The exposition of any play must be able to establish the essence of the play, and to captivate the audience. Hedda Gabler is no exception to the rule, and to such an end Ibsen is highly successful in Act I. Through the use of both direct and subtle narrative hints, he builds up conflict, leading to tension and suspense. The groundwork of the play is also established in the first act : the audience gains a (deliberately) general idea of where the play has come from, and what its themes are. A play revolves around its characters, and to this en ....