Question

After Thea Elvsted leaves the room, crushed by Lovborg’s statement that he had destroyed the manuscript, he says to Hedda, “To you I can tell the truth, Hedda.” Why does he think he can tell Hedda the truth? Do you think he’s right in this statement? Why or why not? Your answer should be at least one hundred words.

Answer 1

Lovborg believes that he can confide in Hedda because she has an unwavering hold over him. When they were together prior to her marriage to George, she made him tell her everything, even the wicked things he had done, many of which he states were not the type of things one tells in mixed company. She had so bewitched him that realized, with her, he could hold nothing back, she would find a way to pry it out of him. This is demonstrated in the manner in which Hedda led him to break his sobriety. For him, it was impossible to say "no" to her, even though he knew it might cause him pain and that she might, later, use it against him.