Ibsen's Hedda Gabler

Since its publication in 1890 Ibsen''s Hedda Gabler has been a recurring point of fascination for readers theater audiences and artists alike. Newly married yet utterly bored the character of Hedda Gabler evokes reflection on beauty love passion death nihilism identity and a host of other topics of an existential nature. It is no surprise that Ibsen''s work has gained the attention of philosophically-minded readers from Nietzsche Lou Andreas-Salomé and Freud to Adorno Cavell and beyond. Once staged at avant-garde theaters in Paris London and Berlin Ibsen is now a global phenomenon. The enigmatic character of Hedda Gabler remains intriguing to ever-new generations of actors audiences and readers.Hedda Gabler occupies a privileged place in the history of European drama and as a work of literature and as this volume demonstrates invites profound and worthwhile philosophical questions. Through ten newly commissioned chapters written by leading voices in the fields of drama studies European philosophy Scandinavian studies and comparative literature this volume brings out the philosophical resonances of Hedda Gabler in particular and Ibsen''s drama more broadly.