IB 11 English A1 - World Literature

A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen

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Victorian-Age Feminism at its Apex

           A Doll's House is the dramatic portrayal of Nora, the main character and wife of Torvald, and her journey to realize her independence. Nora has an epiphany near the end of the play in which she realizes that she has always been held back by the men in her life: first, her father; then, her husband.
           The symbolism of the mailbox, the door, and the dress are pertinent in understanding Nora's "New Woman" status. The mailbox represents the Nora's subservience, which can be generalized to symbolize the oppression of all women during the time period. The door symbolizes Nora's new journey and opportunity by leaving her husband, Torvald. The dress is a symbol of feminism and is also representative of Nora's false contentment.
           As you read and analyze this text, take into account the social settings, the contrasting of the characters (the Foil technique - see the "Terms" link on the left-hand link-bar), the symbols, and the theatrical techniques utilized by Ibsen. How does Ibsen maxamize the drama of his play?

Click Here to Download an Essay about A Doll's House

Click on the above link to download an exemplary analysis of A Doll's House. Note the intracacies about Nora's character and how she journeys from the beginning of the play until the end.

Click Here to Download a World Literature Paper About A Doll's House and Madame Bovary

Click the above link to download an exemplary World Literature Comparison Paper. A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen is compared to Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. Note the parallels between the two stories, while simultaneously noting their idiosynchrasies.

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