Individual vs Society in A Doll's House and Hedda Gabler
George Brandes once insisted that the only way literature could be made into a vital and living piece of art would be by "subjecting problems to debate" Indeed, it was the `problem' at the heart of Henrik Ibsen's plays that caused most of the controversy that surrounded them. Whereas other theatrical productions of Ibsen's time adhered to a standard plot and set of characters, Ibsen chose to break free of conventions by introducing topical issues into his drama, challenging contemporary assumptions about the role of women, the institution of marriage and the state of society.
A close friend of George Brandes, Ibsen shared his view that only free individuals could create a free society, and that without truth there could be no genuine freedom. Ibsen believed that the morality of Victorian society was simply a façade and that "this kind of society could not satisfy the natural need of the individual for freedom." This concept of the individual in opposition to society is inherent in both `A Doll's House' and `Hedda Gabler'. In both plays, Ibsen focuses on the individual but, as is typical of realist drama, uses these individuals to "embody contemporary social problems."
In the case of `A Doll's House', the marriage of Nora and Torvald is clearly representative of the struggle between individualism and the expectations of society. At the beginning of the play Nora is almost completely immersed in the roles that are set out for her by society - that of a dutiful wife and mother. In her dialogue with Mrs Linde, Nora illustrates how a woman was valued according to how well she fulfilled those two roles. Her sympathy is evident ...
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...ra is happy as an individual, and so there is at least some truth in his claim that "I do but ask, my call is not to answer."
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Text
Arup, J. and McFarlane, J. (ed.), Henrik Ibsen: Four Major Plays. Oxford World's Classics (Oxford University Press, 1981)
Critical Studies
Finney, G., `Ibsen and Feminism'. In The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen (ed. James McFarlane) (Cambridge, 1994)
Garton, J., `The Middle Plays'. In The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen (ed. James McFarlane) (Cambridge, 1994)
Hemmer, B., `Ibsen and the Realistic Problem Drama'. In The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen (ed. James McFarlane) (Cambridge, 1994)
Internet Resources
http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Goldman/Writings/Drama/doll.html
http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Goldman/Writings/Drama/ibsen.html
http://www.mnc.net/norway/Ibsen.htm
Durbach, Errol. A. A Doll's House: Ibsen's Myth of Transformation. Boston: Twayne, 1991.
Simonds, W. E. "Henrik Ibsen." Dial 10.119 (Mar. 1890): 301-303. Rpt. in Literature Resource Center. Detroit: Gale, 2011. Literature Resource Center. Web. 25 Mar. 2011.
Northam, John. 1965. "Ibsen's Search for the Hero." Ibsen. A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.
A man, intoxicated and impoverished, lay on the dirty streets of patriarchal Norway, and as the jeering citizens sauntered by, they could have never guessed that this man, Henrik Ibsen, would be the Prometheus of women’s rights and the creator of the modern play. Having been born in 1828, Ibsen lived through various examples of the subjection of women within the law, such as Great Britain allowing men to lock up and beat their wives “in moderation” (Bray 33). Therefore, Ibsen was known for his realistic style of writing within both poetry and plays, which usually dealt with everyday situations and people (31). Focusing on the rights of women, Ibsen’s trademark was “...looking at these problems without the distortions of romanticism” and often receiving harsh criticism for doing so (31). In an attempt to support his family, Ibsen became a pharmaceutical apprentice, but after three years he abandoned this profession and began writing poetry. After an apprenticeship in the theater, he began writing his own plays, including a drama in verse, Peer Gynt (31). While working and writing in Norway, Ibsen and several social critics observed “...the penalty society pays when only half of its members participate fully as citizens”, deciding to flee Norway in hopes of finding a more accepting social environment (33). Ibsen wrote A Doll’s House, his most famous work about women suffering through the oppressive patriarchal society, while living primarily in Germany and Italy where he “...was exposed to these social norms and tensions to a much greater extent than he would have been had he remained solely in Norway” (32). While Sweden, Norway, and Denmark began to grant legal majority to women, Ibsen understood the legal improvements f...
The characters of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House and Hedda Gabler have problems relating to and surrounding their feelings towards the expectations presented to them by their society. The motivation behind their actions denote a fear of losing their respectability and status in their towns while implying a desire to be free of the expectations on them. The looming punishment of losing reputation and credibility in a community forces the characters in these plays to tiptoe around each other while trying to gain an upper hand and not be exposed in a possible scandal. The character’s actions are driven by a fear of losing respect in the community, being deemed disgraceful by neighbors, and damaging the character they have been building in the eyes
Ibsen's Hedda Gabler." Modern Drama 51.1 (2008): 73-83. MLA International Bibliography. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
Henrik Ibsen's works Dollhouse and An Enemy of the People can be shown to have both been written by Ibsen not only through characteristic technique such as blocking and character exposition, but also the similarity in the decay of the social persona of characters from the norm and the main character's heightening stalwart. The later of that statement proves the works to be Ibsen's writing more effectively because such a commonality is a more direct link between works than such subtlies as character exposition.
...th century were put down and seen of as lesser then men. They didn’t get any fair chances and had control of absolutely nothing in their life. The roles of women ranged from mother to wife, and went not far beyond. There was no way to gain any independence. Despite, the inferiority of Mrs. Linde, she defied the stereotypical ideas of women of her time and learned to be prosperous on her own. She even got a job, which was practically impossible for women of her time. In the end Ibsen’s portrayal of Mrs. Linde was extremely significant, she became a role of feminist movements for all people of her time. Ibsen was one of the first men to understand and feel that society was corrupt and women deserve to be treated equal. This play became extremely controversial to all, but in the end portrayed the ideas that would rewrite the role of a woman in any portion of life.
A Doll 's house is one of the modern works that Henrik Ibsen wrote. He was called the father of modern drama .He was famous for writing plays that related to real life. A Doll 's House is a three-act play that discusses the marriage in the 19th century. It is a well-made play that used the first act as an exposition. The extract that will be analyzed in the following paragraphs is a dialogue between Nora and the nurse that takes care of her children. This extract shows how she was afraid not only of Krogstad blackmail, but also of Torvald 's point of view about those who committed any mistake. Torvald says that the mothers who tell lies should not bring up children as they are not honest . Nora is also lying to her family and to Torvald. So she is afraid because she thinks she maybe 'poisoning ' her own children. The analysis of this extract will be about of Nora 's character, the theme, and the language in A Doll 's House.
2. Setterquist, Jan. Ibsen and the Beginnings of Anglo-Irish Drama. New York: Gordian Press, 1974. 46 - 49, 58 - 59, 82 - 93, 154 - 166.
and do things themselves. One of the women gets her own job and the other leaves her daughter for adoption. Thus showing they are making their own decisions in life. This is unheard of in the 1800's and shows Ibsen trying to have a society in which women do have an identity in society and can be heard. Throughout the play, a women is shown doing her own thinking and not listening to what men have to say even though that is not how it used to be. Ibsen creates this new society in which anyone, no matter the gender, should be able to make their own decisions about life and how to live it.
A Doll’s House illustrates two types of women. Christine is without a husband and independent at the start of the play whereas Nora is married to Torvald and dependent on him and his position at the bank. Both begin at different ends of the spectrum. In the course of the play their paths cross and by the end of the play each woman is where the other started. It appears that a woman has two choices in society; to be married and dependent on a man or unmarried and struggle in the world because she does not have a man.
Henrik Ibsen catches the world off guard with his play A Doll House. The world is in what is known as the Victorian era and women and men have specific roles. The way the story unravels takes the reader by surprise. Ibsen wanted to write a play that would challenge the social norms and that would show the world that no matter how hard they press, they would not always win. Ibsen uses society’s customs, deception, and symbolism to keep the reader on their feet and bring them a play that they would never forget.
Smith, Wendy. "The meaning behind the lines: how Ibsen's toughness and Chekhov's tenderness transformed American playwriting and acting." The American Scholar 78.3 (2009): 96+. Biography in Context. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
The actions of characters, such as Nora, represent the fact that an individual can make progress in societal reform. Therefore, Ibsen’s identification and attempt to change society symbolizes a realistic desire to find solutions to problems. The ultimate goal of Realism is to better everyday life for the majority of people, while trying to deepen the understanding of society’s problems. Works Cited for: Ibsen, Henrik. The "Doll House" Ibsen : Four Major Plays - Volume 1.