Berte is a plain, kindly, dedicated maid of a “somewhat countrified exterior” who served in Juliane Tesman’s household before transferring into the service of Jörgen and Hedda. Miss Tesman and her nephew are very fond of Berte, but Hedda decidedly is not. She is very severe with the maid, who fears she won’t be able to accommodate Hedda’s grand, aristocratic ways.
Berte Quotes in Hedda Gabler
The Hedda Gabler quotes below are all either spoken by Berte or refer to Berte. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Note: all page and citation info for the quotes below refers to the Oxford University Press edition of Hedda Gabler published in 2008.
Act 1
Quotes
Berte: I’m really so scared I’ll never give satisfaction to the young mistress.
Miss Tesman: Oh, Heavens…just to begin with of course there might be this and that…
Berte: Because she’s ever so particular.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Berte Character Timeline in Hedda Gabler
The timeline below shows where the character Berte appears in Hedda Gabler. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1
...Julianne Tesman, the old, benevolent aunt of the master of the house, enters, followed by Berte, the household maid, who is carrying a bunch of flowers.
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...that her nephew Jörgen Tesman and his wife Hedda don’t seem to be awake yet. Berte says that the couple returned from their honeymoon very late the night before, and that...
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Berte searches for a place to set down the flowers she’s carrying, but there’s hardly room...
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...that Hedda should be so particular: she is, after all, the great General Gabler’s daughter. Berte declares that she never dreamed of Hedda and Mr. Jörgen making a match—nor did Miss...
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...the grave and see what’s become of his son Jörgen. Just then, she notices that Berte has taken all the loose covers off of the furniture. Miss Tesman asks why, and...
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...that had to come. Aunt Julle says it’s quite all right—Judge Brack took her home. Berte asks if she should go into Miss Hedda’s chambers and ask whether she wants anything....
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...in his sentimentality, but Hedda abruptly interrupts him to say that she cannot manage with Berte as the household’s maid. Tesman asks why not, and Hedda points and says that Berte...
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Berte appears at the hall door and announces that Mrs. Elvsted is back for the second...
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...for Lövborg, signed and sealed in his hand, which he asks Hedda to give to Berte. Hedda takes the letter, but just then Berte enters from the hall. Judge Brack is...
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Act 2
...his arms and in his pockets. He is surprised to find Brack there already, as Berte didn’t mention anything about a guest. Tesman goes on to say that he has with...
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Berte enters and announces that Lövborg has arrived. He enters at once: he is both lean...
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...supper with her, anyway—and also, of course, with Mrs. Elvsted. Lövborg agrees, and Hedda summons Berte to make the necessary arrangements.
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It has started to get dark. Berte opens the hall door and Thea Elvsted enters, greeted by Hedda and all the gentlemen....
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Thea cries out to be let go, frightened of Hedda. Berte enters and announces that everything is ready in the dining room. Hedda says that the...
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Act 3
Berte enters with a letter, which Thea thinks concerns Lövborg—but it does not. It is from...
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...after getting drunk, Tesman went over to Aunt Julle’s to sleep it off—but the letter Berte brought in suggests otherwise. Well, says Hedda, then both Tesman and Lövborg must be at...
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...the curtains, inspects herself in a mirror, and arranges her hair. She then rings for Berte to come. Berte enters, and Hedda instructs her to put more wood on the fire....
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Berte enters and announces that Judge Brack is outside. Hedda orders her to admit him. Hedda...
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...about to look at Lövborg’s manuscript when she hears an altercation in the hall. Despite Berte’s best efforts, a confused and excited Lövborg forces himself into the Tesmans’ drawing room. You’re...
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Act 4
...goes into the inner room, plays a few chords on the piano, and then reemerges. Berte quickly enters and exits, and her eyes show signs of weeping. After a while Aunt...
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...joy. Be quiet, says Hedda, or the maid will hear. Tesman says that he’ll tell Berte himself. Hedda clenches her hands and murmurs almost inaudibly, “Oh, it’ll kill me.” Tesman asks...
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...in, followed by Thea. They find Hedda dead. Confusion and shouting ensue, and an alarmed Berte comes in from the right. Tesman cries that his wife has shot herself in the...
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