A woman's sexuality is a large part of both the play Hedda Gabler and The Homecoming. In The Homecoming, Ruth uses her sexuality to seduce the men of her husbands family. It is unknown to the reader why she does this, but it is most likely just for the attention. At the end of the play it is made clear that she is also willing to perform sexual acts in order to have her own flat in London. The men of the play continue to discriminate against and make sexual comments about Ruth and women in general, referring to them as "tarts" (41). On numerous occasions Max also makes derogatory comments about his deceased wife. After Ruth arrives at the house, Max comments to one of his sons that he has "never had a whore under this roof before. Ever since your mother died" (42).
Like Ruth, Hedda also uses her sexuality in order to gain others attention and receive the material objects that she so desperately desires. Although Hedda is not as straight forward as Ruth is, it is made clear that she knows what she is capable of doing to men. One main difference between the plays, however, is that the men in Hedda's life seem to be more respectful of women than the family portrayed in The Homecoming.
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