What Is The Best Angle To Write A Paper On Ibsens “a Doll House” And Feminism?
29 Sep
Posted by: in: doll house
A Doll’s House – Henrik Ibsen
3. THE PLACE OF WOMEN
This was a major theme in late nineteenth-century literature and appeared in Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary, and Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles, to name only a few.
Ibsen refused to be called a feminist, preferring to be known as a humanist. He had little patience with people, male or female, who didn’t stand up for their rights and opinions.
Still, he argued that society’s rules came from the traditionally male way of thinking. He saw the woman’s world as one of human values, feelings, and personal relationships, while men dealt in the abstract realm of laws, legal rights, and duties.
In A Doll’s House, Nora can’t really see how it is wrong to forge a name in order to save a life, but Torvald would rather die than break the law or borrow money. This difference in thinking is what traps Nora.
However, for Ibsen, the triumph of the individual embraces the right of women to express themselves. In the end, Nora’s duty to know herself is more important than her female role. http://www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/barr…
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Henrik Ibsen – Linkshttp://www.littlebluelight.com/lblphp/li…
3 Responses
Electric Blue
30|Sep|2009 1I’ve always found it interesting that Ibsen himself staunchly refused to describe the play as a feminist piece or even admit that Nora is a feminist character. There are multiple interviews/speeches that he’s given in which he actually sounds kind of offended with the feminist label. I wrote a paper not too long ago rebuking his interpretation. He and a minority of literary scholars make arguments ranging from interesting to shallow regarding Nora’s position as a feminist icon.
lipgloss
30|Sep|2009 2Well, there’s the obvious theme of Nora’s bids for freedom, and her final escape from Torvald.
One thing I’ve always thought interesting and thought would be a good paper is the idea that Nora and Kristine were/are lesbians together. I’ve never been able to do much research on it, but I’ve heard it mentioned and thought it would be an interesting avenue to explore.
Or you could do the different ways Nora reacts to the people in the story – Torvald, Krogstad, Kristine, her children. I haven’t seen research on it, but then again, I haven’t looked.
It’s such a fascinating play, and definitely one of my favorites.
bailey michelle<3
30|Sep|2009 3I agree : ). An interesting sounding topic to write on (in my opinion) would be about her decision to choose freedom and escape the bondage of her marriage life.
I love A Doll’s House!
Good luck on your paper : )!!!
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