In the film adaptation of the play Hedda Gabler, the character George Tesman looks much older in appearance and taller than what was described in the play. In the play George is described as a “…youthful-looking man of thirty-three, of medium height, with an open, round, and cheerful face, blonde hair and beard.” Also, In the film, there’s no mention of Eilert Lovborg as he was mentioned in the play when George Tesman and his aunt Miss Tesman were conversing. It’s understood at the beginning of the text that Eilert Lovborg is George’s rival and enemy in some sense, especially at a scholarly level. There have been others who were against George Tesman, who would have liked to seem him fall or fail at whatever pursuit he was going after. In other words, there are those who envy him and don’t want to see George succeed. Another thing not mentioned in the film was that all the slipcovers on the furniture were removed by Berta because Hedda Gabler told Berta she doesn’t stand covers on chairs. Something else not mentioned in the film that’s in the play is when Miss Tesman asked George whether you might have any kind of “prospects” for her. I’m assuming she was implying that although she is old and single, she is still ready to mingle and the prospects mean a partner for her. In the opening conversation between Miss Tesman and George Tesman the filmmaker had no mention that George grew up without a mother and father, but yet the audience can assume that he was raised by his aunts through their dialect.
When Hedda Gabler appears in the scene, one thing we notice when watching the film that we may have not in the play is the emphasis of the sunlight coming through the windows. Hedda is annoyed by the maid leaving the curtains open letting the sunlight come through the windows and makes her husband close the curtains yet keeps the windows open in order for the breeze to come in. Hedda says, “that will give us softer light”, and “heaven knows we need some fresh air.” I think this is a very important moment to notice in the film does a great job showing this subtle detail, a foreshadowing, a change of the setting. It may be an implication of her current mental state, but its conclusive on her dominant personality. Hedda Gabler clearly is taking out her frustration or whatever she is feeling on the maid. The maid is innocent in the whole matter and is a victim in the opening scene, leaving me speechless on Hedda Gabler’s personality.
Jeremy, Thanks for all these careful observations. One tiny correction: when Aunt Julie asks George about “prospects,” she is inquiring about HIS professional prospects, not about any potential romantic prospects for herself. I’m glad that you took note of Hedda’s reaction to the sunlight in Act I. What do you think her aversion to the bright sunlight tells us about her character?
That makes sense about George’s professional prospects, I was way off on my assumption of Aunt Julie asking about it. I’m kinda stumped on that question of her dislike of the bright sunlight and what it means about her. It might suggest that she has some darkness inside of her and the bright light could be disruptive. It could be that she has some secrets such as her feelings towards her husband not actually marrying him out of love and that secret will come to light. It could be that of the analogy of light, light is bright and reveals all, much like truth is also powerful and revealing. But she doesn’t have the courage to reveal her truth, in other words, she’s fearful of living her truth, being her true self, that is why she plays life safely, hence, why she just want to have some light come through the curtains- similarly like a veil over someones face. I also see that light can be blinding, so maybe the truth could be blinding to one’s own eyes.