EP 141: Reviewing Henrik Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler" - with R.N. Roveleh

03/13/22 • 48 min

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The Nuts and Bolts of Writing

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Today, me and Helevorn (IG: @helevorn_bor) talk about one of her favorite plays, "Hedda Gabler" by Henrik Ibsen.

We cover the following questions:

1. Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, published in 1890, is considered to be one of the masterpieces of realist literature and of drama, in general. The title character, Hedda Gabler, is seen as a female Hamlet through the force and depth of the character. Can you begin by summarizing the plot?

2. What are the themes of the play?

3. What’s Hedda Gabler like?

4. Like other female characters of Ibsen’s, Hedda feels stifled in her life. How is she different from Ellida (from Lady from the Sea) or Nora (from A Doll’s House)?

5. If Hedda is so “morbidly selfish”, as she’s called by critics, what are relationships to her? How does she relate to her husband, George Tesman and to Eilert Løvborg? Does she love anyone?

6. Hedda Gabler often complains about boredom. How do you explain this boredom?

7. Beauty is something Hedda talks about repeatedly. What is beauty for her?

8. Is she a narcissist? Do you see her behaviour as a hint to a pathology?

9. Which of your characters were inspired by Hedda? (Rannveig and Yngvar from "Sons of Disobedience" and "Lucky Wolf")

10. How else did “Hedda Gabler” influence you in your writings?

Watch on YouTube.

Today, me and Helevorn (IG: @helevorn_bor) talk about one of her favorite plays, "Hedda Gabler" by Henrik Ibsen.

We cover the following questions:

2. What are the themes of the play?

3. What’s Hedda Gabler like?

4. Like other female characters of Ibsen’s, Hedda feels stifled in her life. How is she different from Ellida (from Lady from the Sea) or Nora (from A Doll’s House)?

5. If Hedda is so “morbidly selfish”, as she’s called by critics, what are relationships to her? How does she relate to her husband, George Tesman and to Eilert Løvborg? Does she love anyone?

6. Hedda Gabler often complains about boredom. How do you explain this boredom?

7. Beauty is something Hedda talks about repeatedly. What is beauty for her?

8. Is she a narcissist? Do you see her behaviour as a hint to a pathology?

9. Which of your characters were inspired by Hedda? (Rannveig and Yngvar from "Sons of Disobedience" and "Lucky Wolf")

10. How else did “Hedda Gabler” influence you in your writings?

Previous Episode

EP 140.5: Tarot Analysis: The Hermit | Major Arcana | Loneliness and Soul-Searching

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Read the transcript here.

This week, we’ll look at The Hermit in my tarot deck, the Fortunus Games tarot deck. I chose teenage Joel Farber from my Tapas graphic novel, “The Book of Joel,” as The Hermit.

The Hermit stands by himself at the top of a mountain. His loneliness and the fact that he’s at a literal peak symbolize his spiritual growth and accomplishment. By choosing to look deep within himself, he’s reached some kind of enlightenment. Like the Hermit, Joel is on a soul-searching journey. An argumentative know-it-all who talks faster than a machine gun to "make up" (as he sees it) for his shyness and lack of self-esteem, teenaged Joel, like the Hermit in the tarot deck, knows that he needs to look deep within himself.

Next Episode

EP 141.5: Tarot Analysis: The Wheel of Fortune | Major Arcana | Felicity and Good Fortune

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Read the full transcript here.

Hi everyone! This week, we’ll look at The Wheel of Fortune in my tarot deck, the Fortunus Games tarot deck.

I chose Sam Abramov, the protagonist of my Tapas graphic novel, “Sam in New York” for this card.

The Wheel of Fortune represents good fortune, luck, and felicity, all things that Sam wants for himself.

I can easily imagine Sam having a Wheel of Fortune as a game show host if he ever became one!

And who's dressed as a playboy bunny on the side of the wheel? It's Sam! It's a wink at the outfit Sam wore in the Sims 4 for Halloween 2020.

In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, there are four astrological signs representing the Four Evangelists, but I didn't have space to put them in and I didn't want to make the piece too crowded. So we only have Taurus and Leo, which fit Sam the best. Although Sam's an Aries, Taurus fits him because he likes material comfort. He also has many Leo qualities, such as desiring attention.