The plot in six lines
Hedda returns from her honeymoon with Jørgen Tesman to an expensive new house, where his delight contrasts with her boredom and dissatisfaction.
Thea Elvsted arrives and reveals that she has helped Eilert Løvborg reform, while his success threatens Tesman's hopes for a professorship.
Jealous of Thea's influence over Løvborg, Hedda tries to tempt him back to drinking before he joins Tesman at Judge Brack's party.
Hedda burns Løvborg's manuscript, the work he has created with Thea, out of jealousy and a wish to control them.
Løvborg dies from a shot from Hedda's pistol, and Brack recognises the weapon, threatening to expose her unless she yields to him.
As Tesman and Thea begin rebuilding Løvborg's book from her notes, Hedda refuses Brack's control, enters the inner room and takes her own life.
Themes
Freedom and control: Unable to act openly on her own desires, Hedda seeks influence over others and becomes vulnerable to Brack's control.
Social expectations: Hedda's upbringing places duty and appearance above desire, while her fear of scandal restricts the freedom she longs for.
Marriage: Tesman's satisfaction and Hedda's discontent reveal a marriage built on misunderstanding, where comfort offers no outlet for her restless mind.
Ambition: Løvborg's fragile genius, Tesman's steady diligence and Thea's creative support contrast with Hedda's inability to turn desire into purposeful work.
Beauty and responsibility: Hedda's longing for beautiful, courageous action raises questions about whether her ideals conceal a refusal to accept responsibility.
Characters
- Hedda GablerThe general's daughter and new Mrs Tesman, she is proud, restless and bored, and she longs for freedom and influence while dreading scandal.
- Jørgen TesmanHedda's husband, a kind, industrious scholar who hopes for a professorship and sees nothing wrong with his marriage.
- Eilert LøvborgA gifted writer with a wild past, he has reformed and written a daring new book, and he is Tesman's rival.
- Thea ElvstedAn old schoolfellow of Hedda's who has left her husband to help Løvborg, and who shows a quiet courage Hedda lacks.
- Judge BrackA smooth, worldly friend of the family who enjoys secrets and hopes to become very close to Hedda.
- Aunt JulleTesman's loving aunt, who helped raise him and who delights in his new home and marriage.
For the A level coursework
- AQA (Literature A): recommended text for the A level non-exam assessment (coursework).
From the boards' own documents (the specifications and coursework guidance listed under Sources), read on 24 October 2026. Your school chooses the coursework texts: ask your teacher before you start.
Questions
What is Hedda Gabler about?
Hedda Gabler is about a newly married woman whose longing for freedom conflicts with her fear of scandal. Her attempts to direct other people's lives reveal both the pressures surrounding her and the damage she causes.
Who are the main characters in Hedda Gabler?
The main characters are Hedda Gabler, her husband Jørgen Tesman, the writer Eilert Løvborg, Thea Elvsted and Judge Brack. Thea helps Løvborg rebuild his life, while Brack seeks power over Hedda through his knowledge of her secrets.
What are the main themes of Hedda Gabler?
The main themes are freedom, control, social expectations, marriage, ambition and the relationship between beauty and responsibility. Hedda's desire to shape another person's destiny contrasts with her reluctance to risk scandal in her own life.
Which boards mention Hedda Gabler for A level English Literature?
AQA (Literature A): recommended text for the A level non-exam assessment (coursework). Your school chooses the coursework texts, so ask your teacher before you start.