Justify your judgment as to whether the endings of your texts are fitting in light of what has gone before

Authors Avatar

Paper Two Essay:

“Justify your judgment as to whether the endings of your texts are fitting in light of what has gone before.”

Within the two texts of “Hedda Gabler” by Henrik Ibsen and “Death and the Maiden” by Ariel Dorfman, both plays possess significant conclusions to each of their storylines, therefore making them “fit” when seen in the light of previous events.  

Within the two plays, both of the endings convey both of their most prominent

themes, and therefore making them “fit”. In the case of “Hedda Gabler”, the overall theme of the play is self-destruction through the destruction of others; being the victimizer, while at the same time being the victim. The fact that Hedda cannot tolerate her marriage is really her own fault, as she acknowledges she had been the one to devise it, and apparently on false premises that Mr. Tesman would grow to be more successful:

Brack: “I thought that you, like everyone else, expected him to attain the highest distinction.”

        

Hedda: “Yes, so I did.” (p. 63).

Realizing her inescapably dreary future ahead of her, Hedda responds with anger and resentment, taking her desperation for excitement out on others, on those she envies, simply because they have found a contentment that completely escapes her. This desire for the destruction of people’s lives ultimately leads back to Hedda, and this is clearly shown through the ending of the play, namely her suicide – her final destructive act. Through this, we can see that the ending of “Hedda Gabler” is significant, as well as fitting, because we see that it resembles the play’s entire theme of self-destruction.

Join now!

As for “Death and the Maiden”, its ending is also “fitting” in light of the events that

have taken place before, because it too epitomizes the play’s major theme. In “Death and the Maiden”, the overall theme of the play is the choice between vengeance or forgiveness as the correct path towards justice. Because the ending of “Death and the Maiden” is that of an open-ending, it therefore entitles the reader to decide the fate of Dr. Miranda and whether or not Paulina decided to take retribution against him for his actions, or whether she was satisfied ...

This is a preview of the whole essay