Is it significant that Ibsen called his play Hedda Gabler? Why not, for instance, call it Mrs. Tesman or
Hedda Tesman? The original title of the play was simply Hedda; why might Ibsen have changed the name?
Ibsen answered this question himself, "My intention in giving it this name was to indicate that Hedda as a personality is to be regarded rather as her father's daughter than her husband's wife." Gabler is her maiden name. She is newly married and still sees herself as a Gabler first. Marriage hasn't sunken in..... and if it has, her only thoughts are of those things she misses, rather than the things that stand before her.
Hedda Gabbler
Thank you
