Compare And Contrast Fences And A Doll's House

Research paper

During the nineteenth century, a time of rapid growth and development, a profound and accelerated changes took place, which allows women, men, and color people to be treated a little differently; However, injustice, inequality, segregations, and discrimination where still common. Women were still not given equal opportunities (right to vote, borrow money in their names, or working outside of their homes) like men, and also black people especially men, were still being treated unfairly in terms of jobs opportunities, and other activities such as baseball. The stories, “A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen and “Fences” by August Wilson took place during that time of the century. The two stories revolve around how these social injustices affect and influence the behavior of the characters during that time. Although the two stories have some similarities in common, however, they also have some major differences that make each story unique.

One of the similarities between the two stories

is the way the characters are shaped and how their actions are influence by society. Troy, Torvald, and Krogstad were all responsible men in the two stories. They work hard with moral and integrity to take care of their families. Although they have different jobs, such as newly promoted bank manager, a garbage collector, and a bank clerk. They both have similar responsibilities which were to provide for their various families. An example of their responsibleness according to Shmoop, would be when one of the when Krogstad trying to look for means in order to keep his job to the extend of blackmailing Nora of forgery. According to the discussion forum, Sparknote, the reason for his actions was that “He wanted to spare his children from the hardship that comes with a spoil reputation.” this gives an example of how much of a responsible father he is. In terms of the three men being victims of society, Troy was once a former baseball player who faced racial barrier during his time as a player, which make him frustrated about society. Trovald however is more concern about other people perceptions of him and what society might think, so he allows his emotions and decision to be swayed by society. Krogstad on the other hand, once committed forgery similar crime to that of Nora’s. According to Sparknote, because of the crime he committed, “society has saddled him with the stigma of being a criminal and prohibited him from moving beyond his past” in other words, society still used the crime he committed against him.
Another similarity between the two stories is the endings.

At the end of the stories, Troy and Torvald ended up being alone with both of their wives departed from them for different reasons. Rose reasons was that Troy cheated on her and pregnant his mistress Alberta, this made Rose to became very angry and felt like she was not good enough for him “Maybe you ought to go on and stay down there with her, if she is a better woman than me” for him cheating and refuses not to stop seeing her, cause Rose to leave with the agreement of rising the Alberta’s child. In A Doll’s House, Torvald also could not treat Nora right or equal, instead he treats her as doll or a little child. At the end of story, Nora finally become aware of the facts that what she considered love was not love after all, because Torvald refuses to take the blame for her. So she decided to leave in other for her to discover the world for

herself.
In terms of differences, the female characters Nora, and Rose in the different stories where both treated differently by their husband’s. While Nora’s husband, Tovald treats her like a doll, he called her names like song bird, little Nora, prodigal, sweet tooth, sulky squirrel, and little lark. He talks to her in sense that make her feel very inferior or unimportant in the marriage. Like for example, when he was questioning her about her not been running riot in town, or make a little detour through the confectioner’s or nibbled some pastry. Rose on the other hand was treated with much respect compared to Nora. Her husband did not treat her like a little song bird or call her names. She was allowed to do things without be questioned. in addition Nora was never given the opportunity to voice out her opinion on important issues, expects at the ending of the story when she finally decide to break her silence about her being treated unfairly by both Trovald and her father. unlike Rose, she was give the opportunity to voice out her opinions and take part in important discussion like for example when Troy was telling about how he meet rose to Bono, troy asked Rose to tell Bono how they meet, and what she told he when they first meet, this indicates that Troy allows his wife to talk and take part in important conversation.
Finally another major difference between the two stories is the way the characters transformed over time. Nora moved from being a naïve and submissive house wife, her husband possession, that reduce her to a childish deception that hides her food,(Macaroons) to a rebellious wife. according to Enotes, the reason for this is because, Nora was expecting her husband to take the blame for her, but instead it was the other way round, he accuses her of being a liar, hypocrites and a criminal, as a result of this, she shows her rebellious side against her husband, and society, especially because society orders that husbands have authority to rule over their wives.”

Torvald on the other hand, moved from being the man in total control to the man that begs his wife not to leave. The same thing also applies to Mrs. Linde and Krogstad. Krogstad move from being an antagonist that wanted to fame Nora, because of her signature forgery to a total different man after Mrs. Linde decided they should continue their relationship and start over. Contrast to Fences, Rose also moved from being that respectful wife to a more strong woman the moment she finds out that her husband has pregnant her mistress Alberta. Her husband however, moved from a strong hard working man to a weak and drunken husband that ended up wrestled with death
In conclusion, both stories shows dramatic actions throughout, from Nora’s frustrated efforts of keeping the secret of the money she borrowed through flirting, manipulating and dancing” to Krogstad threat and letter of Nora’s forgery, and to Nora’s rebellion at the end of the story. In Fence, from Troy revealing his affair with Alberta, to grabbing of his wife arm, to his son trying to attacking him.