A Dolls House Flashcards
What year was it written
1879 19th century
What is Helmer’s attitude towards borrowing
- always cautious, thinks about future
- uses exclamatives to express this “No debts! Never borrow!”
How does helmer treat Nora
- animal imagery, shows that she’s fragile and weak
- patronising and stereotypical language “how like a woman!”
- possessive pronoun “my” she is his, dominance
- adjective “little” diminished and belittles her
- treats her like a child, pesters her about macaroons
How is Nora shown to be different after crude revelation of borrowing money
She’s shown that she can be independent, however, it shows that she is still dependent on a man as she had to still borrow the money
During the revelation to Mrs Linde what language does she use
She uses business like language “quarterly instalments and interests” shows that she can be able to manoeuvre within a male dominated society
What do the macaroons represent
- expensive, could portray her wealth & status
- represents a sense of rebellious & resistance side of her
- capable of lying to her husband
“Bloody hell”
- extreme in 19th century, religious people would be offended
- another form of her rebellious side to her, sick of being treated as a child
What factors are needed for a well-made play
- relatable to real life situation & audience
- not always having a happy ending
- over exaggerated and melodramatic
- stock characters
How is Nora’s state of mind presented on pgs 50-51
- her dialogue alternates between childish to formal
- becomes dismissive, agitation
- becomes paranoid, can’t focus, stage direction
- soliloquys present her stress
- short sharp sentences, talks in fragmented sentences
- reverts back to her songbird role when talking to helmer
“My songbird must have a clean break”
Extended metaphor, shows his authority over her and presents how women where treated in 19th century, needed to be pure
What does Nora do in order to get what she wants
She acts childish by using diminutive language (adjectives) “squirrel” “little skylark” and how she will act “prettily for him”. This shows that she can’t interact with him as a normal person, however, it presents that she knows his weakness and can play it to her advantage
What does her actions of “act” and “sing” present in a feminist view
Presents the idea that she is merely just an object & not an individual, only lives to entertain people or be aesthetically pleasing to an audience
Another word for nicknames/ pet names
Epithets, his idiolect signifies a patronising persona
Comparisons between act1&2 with stage directions
Act1: “(hums and smiles, quietly gleeful)” “(laugh quietly)”
Act2: “(desperate with anxiety)” “(tensely)” “(fearfully)”
What’s a turning point in the play between Nora and helmer
When she calls him “petty” which infuriates him
How does Nora use stage directions to influence helmer
She exploits a sense of intimacy through SD “(moves closer)”
“If rumour got about that the new vice-president had allowed his wife to persuade him to change his mind”
Hates the idea of being controlled by his wife, shows that his idea of masculinity, where a man must be in complete authority, would be destroyed
“When the real crises comes, you will not find me lacking in strength and courage. I am man enough to carry the burden for both of us”
Heroic language and dramatic irony, foreshadows future events where he does the complete opposite
How is juxtaposition used of the connotation within the idea of sex
Sex presents the idea of pleasure whereas Dr. ranks father would fool around which meant that dr rank would suffer long term impacts with the condition on of syphilis which leads to to death and mortality contrasting with the view of pleasure
“Sensitive chap”
Preserve the idea of masculinity and not show any sign of weakness, helmer needs to be protected from reality
Why does Ibsen use ambiguity and vagueness
Could be due to context, transgressive 19th century, could also present that Nora knows more than she portrays to know
What does darkness represent
Secrecy and intimacy
What was the tarantella symbolised as
Historically it was a cure for hysteria, meaning that women were expected to be under the control of men
In act 3 how does helmer present possession of Nora
Utilising possessive attitudes “my most treasured possession”
Repetition used “mine, mine alone, all mine” objectifies her
“That’s why I seized you and dragged you down here with me”
Sounds like sexual assault/rape with forceful language. 1971 rape in marriage was made a criminal offence in Norway
“The happy sunlight of our marriage”
Helmer doesn’t seem to understand the reality of their marriage, presents the idealistic notion of their relationship, audience know more about the relationship than they do
What does helmer locking Nora in the room represent
His control over her, finally locking her in the dollhouse
How does helmer finally portray himself as in act 3
Uses animalistic for the first time but nor in a diminutive way “I have broad wings to shield you” heroic language in order to feed his ego
“I’ve changed”
Double meaning, changed from extravagant clothing to normal clothing and also changed in terms of personality and how she views herself
“I’m taking off my fancy dress”
Realising her luxurious life
“No, don’t interrupt me”
Nora finally overcoming her perceived social standing as a fragile woman
What happens when Nora tries to leave
When she finally tries to be reasonable he portrays her as being hysterical “you’re out of your mind”
How does Nora represent her and helmer in act 3
As equals “you and I” “man and wife”
What does Nora’s changing dialogue style present in act 3
She begins with short and sharp sentences, however, this develops to long speeches which represents her increasing position of power and authority and finally having a voice
“She was weak and fragile”
Nora here talks in 3rd person representing that she has completely changed as a person and that she longer is that individual that she used to be
“(Sadly)” “(buries his face in hands)”
Deterioration of helmer, representing that his masculinity is being destroyed
Exposition of a play
Introduction of major characters and main issue between them
Development of a play
Unfolding of the drama
Denouement of a play
Revelation of all secrets and resolution of drama
Context of a dolls house
1843-1875 was a period of economic growth and prosperity within norways upper class, Nora and Thorvaldsen still reaping its effects
