An Examination of Wealth as a Determinant of Freedom in a Doll's House and the Cherry Orchard

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An examination of wealth as a determinant of freedom in A Doll's House and The Cherry Orchard

From the early establishment of societies and economies, wealth has been seen as a symbol for freedom due to the numerous possibilities it presents. A Doll's House and The Cherry Orchard both present characters ensnared by their lack of wealth. Consequently, a casual observer will assume that financial difficulty is the major obstacle plaguing those in the plays. Delving further, it is apparent that the lack of psychological freedom is the prevailing dilemma, as can be seen when financial difficulties are overcome and the caged atmosphere remains. Ibsen and Chekhov both initially stress the theme of wealth and money is viewed as the foundation for freedom, but later reveal that psychological freedom can only be achieved through other means.

The illusion of financial distress being the dominant obstacle is set swiftly by both texts. The Cherry Orchard promptly reveals the troubling situation to the audience merely a few pages into the script. The sisters, faced with a dwindling fortune and a wastrel mother, decide that "in August the estate will be put up for sale" . The imminent auction causes an anxious and heartrending atmosphere to envelop the entire estate. Lyubov is especially distressed due to her former prosperous days. Although she acknowledges her present circumstances, she retains her former careless spending habits. Lyubov's actions only further necessitate the auction of the estate. Similarly, A Doll's House reveals Nora's personal dilemma fairly early. The poignant account of Nora saving her husband's life by sacrificing her own financial freedom demonstrates the significance of wealth. The loan compels Nora to live he...

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...ole, even though it is simply a memory, Lopakhin can advance with his life.

The theme of wealth is much like a veil for A Doll's House and The Cherry Orchard. Although the audience may be inclined to believe that the lack of wealth is the main conflict, both plays refute this with their resolutions. Nora escapes from gender inequality, and Lopakhin destroys the only link to his serf heritage. Indeed, both Ibsen and Chekhov initially provided evidence that wealth is the dominant theme, but freedom was only achieved for Nora and Lopakhin by escaping from their respective social roles, a psychological freedom. This complies with the authors' original purposes - not to comment on wealth, but to promote feminism and examine Russia's class structure.

Bibliography

Chekhov, Anton - The Cherry Orchard - Signet Classic, 1964

Ibsen, Henrik - A Doll's House -

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