Critical Essay on Hedda Gabler, Young Goodman Brown and Dracula

The Major Theme Developed by Henrik Ibsen in "Hedda Gabler"

Henrik Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler" is developed with the theme of manipulation and deceit. The protagonist in the narration, Hedda, is manipulative of other characters. She gets married to Tesman whom she does not love and to keep her life busy she manipulates everyone leading to her suicide. Ibsen develops the plot and literary device like imagery and symbolism by using the theme of manipulation and deception from Hedda. Hedda manipulates and ruins the lives of her acquaintances through deception to have them under her command. For instance, she manipulates her former lover and deceits him to shoot him by owing him to disregard the worth of his own life and wish for death. In a separate incidence, she persuades Elijert into engaging in excessive alcoholism ruining his reputation and everything that matters to him, the manuscript. Hedda symbolizes the significance of the manuscript to both Elijert and his co-author, Mrs. Elvsted, to illustrate a child borne by their union. The selfish and thoughtlessness of Hedda's manipulation and deceit was to fulfill her desires at the expense of others, lacking human dignity.

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The theme of manipulation places the protagonist in the command of other people even without asking of their loyalty. For instance, When Hedda goes the way she does not need to ask George to cover her intentions but he acts automatically as the subordinate oaf and says: "...Yes, of course-it makes it a little more expensive. But Hedda had to have this trip, Auntie! She really had to. Nothing else would have done." (1.75). Ibsen portrays Hedda as insecure and to escape from reality she keeps herself busy engaging in other people's problems thus, manipulating their point of view on issues affecting them without thinking. She tries to manipulate Mrs. Elvsted to come between them and her husband and questions her on his personality "Well, then you must question me./What sort of a man is your husband, Thea? I mean-you know-in everyday life. Is he kind to you? (1.330-332). Although she was the one who manipulated Elijert to losing his self-worth of life she then manipulates his wife to cause chores between them and for the wife to disregard the role of her husband in her life. During most of the conversations Hedda has with other characters, she is asking questions and does not like revealing information about her life. After the series of manipulation and sordid scandals of deceit, she loses the worth of her life at attempts a tragic did by "do it beautifully" putting a bullet through her temple and ends her life.

"Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathaniel Hawthorne uses a metaphor, biblical allusions, and symbolism in "Young Goodman Brown" to capture the reader's attention to visualizing the themes of the tale to their reality. Hawthorne symbolizes the Puritan beliefs in a contemporary perspective to condemn sin guilt, and lust to advocate for innocence. The metaphoric use of the pink ribbon used in decorating Faith's hair to illustrate purity on the outward appearance and Brown's desperation in gaining reassurance of his renewed faith. I this symbolic representation of objects and characters communicated to the reader how the metaphoric items and people are used in the tale by Hawthorne show the irony in their righteous living. The way they perceive to be pure yet, the reality of their righteous beings. The use of biblical allusions and allegory helps Hawthorne to communicate to his readers the symbolic representation of color and creatures like the black snake to show the wickedness of particular characters like the old man. In the biblical perspective, the 'holy' Goodman Brown is given a chance of understanding Christianity when he eavesdrops on the pastor and deacon questioning the reality of God's existence. Using this orthodoxy moral tales Hawthorne is able to enlighten the readers to caution them on overdependence on mythical beliefs on biblical allusions without proper knowledge. The narration is used to demonstrate to the contemporary reader on the inevitable loss of innocence in the conventional world. Therefore, Hawthorne is successful in demonstrating to the modern reader the orthodox overdependence in religious stands and the inherent of corruptibility making the believers loss their innocence. The primary message from the author exposes the reader to the total definition of biblical purity and hypocrisy. Reading the old perception of religion in the protagonist Goodman Brown and the new understanding of religion after disappointment from the people perceived to preserve Christianity, the pastor and the deacon derives both the character and the readers from the fear of the wilderness to the reality of living. The symbolic use of the pastor, deacon, and the forest are a metaphoric representation of the curiosity of perceived life and reality. Hawthorne uses the demonstration of biblical allusion and symbolism to pass an eye-opener to the readers to on the implication of traditional molarity in contemporary life.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

The Southern Gothic, Dracula by Bram Stoker demonstrates how evil never conquer good. The theme used by the author emphasizes on the nature of good versus evil. The fictional plot shows the protagonist's urge to convert as many people as possible into vampires and dominate the world. The subgenre integrates the postbellum literature with high characteristic of gothic literature. The setting illustrates a gloomy and menaced tone to show the coincidences of nature and superstitions "Then a dog began to howl somewhere in a farmhouse far down the road--a long, agonized wailing, as if from fear."(Stoker 16). The conflict between vampires and human beings in the plot "Dracula" shows how evil prevails in the lives of the characters which is later overpowered by the good deeds. The supranational scenarios are the cause of howling of dogs in the farmhouse to show the fear and agony of the evil but, it fades away with time and is conquered by the good. Dracula poses overwhelming and immerse powers over other characters and perceives that his evil deeds would prevail forever when he says "My revenge is just begun! I spread it over centuries, and time is on my side. Your girls that you all love are mine already; and through them you and others shall yet be mine - my creatures, to do my bidding and to be my jackals when I want to feed." (Stoker, 226). Jonathan Harker is determined to remain true to himself and courageous to fight the numerous struggles and troubling dilemma especially when he finds himself trapped in the vampire's castle. Later in the text Dracula is defeated through the strong will and determination of the good people. When Harker succeeded to overcome the evil surrounding him to make his escape from the castle he makes a testament "I shall not remain alone with them; I shall try to scale the castle wall farther than I have yet attempted. I shall take some of the gold with me, lest I want it later. I may find a way from this dreadful place." (Stoker 59). Throughout the text the protagonist, Dracula conspiracies to perpetrate "a presage of horror (138) to the antagonists to make their lives horrible but in the end they overcomes his evil plans. The narration is driven by the strong will of the characters to drive the theme of good and evil.

Works Cited

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. "Young Goodman Brown." The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 6th ed. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2003.

Ibsen, Henrik. "Hedda Gabler". New York: HarperCollins College Publishers, 1996.

Ibsen, Henrik. Four Major Plays: A Doll's House, Ghosts, Hedda Gabler, The Master Builder. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Stoker, Bram. Dracula. London: Penguin English Library, 1897. Print