At first glance Hedda Gabler seemed like a bland play about a woman that entered into a loveless marriage. Okay, so what's the big deal I asked initially. Within the first four pages I thought the entire story was going to be about a fool(George) who had a strange obsession with his Aunt Julianna(c'mon, I bet you thought that too). The setting starts with Aunt Julianna and the maid, so it took me a while to realize that the aunts(Rina is rarely mentioned as she's pretty much dead throughout the whole thing) didn't actually live with the Tesmans, which means George and his new wife, Hedda.The first scene lasts for so long I became really bored with it and almost put it down. The only keeping me awake at this point was the possibility of a pregnancy for Hedda, hinting that the youngish(thirty something is what the text tells us) couple had consummated their marriage on their 'honeymoon' tour for George's professor studies. Hedda wearing loose clothing does nothing to help tell otherwise, as she appears to have filled out since their departure. It isn't cleared up as for the pregnancy question by the end of the first act, but we do have introduction of interesting characters, like Judge Brack, who seems to be an older gentleman(the term used loosely) who might stir up some fire within the story.
Hedda: Witch who doesn't care about marriage
George: Simple-minded man, appearance seems jolly
Julianna: Interfering old maid
Berta: A maid, nothing more
Brack: Sly blue devil
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