ly don 't care to." (229). Hedda does not feel any emotion towards the old slippers because she does not feel that she is a part of the Tesman family.
             It is impossible for Hedda to feel that she is a part of the Tesman family because she objects to the conventions established for her gender by society. She rejects references to her pregnancy as a reminder of her gender: "Oh, do be quiet!" she snaps to Tesman when he remarks that she is filling out (230). With the suggestion of pregnancy, Hedda is not only reminded of her feminine role as a mother, but also as a wife of Tesman, something that she has as much contempt for as his lowly bedroom slippers. Hedda resents the gender conventions that dictate that she now belongs to the Tesman family, a situation that would not occur were she a man. Because of this situation, Hedda uses all her strength to keep her emotions shut in. When Tesman suggests that she is part of the family, all Hedda can say is, "Hm--I really don't know--" (232). The only way she is to carry on with this conflicting life is to remain quiet.
             Hedda has become completely convinced that the revealing of any emotion is wrong and as a result she will play with her pistols in an effort to amuse herself instead of actually voicing her male opinions. These pistols themselves represent masculinity and Hedda finds some comfort in cherishing them. The pistols are Hedda's outlet from the reality around her. Tesman begs her to not play with the pistols at the end of Act 1, but at the beginning of the very next act, Hedda is seen loading them and even pretending to shoot Judge Brack. Thus, even after both Judge Brack Tesman vehemently t
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