Definition of Beauty described in Hedda Gabler

Recently, I had a chance to write some essays on classical literature. On a recent reading of Hedda Gabler, I realized that the character was living her life based on same strange twists of definitions --Beauty being one of them. Thoughts on Henrik Ibsen’s play, Hedda Gabler: Worldviews are framed by how we define ideals. Ideals such as beauty, love, purpose, truth, freedom, and justice provide substance to our daily lives. The literary character Hedda Gabler’s ideals seem to be sliced from the fringe and her distinct definitions provide the catalyst for her character and her actions. Beauty for Hedda Gabler does not have its source in created nature, rather she seems completely indifferent to nature. She complains to her house attendent, Miss Tessman, “Yes, fresh air. That’s what I need with all these flowers all over the place.” (Ibsen 1416) Her strange view of beauty comes up again after she learns of fellow character Eilert’s suicide. Her husband is in shock when she declares, “I’m saying that here, in this—there is beauty.” (Ibsen 1461) Again we see Hedda using self will and self-freedom as her value compass. If something is done from the choice of self will, it is, “something bathed in a bright shaft of sudden beauty.” (Ibsen 1462) Of course you will have to read the play to get the context of this story. Hedda Gabler is similar to Dostoevsyk's Underground Man in that he is living out an extreme example of the rational, scientific, enlightened man, which if removed of virtuous ideals becomes a shell of humanity. Readers, it is important for us to understand what our life definitions are. Do we define our ideals as God would have us? Do we check back with our Creator to see if our definitions are warped and taken from the fringe? Beauty is an element of God -- and therefore is impossible not to be seen and manifested in his Creation. Works Cited: Ibsen, Henrik. "Hedda Gabler." Trans. Rick Davis. Norton Anthology of Western Literature. Ed. Sarah Lawall. 8th. Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2006. 1407-1466.