A Doll’s House was an interesting way of looking at gender roles. This story would have been controversial at the time that it was performed, and although it may not be as outwardly controversial now as it once was, it still provides a decent look into a “real” problem that many couples face today. The only thing that differs is that women now make that decision for themselves, and this play may provide outlook for some as to whether or not they should indeed assume that role of a “doll”, or a play thing.
The story did lack background as to where Nora did gain her sudden power to break it off with her husband, but it may also appear realistic in relationships where it takes a change of luck to realize where someone stands. When luck is on a couple’s side, why would they find fault in one another; why ruin a good thing? Everyone has their own personal aspirations whether they are a housewife or financial supplier to a family. Everyone must learn and attain his or her own personal aspirations in order to become the stable rock that a family depends on. It was harsh of Nora to leave her children, but she was at her wit’s end. She had sold her soul to the devil, and gave up her freedom for comfort. This was a turning point in her young life which illuminated her discomfort in her own home.
This story was a nightmare, but one that highlighted the social defects of our culture. Nora and her husband were brainwashed into living by society’s rules that were set up for the general public to follow. Not everyone fits that mold, and no matter how sad or difficult that moment is when you decide that you do not fit that mold is, no one can live a lie. Nora may have been very upset to find out that she did not fit the social norm, but she realized that in her situation, it was not worth her happiness in order to upkeep her normal persona. I pitied her husband as he begged for her to stay, but there was no hope for him. He had proven to be a superficial character that was just as ruined as she was. He becomes the personification of the norm that antagonizes Nora. Christine is a friend that is presented as a fallen woman who has become a widow and needs Nora’s help. Here, Nora appears to be the sane, and most sought after character. Christine finds love with no superficiality and the relationship ends up better of than Nora’s.
The story concludes with Nora’s freedom. This is harsh, but it only shows how dirty a situation can get, and how much harder it can be to escape from as time goes on with everything left unsaid. Nothing was deep in Nora’s life, and it broke her. It was a happy ending to see her trying to save herself. This might have served as a warning to all that they should remain true to themselves and not live a lie because it may become as messy, sudden, and controversial as the ending to this play.(534)
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7 comments:
Katelyn--somehow Starbucks seems to bring out some of your best thinking. And when you do that, you get me thinking too. Mostly about whether or not some of the issues in the play are still true today. Yes, I agree that women today have many more choices, considerably more freedom, and something closer to equality. But when I think about the way both men and women internalize (or are subtly brainwashed by, as you say) the cultural expectations embodied in clothes, makeup, shoes, hair, the way women are presented in advertising, the sexual objectification of women found in many places, it seems as though there are still powerful forces trying to keep women in their "doll" identities.
So maybe Nora's freedom at the end is a happy ending after all, at least of the kind Fay Weldon talked about on one of the tragedy slides I showed you the other day.
OOPS!! My bad! I wasn't paying enough attention to what I was doing (I wrote my comment about 5 AM and hadn't had my morning coffee) so I somehow thought I was writing to the other Katelyn.
So change "Katelyn" to "Caitie," delete the Starbucks reference, and keep the rest of the comment the same. And I'll try not to get the two of you confused any more.
Caitie...
I think you are completely right about this story being a nightmare but somehow the horrible events only highlight the social defects of our culture. Indeed, even now, people are "brainwashed" into living by societies rules and most of the time, the rules don't work for everyone. Like Nora, people become boxed in and unfortunately never realize the truth without a stroke of luck.
Nice job.
Danni
Caitlin Wilenchick--
I like how you took the story beyond the "gender role" issue to a critique on society in general. Its funny how Nora and her husband trying to live up to society's expectations, as you alluded to, is what caused her whole mess in the first place. It takes Christine and some difficult situations for Nora to realize that this isn't the life she wanted even if it goes against society's expectations. Good post.
i really like the way you showed how hard the situation was for the two main characters. It is sad that their need for perfection ultimitly lead to their ruin... as you said, though, it seemed necessary. Nice job!
I thin kyou make good points about how it was ultimately beneficial for Nora to do what she did.
However, I feel that society dictates certain norms for a reason and whether she needed to leave or not for her own sanity, I don't think it was right or proper by any means.
But that's the soccer mom in me talking :)
love you c willy.
On this day I must bid my aristocratic counterparts farewell. I shall not go into detail of what has driven me to such action, but it was the topic of Gary’s speech. I have authored a brief, might you say, rebuttal, which can be read here.
Jane Austen (48)
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