What role does class play in Hedda Gabler?
The reader may understand from Hedda’s ignorance that social position does not have the power that society believes it has. Hedda tries to control and dominate people on her own terms of the moment, presumably to alleviate the terrible monotony of her life, and therefore causes others to suffer for no other reason than that she may.
Lovborg’s death means a reprieve from her boredom. In the beginning of the play Hedda says that her life is boring. Her announcement can serve as an explanation for some of her actions. In act 4, Hedda encourages his death by not only telling him to do so but even giving him the pistol he would die by. She tells to die and make it beautiful. This action shows she cares for Lovborg more like an object she can play with as his death would serve as entertainment rather than for his well being and personhood. Hedda wishes to control Lovbrog in some way to recreate their old relationship dynamic. Another positive to his death would end the relationship between Thea and Lovborg, which would satisfy Hedda as she was jealous of Thea and Lovborg relationship.