Question

Who is more bound by convention and who is braver in Hedda Gabler, Hedda or Thea?

Answer 1

Thea shows more bravery than Hedda because she overcomes her fear of Hedda to befriend her, knowing that it was Hedda who tormented her in school, "Hedda: Frightened? Of me? Mrs. Elvsted: Oh, dreadfully frightened. When we met on the steps you used to pull my hair. Hedda: No, did I really? Mrs. Elvsted: Yes, and once you said you were going to burn it off.". Thea was also bound by convention more than was Hedda, in that she also has the courage to leave her husband, which was quite uncommon in those days. She was brave enough to tell Lovborg what she thought of him when thought that he had destroyed the manuscript, Lovborg say,"Yes, I tell you. Into a thousand pieces. And scattered them out in the fjord." To this Thea replies, "I want you to know, Lövborg, what you’ve done to the book… For the rest of my life it’ll be for me as though you’d killed a little child."

Hedda was not a woman of bravery, but a woman driven by impulse. Heedless of what others may think of her or how it might adversely affect them, she acts. Nor was she a person of convention. At every turn Hedda fought against having to play the role of simple housewife. We se this in her hatred of the though tof becoming a mother and in her shooting guns in the back yard, which was considered very unwomanly.

Answer 2

Hedda is more bound by convention and Thea is braver.