Neurosis as a Feminine Resistance in Henrik Ibsen's The Lady from the Sea and Hedda Gabler

Abstract

The research analyses on the strategic use of neurosis of female as a site of domination and resistance against male dominated society in Ibsen's two plays, The Lady from the Sea and Hedda Gabler. Hedda in Hedda Gabler and Ellida in The Lady from the Sea are the female protagonists of the plays who strive for freedom from patriarchal society by pretending as if they are real neurotic persons. Neurosis here is their strategy of resisting and fighting against male centrism imposed upon them for years. Both Hedda and Ellida eventually snatch their full-fledged freedom from the gender-biased society but their ways are different while achieving such liberation. Ellida ultimately grabs her emancipation from her husband but does not want to break harmonious familial relationship therefore, she acclimatizes with same family. By doing so, she epitomizes that freedom for women is not only to enhance autonomous self but also to conduct the family smoothly and strongly. On the contrary, Hedda has to sacrifice her life to take freedom from the dominant institution of patriarchy. So as to gain the freedom she better kills her rather than dying time to time by the slavish nature of patriarchy. Even after death she affirms herself as a free woman and completely secures her feminine quality. By acting as though neurotic programmed by androcentric society she boldly struggles for feminine rights till the last moment of her life. Hedda’s action to get rid of gender biased society is different than Ellida’s that is through suicide when there is no other alternativs; otherwise she has to be trapped again on the same course of patriarchal rules and norms.