hedda gabler: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowAcademic, literary, cultural
Quick answer
What does “hedda gabler” mean?
The title character of Henrik Ibsen's 1891 play, a complex woman trapped in a stifling marriage and society, whose destructive actions stem from boredom and frustrated ambition.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The title character of Henrik Ibsen's 1891 play, a complex woman trapped in a stifling marriage and society, whose destructive actions stem from boredom and frustrated ambition.
In literary criticism and cultural discourse, a type or archetype: a modern, psychologically complex, tragic heroine; a symbol of female repression, existential boredom, and destructive potential within bourgeois society.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Pronunciation of 'Hedda' may follow local conventions for the letter 'a'.
Connotations
Equally strong literary/theatrical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency, confined to similar cultural/educational contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “hedda gabler” in a Sentence
[play/role/character] of Hedda Gablera Hedda Gabler [figure/archetype/complex]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hedda gabler” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The play's Hedda Gabler-esque atmosphere was palpable.
- She gave a performance with a real Hedda Gabler quality.
American English
- It was a very Hedda Gabler kind of despair.
- He wrote a Hedda Gabler-style monologue.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in literature, drama, gender studies, and modernism courses.
Everyday
Rare, except among theatre-goers or literature enthusiasts.
Technical
Used in theatrical direction, literary criticism, and psychological character analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hedda gabler”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hedda gabler”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hedda gabler”
- Spelling: 'Hedda Gable', 'Hedda Gabbler'.
- Using it as a general term for any strong woman.
- Confusing her with Ibsen's other heroines like Nora from 'A Doll's House'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, she is a fictional creation by Henrik Ibsen, though she was inspired by aspects of people Ibsen knew and broader social observations.
It is a complex act of jealousy, creative destruction, and a desperate attempt to exert control over a world that stifles her. She destroys Løvborg's 'child' as she feels she has no meaningful creative output of her own.
Yes, in literary and cultural analysis, it can be used descriptively (e.g., 'a Hedda Gabler figure') to denote a woman characterized by similar traits of intellectual frustration, entrapment, and destructive potential.
The central conflict is internal and social: Hedda's fierce individuality, intelligence, and desire for freedom versus the crushing expectations, boredom, and limitations imposed by her gender, marriage, and Victorian society.
The title character of Henrik Ibsen's 1891 play, a complex woman trapped in a stifling marriage and society, whose destructive actions stem from boredom and frustrated ambition.
Hedda gabler is usually academic, literary, cultural in register.
Hedda gabler: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɛdə ˈɡɑːblə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɛdə ˈɡɑːblər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to have a Hedda Gabler moment (informal, rare) = to act out of profound boredom or frustration”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: HEDDA is HEDged in and trapped, GABLER sounds like 'gabble' – she talks but isn't heard.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A PRISON (her intellect is trapped); BOREDOM IS A POISON (her idleness leads to destruction); SOCIETY IS A CAGE.
Practice
Quiz
What is Hedda Gabler most famously a symbol of?