60).
Later, when Lovborg thinks he has lost his manuscript due to being drunk, she offers him a gun to shoot himself with, and privately burns the manuscript.
Although on the surface, Stella Kowalski is a more honest person than Hedda Gabler, the two women share the characteristic of dishonesty when it comes to facing the reality of their situations. Stella's lust for Stanley makes her willing to overlook his brutality toward her, and she returns to his bed even after he has beaten her. Stella also lies to herself about his brutality with her sister, Blanche, saying, "I couldn't believe her story and go on living with Stanley" (Williams, Scene 11, pg. 145).
Hedda is more blatantly dishonest in her dealings with people. She is a game-player who is willing to go to incredible lengths to amuse herself at others' expense, and gone so far in her dishonesty as to marry a man who believes she loves him. Although Stella will continue to live with her dishonesty, Hedda's has gone too far and, when she realizes she may be implicated in Lovborg's death, she kills herself and her unborn child.
Both Stella and Hedda are tragic figures. Stella, although she thinks she is happy, is stuck in a depressing life with a cruel alcoholic. Hedda, lost in her own misery and entangled in guilt from her manipulation of others, finally, and selfishly, ends her own life.
Another trait the two women have in common is their utter dependence on men.
It is a sign of the times in which these plays were written that both women were automatically subjected to the necessity of being married, even if it meant putting up with untenable circumstances or a life without love. Hedda married Tesman in desperation; Stella stays with Stanley out of desperation. Stella even sacrifices her sister for Stanley, not because she does not love her, but because she needs Stanley for her survival.
Hedda sacrifices herself rather than face up to her unbearable future with a man she does not love, and a future that would force her to face the consequences...
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