Final answer:
Lovborg tears the manuscript into a thousand pieces to symbolically destroy his work.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the given excerpt from Hedda Gabler, Lovborg confesses to tearing the manuscript into a thousand pieces. He tells Thea this because he feels that what he actually did was worse. By tearing the manuscript, he symbolically destroys his work and believes this act surpasses any other harm he could do.
Learn more about Symbolism in 'Hedda Gabler'