Different Is Dangerous: Nonconformist Characters in 'Hedda Gabler' and 'Harlem Duet' Anonymous College

A dangerous woman is one who poses a challenge or threat not only to the people around her but to society and its norms as well. Whether it is challenging the gender stereotypes of the woman’s time, or asserting her beliefs about the interconnectedness of race and relationships, strong women are seen as a threat, and in turn, create a sense of unshakable fear within society. In the case of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, the ideal woman of her time was the “angel of the household.” This woman’s sole purpose was to be a doting wife, a loving mother and found all of her happiness from doing housework. Her identity came from fulfilling these duties and had no real goals or activities of her own other than maintaining the household. However, the character Hedda Gabler challenges this standard as she is the daughter of a famous general and was raised more like a boy. Because of this, her opposition to the duties she is expected to perform cause turmoil with her husband Tesman, and force her to find entertainment through manipulative and destructive channels.

In Djanet Sears’s Harlem Duet, Billie faces the hardships brought on by the tension between her view on race, versus the common views of white individuals. Her passion for her...