great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

My first impression of Hedda Tesman in Act 1 was that she was snobbish and didn’t show much manners to others. Hedda’s husband’s aunt, Miss Juliana, had brought a brand new hat so not to embarrass Hedda in case they were to go on a walk or something outside. As soon as Hedda notices the hat in the living room she says, “…her old hat lying there on that chair.”(Henrik Ibsen, 788) She then expresses embarrassment because of the hat by saying, “What if someone came in and saw that.”(Ibsen, 788). Even though she thought the hat was Berta’s, I feel that was still very rude of her to say. Hedda shows her snobbishness throughout the play also by not expressing any gratitude to her husband for buying her the house she supposedly wanted. He and his aunt worked very hard for it but yet after her first night in their new house she did not express any joy or happiness. After being asked how she liked her sleep in their new house she replied, “Fine thanks. Well enough.”(Ibsen, 787) Clearly not overwhelmed with excitement of being in her so call “must have” home, according to her husband. Hedda continuously acts as if her tastes of living aren’t being met and by doing so she becomes snobbish and unappreciative.