Hedda's symbolic age—twenty-nine—forced her into marriage because society's marriage age limit was catching up with her; she needed a stable and secure arrangement to avoid any scandal. However, by marrying George, Hedda was trying to get what she wanted most: control. Attempting to maintain his material wealth and status was his way of achieving this; both become evident in Hedda's complaints. She wants another piano because the old one "doesn't really fit in with all these other things", and asks for a butler and a horse, knowing that she cannot have these things (232; 247). More importantly, Hedda attempts to regain the former status she had when she speaks to George about the fact that "it was part of our agreement that we would live in society – that we would keep a big house –" (247). . This becomes the ultimate proof that Hedda's love for George is false. The marriage was a good deal; therefore, it seems that Hedda is only concerned with her own well-being. She doesn't care about anyone else, not even George. Hedda is consumed in her materialistic world and cannot realize that this world will never materialize. It is obvious that what is important in life has somehow left her out and she is lost in her own being.

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