Literary Works Analysis: Change in Hedda Gabler, Things Fall Apart

This essay explores the theme of change as depicted in three literary works: Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, and Endgame by Samuel Beckett. The analysis of Hedda Gabler focuses on the psychological changes and manipulations of the title character, highlighting her jealousy and attempts to control the fate of others. In Things Fall Apart, the essay examines the social and political changes impacting the Igbo community and the tragic downfall of Okonkwo due to the clash between traditional values and colonial influence. Conversely, Endgame presents a static and unchanging environment, reflecting a sense of stagnation and hopelessness among its characters. The essay concludes by emphasizing the diverse ways in which change is portrayed and experienced across these three distinct literary landscapes, each offering unique insights into the human condition and the forces that shape it.

Running head: ESSAY
ESSAY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1
ESSAY
Change has always been associated with time and in the writings of all the ages. In the
following three literary works, namely Hedda Gabler, Things Fall Apart and Endgame,
changes and the effects of the changes have been analysed along with an insight to the worth
of the changes.
The first play among the three namely Hedda Gabler by Norwegian playwright
Henrik Ibsen deals with the evolution of the first developed neurotic female protagonists of
literature, Hedda Gabler, and her secret personal logic seeking to influence human fate of
Eilert Lövborg, the main competitor of her husband George and her former lover. The
changes occurring in the play is focussed on the title character and her trying to potentially
influence the destiny of another person (Moi, 2013). She ultimately fails to emerge as the
winner after Judge Brack starts to blackmail her after he comes to know her motives and role
in the death of Eilert. The change presented in the play is totally based on the character
psychology which could have been prevented by self-will. Due to the jealousy of Hedda over
the amount of influence Thea has over Eilert, she influences him to Eilert to kill himself.
Jealousy is a human character that should be avoided and if it was done by Hedda, these
changes could have been prevented and avoided at all grounds.
The second play is Things Fall Apart by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. Achebe
deals with the theme of social change in the novel and emphasises on the importance of
internal change in order to have an influence on the social environment and the political life
of Igbo community (Zolfagharkhani & Shadpour, 2013). The novel also describes the life of
Okonkwo, the principle character of the novel and his journey from being one of the
respectable members of his clan ultimately to get a tarnished reputation due to his act of
committing suicide against the rule of the Igbo tribe. The character emerges as the winner in
the analytical sense as he fought for his believes and his tribe till the last only to find no one
to support him in his activities. He is a warrior and proves that to his last breathe. The

2
ESSAY
changes presented in the character and the novel seems inevitable due to the political and
social scenarios of the effect of British people on the natives. The effects of humiliation and
conversation to Christianity by the white people makes the change and revolt compulsory to
the character who tries to fight for his rights until the end.
In the third literary work, Endgame by Samuel Beckett is a one-act play involving the
presence of only four characters. Like the other plays of Beckett namely Waiting for Godot,
there is no presence or traces of changes noticed which makes the play dull, morbid and rigid
in the present scenario (Taylor-Batty & Taylor-Batty, 2013). The eternal waiting of the
characters who are probably the last survivors of an apocalypse with a death-like ambiance
just with some few comic and tragic interactions make the play stagnant without any form of
movement whatsoever (Webb, 2015). The characters have no position to occur and are
concerned neither with winning or losing making it one of the rarest plays in the modern
world with no implied formations and evolution.
Thus from the above analysis it is clear that the three literary works face different
changes when seen from their respective literary analysis.

3
ESSAY
References
Moi, T. (2013). Hedda’s Silences: Beauty and Despair in Hedda Gabler. Modern
Drama, 56(4), 434-456.
Taylor-Batty, M., & Taylor-Batty, J. (2013). Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot. A&C
Black.
Webb, E. (2015). The Plays of Samuel Beckett. University of Washington Press.
Zolfagharkhani, M., & Shadpour, R. S. (2013). An Eco-critical Study of Chinua Achebe's
Things Fall Apart. Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy
Studies, 4(2), 210.