Dolls House Essay Example For Students

Dolls House Essay Doll`s House Ibsen is a writer that uses literature to channel entertainment and expresshimself throughout the play, A Dolls House. He wrote the play duringthe transition from mythical and historical dramas to plays dealing with socialproblems. At the time that Ibsen wrote A Dolls House, the later1800s, society has created a niche for the woman as a housewife and socialpartner, lacking emphasis on love. This controversial play features a femaleprotagonist seeking her individuality through realizations and challenging hercomfort zone. Isben, through Nora and her personality, depicts the role of womennot as the usual comforter, helper, and supporter of man, but introduced womanas having her own purposes and goals. The heroine, Nora, progresses during thecourse of the play eventually to realize that she must discontinue the role of adoll and seek out her individuality. Definite characteristics of womanssubordinate role in a relationship are emphasized through Noras contradictingactions. As a person, she enjoys making Torvald happy, but will not follow hisguidelines. Her infatuation with luxuries like expensive Christmas giftscontradicts her resourcefulness in scrounging and buying cheap clothing. Also,her defiance of Torvald by eating forbidden Macaroons contradicts the submissionof her opinions, including the decision of which dance outfit to wear, to herhusband; and Noras flirtatious nature contradicts her devotion to her husband. Pride is a strong force in both plays, unyielding and antagonizing, it serves as a cast-iron vice from which the main characters cannot escape. Its the force that drives Adela onward in her battle for freedom and portrays her as a woman ahead of her time. Pride is the opposing force against Adela. Bernarda is a forceful dictator and places the families pride ahead of happiness. Bernarda states I keep watch; so people wont spit when they pass our door (Garcia Lorca 182). Adela is confined to dictatorship and rules. Pride also serves as opposition to Bernarda. It is a dark cloud cast over her head, as she fears becoming like her mother and losing pride in the community. History repeats itself (Garcia Lorca 169) was said in a comparison between Adelas mother and grandmother. In the play, A Dolls House, Torvald allows his pride to come between him and his wife, causing a deceitful marriage. Torvald once said happiness is not the question; all that concerns us is to save the remains, the fragments, the appearance (Ibsen 63). Central to both plays, pride is seen almost as a character. It sometimes holds characters back, while others it thrusts stumbling forward. Always, however, its impact can be felt and its imprint can be seen. The dominant characters in both plays are rulers of their domain. Bernarda self-righteously rules her household emphasizing pride and status. Even when her maid Poncia has valid opinions, she does not listen. . Work and keep your mouth shut. The duty of all who work for a living (Garcia Lorca 192). Bernarda rules quick and harsh, as she wants to be a decisive ruler with no guidance. However, Torvald is the ruler of a much smaller household. He wants his house to be a place of discipline, order, and respect. As with Bernarda, dominance is based on pride. This is revealed when he said, I would gladly work night and day for youBut no man would sacrifice his honor for the one he loves (Ibsen 70) Torvald is more concerned with honor that others hold in him than his own wifes happiness. From Mozart To The Second School Of Vienna. EssayThis is the constant battle that the adults must confront trying to indoctrinate the children into their way of thinking. As many of the children, including the Burnells, were not allowed even to speak to them. This was enforced on the Burnells constantly. However the younger children still see equality and are unaware fully as to why they must not associate with people less fortunate then them. Young Kezia depicts this throughout the story by recognizing the uniqueness of the lamp. Kezia liked more than anything, what she liked frightfully, was the lamp. While the older children dont recognize the lamp as special due to its simplicity Kezia does. This gives hope that the younger children may not fully fall into believing in the inequality between classes. As we can see in Katherine Mansfields The dolls house the world of the adults is in conflict with the world of the children. The dolls house represents this by pointing out the social class divide that exists in the adult world, yet is not fully understood in the childs world. We see that the children are not fully indoctrinated in the division f 4 classes. The adults are fully indoctrinated in inequality and see the world as black and white where the children still see the world as a place of hope and possibilities. Because of the adults black and white thought processes they have a hard time relating to the open and hopeful minds of the children. The children see the world in a different light then the adults adding to the constant conflict that exists between their so similar worlds. Works Cited Mansfield, Katherine, The dolls house, Seven short stories. Black cat 2013 E-Book