Berte
What Berte thinks about Miss Tesman?
Text/Stage Directions
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I told you so, Miss.
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MISS TESMAN
ACT Heaven knows it was a wrench to me to part with you.
I
BERTE
[On the point of weeping] And do you think it wasn’t hard for me, too, Miss?
After all the blessed years I’ve been with you and Miss Rina.
Act I Summary: Berte has a history of working under Miss Tesman. She feels blessed by the
experience and almost considers her family. She has a deep concern for her and her close
relatives and is hesitant to give up her obligations to her.
Act II Summary: Berte makes no mention of Miss Tesman in Act II.
ACT It was Miss Tesman’s servant that brought it. I’ll lay it here on the table.
III
Act III Summary: Berte respects Miss Tesman’s wishes.
Act IV Summary: Berte makes no mention of Miss Tesman in Act IV.
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What Berte thinks about Mrs. Evlsted?
Text/Stage Directions
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ACT That lady, ma’am, that brought some flowers a little while ago, is here again.
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I
The flowers you have in your hand, ma’am.
[Berte opens the door for Mrs. Elvstead and goes out herself.]
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Act I Summary: Little is known about what Berte thinks about Mrs. Elvsted. She is a guest in
their house and must be waited on and treated with respect.
Act II Summary: Berte makes no mention of Mrs. Elvsted in Act II.
ACT No, it’s for Dr. Tesman, ma’am.
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III It is daylight already ma’am.
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Lord bless you, ma’am—I guessed how it would be.
Act III Summary: Berte understands Mrs. Elvsted’s frantic nature and feels badly for the
situation she’s in.
Act IV Summary: Berte makes no mention of Mrs. Elvsted in Act IV.
What Berte thinks about Judge Brack?
ACT
I
Text/Stage Directions
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Judge Brack wishes to know if Mrs. Tesman will receive him.
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[She opens the door for Judge Brack and goes out herself]
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Act I Summary: Little is known about what Berte thinks about Judge Brack. He is a guest in
their house and must be waited on and treated with respect.
Act II Summary: Berte makes no mention of Judge Brack in Act II.
ACT Judge Brack is at the door, and wishes to know if he may come in.
III
Act III Summary: Little is known about what Berte thinks about Judge Brack.
Act IV Summary: Berte makes no mention of Judge Brack in Act IV.
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What Berte thinks about Hedda?
Text/Stage Directions
…Good Lord, what a lot the young mistress had to unpack before she could get
to bed.
[Beside the table at a loss what to do with the bouquet in her hand.] I declare
there isn’t a bit of room left. I think I’ll put it down here.
MISS TESMAN
So you’ve got a new mistress snow, my dear Berta
I’m so mortally afraid I shan’t be able to suit the young mistress.
Most like she’ll be terrible grand in her ways.
MISS TESMAN
…Don’t you remember how we used to see her riding down the road along with
the General? In that long black habit—and with feathers in her hat?
ACT
I
BERTE
Yes, indeed—I remember well enough!—But, good Lord, I should never have
dreamt in those days that she and Master George would make a match of it.
Yes, the young mistress spoke of that too—the moment they set foot in the
house.
BERTE
The mistress told me to. She can’t abide covers on the chairs, she says
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MISS TESMAN
Are they going to make this their everyday sitting-room then?
BERTE
Yes, that’s what I understood—from the mistress.
BERTE
Shall I go in and see if there’s anything I can do for the mistress?
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TESMAN
No thank you, Berte—you needn’t. She said she would ring if she wanted
anything.
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HEDDA
Oh, there the servant has gone and opened the veranda door, and let in a whole
flood of sunshine
Yes Ma’am
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Act I Summary: Berte is nervous about the expectations Hedda will place on her. She is
anxious and quite hesitant about the situation she’s been placed in. She is already surprised at
some of the mistress’ requests. She knows her role and will do whatever pleases her mistress.
Act II Summary: Berte makes no mention of Hedda in Act II.
[The curtains are drawn over the middle doorway, and also over the glass door.
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The lamp, half turned down, and with a shade over it, is burning on the table.]
[Berta slips cautiously in by the hall door.]
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[Softly] Yes, a girl has just brought this letter.
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ACT [Looks toward the sofa and sighs.] No, no—let her sleep, poor thing. Shan’t I
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III put some wood on the fire?
Did you want anything, ma’am?
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Bless me—I’ll make up the fire at once. [She rakes the embers together and lays 79
a piece of wood upon them; then stops and listens.] That was a ring at the front
door, ma’am.
It’ll soon burn up.
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Act III Summary: Though Hedda is difficult to please; Berte makes every attempt possible to
make her happy. She is respectful of her needs and is always working overtime to
accommodate her. She has arranged the environment to suit Hedda’s wishes.
ACT [Berta enters in alarm from the right.]
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IV
Act IV Summary: Berte is aware something has gone wrong with Hedda and rushes to address
the situation. She is of the habit of waiting on Hedda and seeing to her every need.
What Berte thinks about Lovborg?
Text/Stage Directions
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Act I Summary: Berte makes no mention of Lovborg in Act I.
Act II Summary: Berte makes no mention of Lovborg in Act II.
ACT When I saw that a certain person had come back to town—and that he went off
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III with them. For we’ve heard enough about that gentleman before now.
Act III Summary: Berte understands what Lovborg represents and the threat he poses to
Tesman. She only knows what she’s been told about him and has formed an opinion about
Lovborg similar to others in the house.
Act IV Summary: Berte makes no mention of Lovborg in Act IV.
What Berte thinks about Tesman?
Text/Stage Directions
MISS TESMAN
George can’t do without you, you see-he absolutely can’t. He has had you to
look after him ever since he was a little boy.
ACT I should never have dreamt in those days that she and Master George would
make a match of it.
I
MISS TESMAN
In future you mustn’t say Master George. You must say Dr. Tesman
Well well, he’s clever enough for anything, he is. But I didn’t think he’d have
gone in for doctoring people
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Act I Summary: Berte’s loyalty to Hedda stems from her previous loyalty to Tesman. She is
very familiar with Tesman and feels much more comfortable around him than Hedda. She
seems surprised about his accomplishments and his choice in spouse, so she questions his
judgment. Berte is almost a motherly figure to Tesman.
Act II Summary: Berte makes no mention of Tesman in Act II.
No, it’s for Dr. Tesman, ma’am.
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BERTE
Judge Brack is at the door, and wishes to know if he may come in.
ACT
III TESMAN
At this time! No, I can’t possibly see him.
HEDDA
But I can. Ask Judge Brack to come in. [Berta goes out.]
Act III Summary: Though Berte respects Tesman, she understands her place in a matriarchal
household. Hedda’s wishes override those of Tesman.
Act IV Summary: Berte makes no mention of Tesman in Act IV.
What Berte thinks about herself?
Text/Stage Directions
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[…Berte is a middle-aged woman of plain and rather countrified appearance.
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After all the blessed years I’ve been with you and Miss Rina.
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ACT Au but, Miss Julia, I can’t help thinking of Miss Rina lying helpless at home
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I
there, poor thing. She’ll never learn to take proper car of a n invalid.
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MISS TESMAN
You needn’t be uneasy about my poor sister, my dear Berte.
I’m so mortally afraid I shan’t be able to suit the young mistress.
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Act I Summary: Berte takes pride in her role as a servant of the house, yet she is very axious
and nervous that she may not be able to fulfill Hedda’s expectations. She is caring and loyal to
those she has known and served for some time. She is humble and a hard worker and willingly
fulfills her responsibilities.
Act II Summary: Berte makes no mention of herself in Act II.
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BERTE
When I saw that a certain person had come back to town—and that he went off
ACT with them. For we’ve heard enough about that gentleman before now.
III
MRS. ELVSTED
Don’t speak so loud. You will waken Mrs. Tesman
[Berte is heard speaking loudly in the hall]
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Act III Summary: Berte seems self-assured that she understands the situations that are
occurring in and outside of the Tesman home. She is not afraid to make her opinion known.
ACT [Hey eyes are red with weeping and she has black ribbons in her cap. She goes
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IV quietly and circumspectly out to the right.]
Act IV Summary: Berte is in mourning over the death of Miss Rina. She will do what she
needs to properly mourn the loss of her dear friend.