Hedda Gabler’s tragic flaw is her intense desire for control and manipulation, which ultimately leads to her downfall. Throughout the play, Hedda is portrayed as a character who is deeply dissatisfied with her life and the constraints placed on her by society and her marriage. Her yearning for freedom and her inability to confront reality push her to engage in manipulative behaviors.
Hedda’s need to control the lives of those around her—most notably Ejlert Lovborg and Thea Elvsted—highlights her inner turmoil and desperate search for meaning. Rather than pursuing genuine connections or seeking fulfillment in her own life, she resorts to playing God with the lives of others, which leads to tragic consequences.
In the end, Hedda’s tragic flaw manifests itself in her reckless actions and inability to embrace vulnerability. Her attempts to orchestrate the lives of those around her backfire, resulting in the downfall of Lovborg and ultimately her own demise. This tragic flaw of seeking power against the confines of her existence is what makes Hedda Gabler a complex and compelling character.