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A Doll's House (Themes (Gender equality (Forced dependency of women on…
A Doll's House
Themes
Gender equality
Forced dependency of women on men.
Nora's husband refers to her as a child/his doll.
Incapable of survival without him.
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Women as caretakers of the house.
Responsibilities to husband and children.
Not expected to earn money.
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Love
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"We never truly loved each other, we just pretended to do so" Nora and Torvald
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Characterizations
Nora
Admirable but unideal as a woman in her society.
Favours personal values over societal expectations.
Under full control of her father (implied).
Torvald kept her as a doll after her father -- relay races
Has a deceptive nature; smuggles a macaroon.
Forges signatures from her father, takes loans from an immoral person to support Torvald.
Secretly very independent albeit restricted by the men in her life. Works to benefit herself and her family.
Torvald
Ideal man in society. Worshipper of societal status.
Cares about his reputation and what people think.
Does not have many moral concerns or personal values.
Focussed on societal expectations. Blames Nora.
Does not risk his status for love.
Actions predicted by society.
Representation of Norwegian society: a flawed character.
Krogstad
Many similar qualities to Torvald (70%), and Nora (30%).
Societal factors are very important to him.
Also cares about family, "for the sake of my son...respectable"
Also had to take out loans and forge signatures.
Immoral, unethical, malicious actions: to save his family
Personal morals.
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Mrs Linde
In a romantic relationship with Krogstad when younger. Responsible for her mother and her siblings.
Married a rich man.
Linda tells Nora about this failed relationship.
Following the death of her husband, she marries Krogstad.
Nora wants Torvald to see the letters for transparency. Broke the relationship apart.
Historical context
Society's view on honour
Honourable behaviour was morally correct. Nora's forging of signatures saved Torvald's life, but viewed as dishonest and wrong.
Feminist movement
Had started to take place, more rights given to women. 1874 was the first time a woman could make an independent salary. 5 years before A Doll's House was performed.
Promoted women and gave them a voice. Let a woman be completely independent, breaking free from the constraints of society. Mirror for the patriarchy represented by Torvald.
Industrial Revolution
Mainly occurring in the UK, living standards were increasing
Title: A Doll's House
Refers to Nora and Torvald's marriage.
Nora treated less like a human and more like a doll.
"You've kept me like a doll to play with in a doll's house"
Father was similar in this regard -- "Just like Papa before"
Streetcar
Themes
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Loneliness
Blanche. After her husband's suicide, had to find sexual partners to take away her loneliness. Many relationships with strangers exacerbates this sentiment. Positive feedback loop.
Death of family members and emptiness of Belle Reve estate. Ironically meaning beautiful dream in French.
Independence
Blanche seeks independence through dependence.
Only free if dependent on another man -- explains promiscuity
Sexual tension
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Stanley introductory stage direction.
Gives sexual classification, "crude" images in his mind. Disagreement between Stanley and Stella.
Relationship rocky when Blanche appears on the scene
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Appearances vs Reality
Deception
Blanche based on deception.
Keeps the lights dimmed so Mitch won't notice her age and appearance. Rips paper lantern to get a good look and her.
Blanche tries hard to make herself look virtuous, an aristocrat, someone hard to get. Worthwhile conquest.
Blanche hiding her past actions.
Self-deception about Shep Huntleigh who has invited her for a Caribbean cruise. Phones up Western Union
Stella cares a lot about the way she looks, and often asks others.
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Mental instability
Williams' sister had issues, had frontal lobe surgically removed. Changed completely.
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Characterization
Blanche
Symbol of the Old South: old gentlemanly values. Negates these by being sexually promiscuous. Mental instability and loneliness. Very deceptive: hides everything about herself. She puts on a face for others, and hides her own physical appearance. Transitions to self-deception as she loses sense of reality.
Stanley
Polar opposite of Blanche in his values. Represents modern post WWII modern America. He is the American Dream that everyone else is striving for. Strong man, descendent of Polish immigrants. Referred to by derogatory term 'Polak', but considers himself a true American. Very sexually promiscuous man, classification in his mind. Rapist. Shown to be greedy with animalistic characteristics -- potentially linked to the industrial revolution and American war crimes during the Second World War. Referred to by Stella as an 'ape', throws meat at Stella, and plates/cutlery.
Stella
Actually a virtuous and loyal women (unlike Blanche). Wants things to remain the same. Seen as the transition from the Old South to modern American Dream. Born in the same aristocratic family, brought up in the same way as Blanche. Stella leaves Belle Reve and travels to New Orleans and St. Louis where she meets Stanley. Representation of America and newfound cultural freedom. Very calm and collected, not acting on her impulses. Takes a lot of abuse from Stanley.
Mitch
Stanley's circle of friends are low-income working men in their mid to late 20s. Mitch is the most gentlemen-like. Kind to women, and to Blanche. Does not physically abuse in the same way. Not particularly knowledgeable, responds in monosyllabic ways. Passionate about gin; able to keep talking about it. Feels betrayed when he finds out about Blanche's true nature, not showing up for her birthday. Blames Stanley for Blanche. Affection towards his mother who is in a terminal condition.
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