The Balance of Power Between Hedda and Brack

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                Melissa Bennett

How would you direct the actors playing Hedda and Judge Brack, in two or three scenes where they appear together, in order to reveal the shifting balance of power within their relationship?

        In Ibsen’s ‘Hedda Gabler’, the balance of power within Hedda and Judge Brack’s relationship shifts from Hedda being in control from Act Two until the end of Act Four, where the power belongs to Brack. The shift in power is used to heighten the tragedy at the end of the play as Hedda is used to being in control of everything and everyone around her, and she releases that she cannot escape Brack’s power, due to the social context of the time of the play. To show the shift in power, I would direct the actors playing Judge Brack and Hedda, using a naturalistic acting style as Ibsen intended, in the following way.

        I would follow Ibsen’s casting ideas for Hedda, ‘…a woman of twenty-nine.’ etc. She would stand tall with her head high, showing her stuck-up nature. I would also follow Ibsen’s casting ideas for Brack: ‘…Brack is forty-five…’ etc. He would be older than Hedda to show that he should be more powerful than her. He would also stand tall as Hedda does, and would speak loudly to ensure everyone in the room acknowledges his presence, showing he likes to have power.

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        At the beginning of Act Two, Brack is in Hedda’s back garden about to enter the house. This implies that the balance of power is equal as entering through the back shows the two are good friends. However, this is not so, as Hedda says “This’ll teach you to enter houses by the back door.” This says to the audience that they are not equal; Brack just thinks they are, or wants to believe he is more powerful than Hedda. At the same time, Hedda is in the house, loading a pistol. I would put her on a higher level ...

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