TRAUMA ULTIMATELY BRINGS ABOUT HEDDA’S DEATH BY VIRTUE OF SOCIETAL CONVENTIONS, HER CONSCIENCE AND ELECTRA COMPLEX

Abstract

“There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.”  Laurell K. Hamilton

Critics have always argued that Hedda Gabler, one of the most controversial and psychoanalytical plays of Ibsen, is imperceptive and morbid, and its protagonist is un-redeeming and enigmatic. With an endeavour, my research aims at highlighting the Trauma[1] in Hedda Gabler, a play in which trauma ultimately brings about protagonist’s death by virtue of societal conventions and her conscience. Although Ibsen is a renowned feminist and psychoanalyst playwright yet there is need to unveil trauma leading to Hedda’s suicide. This paper will be based on qualitative research and the framework will be based on textual analysis and critical discourse analysis. With the help of TA, CDA and trauma theory the paper will reveal the hidden ideologies, bothersome and unwanted fears of the character, causing her to be traumatized. Particularly, the play Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen will be a primary text while there will also be different secondary texts such as: articles, research papers, websites, dictionaries and some books which will support this research. Researchers will draw two conclusions from this paper i.e. the first one is broader sense of trauma and the second one is suicide which ultimately happens to be on account of forceful implications of the society. Aim of my research is to justify that Hedda is traumatized by her unending alienation, societal conventions and criticism about being scandalized which ultimately make her commit suicide. Aim of my research is to justify that Hedda is traumatized and compelled to commits suicide by virtue of societal conventions, pressure of people’s ruthless criticism and unending alienation.