Eilert calls Mrs Elvsted by her first name that is Thea, which is the symbol of their intimacy. This is itself symbolic. Ibsen uses the symbols related to names to show the human relationship. Sometimes the author has used the weather for describing the setting. For example the reference of autumn leaves is there. It represents the life of Hedda which was boring and dying. Autumn is the season associated with death and decay. Ibsen throughout his entire career has followed the same formula of naturalism and symbolism in his play and it was a big hit. He uses the symbols to denote the realistic terms such as personality, psychology, actions, and future of the characters. Symbolism has played a vital role in representing his plays and placing them on a certain level. He proved that he is a master of realism as well as symbolism. This is the reason why his critics also cannot deny the great success of his unique realistic symbolism References: 1. Hedda Gabler Symbolism, Imagery & Allegory, http://www.shmoop.com/hedda-gabler/symbolism-imagery.html 2. Ibsen Henrik “Hedda Gablen”, 3. Jennette Lee (2001) The Ibsen Secret : A Key to the Prose Dramas of Henrik Ibsen Published by Minerva Groupp.4 – 5 4. John Styan P. 24, “Modern Drama in Theory and Practice: Volume 2, Symbolism, Surrealism and the Absurd, Cambridge University Press. 1983 5. Kelly Griffith (2010) P. 104, Writing Essay about Literature: A guide and style sheet .Chap 4, Interpreting Drama, 6. Sparknotes 101 published by Spark Educational Publishing 2004 Read More