Doors Play example essay topic

Ibsen's Drama, A Doll House, upset many preexisting ideas about the roles of men and women in an European household, although it was written in only eighteen-seventy-nine, its main ideas and themes are closely associated with women's suffrage movements nearly thirty years later. Because this is a play and not a novel, Ibsen's use of lighting and stage direction play a significant role conveying Ibsen's poetic themes and ideas. Also, like most modern plays, Ibsen's minor characters serve major roles as foils or catalysts for the main characters to interact with. The play also contains more props, and realist values than a traditional play. Plot development in a traditional play occurs as: exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Ibsen's climax takes place at the end of the play.

Ibsen's A Doll House is a realist, naturalist's symbol of a door slamming on the twentieth century, and depicts the effects that a bad marriage has on people. Act one describes a comfortable middle class home. The home is a symbol of the plays title, A Doll House. It is a box with four doors and four walls.

Two of these doors play significant roles in the play. Torvald's door into the study allows him to escape from his wife and children, leaving his family in the "toy box" outside. It allows him to keep a distance from what Nora really feels. The entryway functions as a door for visitors, and plays a dramatic role in the climax it contains Krogstad's letter of forgery and Rank's letter of his immanent death.

The statement of this play is that door slamming. Only in the climax are the realist views shown. Nora's suppression becomes evident, and the effects of the marriage ring clear with the door. The story begins at Christmas, a time of change establishing the mood. It is the end of old things and the beginning of new. There is a Christmas tree and gifts described as Nora is eating a forbidden Macaroon.

Torvald enters and interrogates her while shaking his finger at her like she is a child, "Surely my sweet tooth hasn't been running riot in town today, has she? ... didn't make a little detour through the confectioner's? ... not even munched a macaroon or two?" . This type of treatment towards a woman is common in Europe at this time. The wife, Nora is portrayed more like a daughter than wife. The house's mood is meritorious and gaudy; in fact Torvald almost never calls her by her own name until the very end. He only calls her by her name if he is doing it in a condescending way. Her name always is depicted as a small fury animal performing useless activities, while ironically she saved his life on their vacation in Italy.

When a visitor enters the house the mood of the story always changes. When Krogstad's and Linde visit Nora plays with the fire. The house is suddenly chilled by their corruptive presence almost a precognition of what things they will cause at the end. When Krogstad threatens Nora that he will tell Torvald that she had forged her fathers name the Christmas tree is stripped of its ornaments and its candles are burnt out. This symbolizes the end of family happiness.

The minor characters act with symbols to threaten the Helmer's already unrealistic marriage. Naturalism is writing that depicts events rigidly determined by the forces of heredity and the environment. Torvald constantly tells Nora that she contains the same negative traits that her father did. "you " re an odd little one. Exactly the way your father was. You " re never at a loss for scaring up money but the moment you have it, it runs right out through your fingers; you never know what you " ve done with it... it's deep in your blood. Yes, these things are heredity, Nora".

His belittling words are an expression of his dominance, and his claims on heredity do not allow her to be an individual rather just an extension of her father's nature. All these things lead to the effects of a bad marriage. Women and men have predetermined places in the household and it only leads to suffering. Mothers leave, Fathers have affairs, Children suffer, suicides are attempted and families are irreparably destroyed. Ibsen is calling for a re- evaluation of Victorian values.

Ibsen understands that a marriage must be based on equality. Must contain a blending of both male and female ideas and support. Above all a marriage must be based on love that is both emotional and rational Kristine and Krogstad show that they should have married because they loved each other not make the mistake of doing it for money or security.