Act 1, Part 1 Summary

On a bright summer morning, Julle Tesman pays a visit to her nephew Jorgen, referred to as Tesman, and his new wife Hedda. As Julle opens the windows to let the sun in, the housemaid Berte, who had been Julle's housemaid before moving to work for Tesman and Hedda, tells Julle that Tesman and Hedda got in late the night before. Hedda had needed everything unpacked and put away in a very particular manner, and it was even later before everybody went to bed. Julle comments that it's not much of a surprise, and tells Berte to remember that Hedda was the beautiful, popular daughter of General Gabler before she married Tesman. She intimates that it's not a surprise that Hedda should be so particular. Berte asks about Rina, Julle's bedridden elderly sister. Berte had nursed Rina for several years and...