Hedda Gabler

Content Warning: This section contains discussion of death by suicide. 

“MISS TESMAN. …Imagine. You, and Hedda. She had so many beaux.

TESMAN (smiling, humming a little tune). You’re right. Some of my friends must be quite green-eyed. No doubt of it. No doubt.”

Juliane and Tesman see Tesman’s marriage to Hedda as a kind of social accomplishment. Tesman has beat out other competitors in order to claim Hedda as his wife; she provides him with social capital.

“MISS TESMAN. Of course you did. I’m talking about…other prospects.

TESMAN. Prospects?

MISS TESMAN. Oh Jørgen, I am your aunt.

TESMAN. Well, of course I’ve other prospects.

MISS TESMAN. I thought so!

TESMAN. For example, I’m pretty sure that one day I’ll be…a professor.

MISS TESMAN. A professor.”

Juliane attempts to get Tesman to tell her whether or not Hedda is pregnant after their honeymoon. Because she approaches the topic obliquely, Tesman does not understand what she is trying to ask and thinks she is talking about employment prospects.

“TESMAN (going after her). Aunt Rina embroidered them with her own hands. Lying there. That poor invalid. You can imagine the memories in every stitch.

HEDDA (by the table). No memories for me.”

For Tesman, the slippers that Rina embroidered contain significant memories. He tries to share this sentiment with Hedda, but Hedda does not see their significance; she is legally part of Tesman’s family now but has no emotional or sentimental connection to Tesman’s past.