# Judge Brack — Hedda Gabler character guide

> Judge Brack in Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Brack, Brack Laughing, Brack Smiling, Brack Bowing, Brack Smiles, Brack Starting, Brack Aha, Brack Vine leaves, Brack No, Brack Really, my dear Judge

**First appearance:** 0002-hedda-gabler

## Snapshot

A worldly judge who visits the Tesmans as a trusted friend and quietly arranges to become indispensable to the mistress of the house.

## Who they are

Brack moves easily through the Tesmans' drawing room, offering Hedda the gossip and company her marriage denies her, and proposing a comfortable 'triangular friendship' with himself at its center. He is frank about his respect for marriage as an institution while making clear he wants the run of the house. His genial cynicism gives Hedda the one audience she enjoys — and gives him leverage he intends to use.

## Relationships

### [Hedda Gabler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hedda_gabler_se/characters/hedda_gabler)

_psychological_

Hedda and Brack engage in a manipulative power game where Brack seeks control over Hedda through secrets and social leverage, while Hedda resists but is ultimately trapped by his influence.

### [George Tesman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hedda_gabler_se/characters/george_tesman)

_friendship_

George naively considers Brack a friendly social ally and frequent visitor, unaware that Brack is maneuvering to seduce his wife and undermine his household.

### [Ejlert Lövborg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hedda_gabler_se/characters/ejlert_lovborg)

_rivalry_

Brack and Lövborg are rivals for social standing and Hedda's attention, with Brack using his knowledge of Lövborg's past to humiliate and control him.

### [Juliana Tesman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hedda_gabler_se/characters/juliana_tesman)

_social_

Brack maintains a polite, superficial acquaintance with Juliana as part of his social circle, but he holds no genuine affection for her.

### [Mademoiselle Diana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hedda_gabler_se/characters/mademoiselle_diana)

_social_

Brack has a casual, transactional acquaintance with Diana, using her as a source of gossip and leverage over Lövborg.

### [Thea Elvsted](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hedda_gabler_se/characters/thea_elvsted)

_social_

Brack treats Thea with polite condescension, viewing her as a naive outsider whose presence complicates his schemes involving Hedda and Lövborg.

### [Secretary Falk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hedda_gabler_se/characters/secretary_falk)

_professional_

Brack and Falk have a formal professional relationship as fellow civil servants, with Brack holding higher status and influence.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hedda_gabler_se/characters/judge_brack
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hedda_gabler_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hedda_gabler_se/characters