Individualism In A Doll's House By Henrik Ibsen

The Romantic movement of the nineteenth century in Europe involved those who wished to express their disapproval of industrialism. Romantics focus on individualism as well as images and ideas created by the imagination. Romantics are very centered around a certain beauty and power of nature as opposed to material objects. Romantics stay away from the more realistic part of life, this is greatly expressed in Romantic literature and art. Specifically, in Arthur Rimbaud’s “Ophelia” it is evident to see the fascination with nature as well as the individual. He states, “On the calm black wave where the stars sleep/ Floats white Ophelia like a great lily,/ Floats very slowly, lying in her long veils . . .”(891). Here there is evidence of a Romantic’s

entrancement with both individualism, exemplified by this woman, as well as the natural world. Romantics believe in the natural goodness of human nature, and in the strength of humanity.
To contrast Romanticism, Realists go against most Romantic principals. Realists compare with Romantics by also rejecting industrialism, however this is showed in a way that represents the harsh and negative effects in a very concrete and even sometimes morbid way. Romantics tend to replace the harsh effects of industrialism with a focus on nature. To continue, Romantics focus more on the individual while Realists tend to focus on the community. Realist views often express real world ideas and problems that are practical and are happening around them. Often, human flaws in society and human cruelty as well as political issues. The plots of Realistic literature may be very ordinary and practical as opposed to the more surreal fantasy of the imagination that is exemplified by Romantic literature.
During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, both Realism and Romanticism were fairly new styles of writing that captured the interests of many. One of the largest contrasting ideas these two styles of writing posses is the focus on individualism. A Realist work such as Guy De Maupassant's “Two Friends” as well as the play “A Doll House” written by Henrik Ibsen demonstrates a focus on the community, the greater good and a higher power. Opposing to those literary works, Romantic pieces “The Lorelei” by Heinrich Heine and the poem “I Have Visited Again” by Alexander Pushkin exemplify a Romantics strong focal point on individualism.
Romantics convey the idea of individualism in their literary works. Specifically in the Romantic poem “The Lorelei” written by Heinrich Heine. The poem has many elements of nature while being centered entirely around a irresistible sea nymph. Heine writes
A girl sits high up there;
Her golden jewelry glistens,
She combs her golden hair.
With a comb of gold she combs it (879).
In the poem the nymph is being glorified and the imagery shows her high and secluded. There is many Romantic elements in this poem, however individualism is largely expressed. There is a very evident focus on the subject as can be seen in some of the last lines:
The boatman hears, with an anguish
More wild than was ever known;
He’s blind to the rocks around him;
His eyes are for her alone. (879)
There is a strong focus that sets the sea nymph on a pedestal of beauty and perfection, thus exemplifying the Romantics transfixation with individualism. Another example of this focus is seen in “Ophelia” by Arthur Rimbaud. Ophelia is a woman whose troubles with Hamlet are represented while being completely focused on her emotions alone. “And he has seen on the water, lying in her long veils,/ White Ophelia floating, like a great lily” (889). Here Ophelia is passed away, death being a lonely and individual event. Leading up to Ophelia's death is the description of nature embracing her and Ophelia is the only focus of the poem.
While Romantics are focused on the individual, Realist literature puts more emphasis on what is best for the community as a whole, and less on the idea that the government only is there to serve the individuals who created it. In the short story “Two Friends” written by Guy de Maupassant, the theme contrasting Individualism in Romantic literature is seen when two men decide to keep silent about a password needed by German soldiers. This story addresses self-sacrifice, not only thinking what is best for oneself but what is best for everyone. In this case it was shown by the two fisherman who took a daily walk and ran into four German soldiers. These men happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and were asked to tell the Germans the password needed to get back across French lines. The officer goes on to say “No one will ever know. You will go back placidly. The secret will disappear with you. If you refuse, it is immediate death. Choose.” (910) Clear of the penalty for not telling them, the two friends chose to continue to stay silent. They are making a decision of self-sacrifice and loyalty to their country. Though unclear if they actually know the password, even if they do not, the two simple French fishermen still choose to keep silent. A Realist is in favor of devotion and allegiance to the government because they ultimately know what is best not for them, but for their country. This contrasts to Romanticisms focus on Individualism because in this particular Realist piece the author writes a concern dealing with loyalty to the government.
The play A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen is a prime example of a Realist work that demonstrates the contrast to Individualism.

To start, in this play the main character Nora is portrayed to be the perfect nineteenth-century wife to her husband Torvald. Not only that, but Nora is also painted in a way that characterizes her as a bubbly air-head that is not able to take care of herself or have a mind of her own. Ibsen wirtes “HELMER: Nora, Nora, how like a woman! No, but seriously, Nora, you know what I think about that. No debts! Never borrow! Something of freedom’s lost—and something of beauty, too—from a home that’s founded on borrowing and debt. We’ve made a brave stand up to now, the two of us; and we’ll go right on like that the little while we have to. NORA [going toward the stove ]: Yes, whatever you say, Torvald.” (944)Since Realists go against individuals having freedom of action over a state control, Torvald Helmer can be seen as representing a government while Nora represents a citizen with no say in any matter. Torvald uses the term “like a woman” to denounce Nora's inability to handle money, thus belittling her. Nora still complies to Torvalds wishes, giving up her voice rather easily while she only does what is best for her greater power. Furthermore, Nora obtains money from her father before he dies to support the trip to Italy because Torvald was ill and needed to go in order to get help. This shows that Nora did was only thinking about her husband, the higher power she obeys, and put herself last. This also exemplifies a Realist concern with community benefit, not

individual.
Returning back to Romanticism, “I Have Visited Again” by Alexander Pushkin is a literary example of individualism. Pushkin writes his own thoughts and observations when he returns to this place ten years later after exile. Romantics are more interested in an individual's thoughts, to be separated from the masses. “Here are the wooded slopes where often I / Sat motionless, and looked down at the lake”(877). Here Pushkin is reflecting and remembering what he would do when he lived in the place her returned to. This shows the relationship between individualism and Romanticism by having Pushkin's life remembered and described, which is the entire focus of the poem. To continue, Alexander Pushkin writes:
But now that I am here again, the past
Has flown out eagerly to embrace me, claim me,
And it seems that only yesterday I wandered
Within these groves (876).
Pushkin is by himself, and the writing focuses on his own encounters, thoughts and past. ARealist writer would not separate and individual from a mass.
Realism and Romanticism are two very different styles of writing that many took a liking to in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. While both were a reaction against industrialism, the movements dealt with the problem in very contrasting ways. Romantics portrayed a very strong focal point on individualism as opposed to the Realist concern with the community and its benefit.