What is the significance of Mademoiselle Diana in Henrik Ibsen’s “Hedda Gabler”? Anonymous 12th Grade

Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler reflects the life of the eponymous protagonist against the backdrop of a wealthy upper middle class Norwegian city in the nineteenth century. During this time, there were clear social structures and traditions shown through the significant female characters and their roles within society: Hedda is on top of the social ladder since she is a wealthy, aristocratic wife, Mrs. Elvsted is “below” her socially because she is an adulterer and that she did not marry a high class man, and at the bottom is Mademoiselle (Mlle) Diana, “the fallen woman,” a madam who runs a brothel.

Because of this contrast, Hedda and Mlle Diana are set out to be in different circles of society, but as the play goes on, their similarities are drawn out and the details suggest that Mlle Diana is indeed a form of foil for Hedda. Although both Mlle Diana and General Gabler are absent characters, General Gabler conforms to societal expectations whereas Mlle Diana does not fit the mold, making her important as the foil Hedda wants to suppress in order to conform to society.

Near the beginning of the play, Mrs. Elvsted mentions the presence of a woman who “wanted to shoot [Løvborg] with a pistol”. From Hedda’s reaction, there is...