DP1 December mock p2 Flashcards
Non Conformity
Intro
Marriage, often idealized as a harmonious union, can also be a space rifle of power struggles, secrets adn individual discontent. As evidently depicted in A Doll’s House and Mrs. Faust. Text 1 is A Doll’s House(1879) by Henrik Ibsen. It is a groundbreaking play set in patriarchal 19th century Norway, where societal expectations bind women to their roles as dutiful mothers and wives. The play explores the protagonist Nora Helmer’s journey towards self realization as she confronts the stifling realities of her marriage to Torvald. On the other hand, text 2 is a poem called Mrs. Faust by Carol Ann Duffy as a part of her 1999 collection The Worlds Wife. It offers a contemporary feminist critique on marriage through the lense of Mrs. Faust, the wife of the legendary scholar who sold his soul to the devil. The poem satirizes modern materialism and explores themes of disconnection and moral decay of marital relations, while exploring how characters in the play do not conform to traditional conventions as imposed by society. Both texts, though distinct in form and era, critique the institution of marriage, exposing the underlying inequalities and disillumination through contrasting narrative structures, literary devices, such as …..
Similarity
Both Mrs. Faust and A Doll’s House explore the rejection of traditional gender roles and societal expectations, highlighting how women challenge the limitations imposed on them by society. While their approaches differ, both texts emphasize the desire for freedom in the face of patriarchal constraints.
Mrs. Faust (point - similarity)
Mrs. Faust challenges traditional roles and societal norms by refusing to be the typical loving, supportive wife. Instead of focusing on emotional connection or being a moral guide to her husband, she chooses to focus on wealth, power, and her happiness, showing that she values her own life and goals over what society thinks she should do. This is seen by the quote “I grew to love the lifestyle, / not the life.”
Explanation of “I grew to love the lifestyle, / not the life.”
1) The quote reveals Mrs. Faust’s detachment from the emotional and relational aspects of her marriage, which, in fact, society traditionally expects women to prioritize.
2) The quote acknowledges that, over time, Mrs. Faust became more attached to materialistic and superficial aspects, rather than the deeper emotional and relational fulfilment that society expects of her.
3) Instead of adhering to traditional roles, Mrs. Faust reflects that she found herself more invested in the outward trappings of success, valuing them over family or her husband. She no longer prioritizes traditional stereotypes.
Techniques used in the quote
1) Juxtaposition - The juxtaposition between life and lifestyle emphasizes the distinction between materialism and the traditional life of women. By employing juxtaposition, the author appeals to the readers as she tries to evoke thought and force them readers to think about the emptiness and consequences of living a materialistic life.
2) Caesura - Caesura is the use of pauses/breaks between sentences. This quote should a break between the sentence of lifestyle and life. In literal meaning, a break or pause means disconnection and hence draws attention to how Mrs. Faust has completely broken free from her life as a wife and how there is no in-between. The effect on the readers is extremely evident as it forces them to think and read between the lines, encouraging them to reflect on this separation and hence the negative impact of the distinction.
THEN LINK
A Doll’s House (Point - Similarity)
Similarily, in text 1, Nora Helmer rejects traditional expectations as she goes on to secure the flow of money through alternative means other then Helmer. According to the Napoleonic code, it is not a woman’s responsibility to earn money it is frowned upon by tradition society, and looked at as something that would ruin ones reputation. However, Nora decided to do the same, hence directly rejecting traditional expectations.
“I often got so tired, but it was great fun. Sitting there working and earning money.”
Explanation of “I often got so tired, but it was great fun. Sitting there working and earning money.”
In this quote, Nora expresses how she found joy and satisfaction in her work and the act of earning money, which contrasts sharply with the traditional expectation that women should remain in the domestic sphere, reliant on their husbands for financial support.
By enjoying her work and the financial independence it provides, Nora challenges the conventional idea that a woman’s primary role is as a wife and mother, without personal ambition or economic autonomy.
This represents her nonconformity to the norms of her society, where women were typically expected to find fulfillment solely through their roles within the home.
Techniques in “I often got so tired, but it was great fun. Sitting there working and earning money.”
1) Juxtaposition - The juxtaposition of “I often got so tired” with “ it was great fun” shows a striking contrast between the fatigue of work and the joy that Nora finds from it. It emphasizes that something tiring can end up being amusing. This breaks the traditional thought of work being a burden to some, encouraging the readers to enjoy what they do and empowering those to find joy in their work.
2) Colloquial Language - The use of language in this quote is highly simplistic especially when Nora says “it was great fun”. This colloquial language shows that this is Nora’s true and authentic feelings. The use of colloquial language shows that this is not a formal statement, rather it is an honest reflection of Nora’s personal experiences.
Differences
In contrast, although both texts reject traditional societal expectations, their nature of rejection differs.
Mrs. Faust (Point - Differences)
As seen, Mrs. Faust does not conform to traditional expectations whatsoever. The nature of this rejection however is credited to materialism. While Nora’s rebellion is rooted in an emotional awakening and a desire for personal development, Mrs. Faust’s rejection is more externally driven, focusing on material success and power.
“I went my own sweet way, saw Rome in a day, spun gold from hay, had a facelift, had my breasts enlarged, my buttocks tightened; went to China, Thailand, Africa, returned enlightened.”
Explanation of I went my own sweet way, saw Rome in a day, spun gold from hay, had a facelift, had my breasts enlarged, my buttocks tightened; went to China, Thailand, Africa, returned enlightened.”
This quote reflects Mrs. Faust’s rejection of traditional roles through the pursuit of external success, physical transformation, and self-indulgence. Unlike Nora, whose rebellion in A Doll’s House is driven by a desire for emotional freedom and self-realization outside the confines of her role as wife and mother,
Mrs. Faust’s rejection is rooted in materialism and superficial change. She seeks personal power and pleasure rather than emotional awakening or relational independence. This shows a contrast in the nature of their defiance, with Nora seeking authenticity and self-identity, while Mrs. Faust’s rebellion focuses on acquiring wealth, status, and physical perfection.
Techniques in “I went my own sweet way, saw Rome in a day, spun gold from hay, had a facelift, had my breasts enlarged, my buttocks tightened; went to China, Thailand, Africa, returned enlightened.”
1) Hyperbole - The exaggerated statement that Mrs. Faust “returned enlightened” after indulging in such superficial and self-serving actions adds a layer of irony.
The term “enlightened” is often associated with profound spiritual awakening, but here it is applied to a character who has been consumed by material wealth and physical appearance.
This creates an ironic tone, the readers now understand that Mrs. Faust meant enlightened in terms of appearance, and how it is shallow and in congruent with traditional concepts of personal growth.
2) Parataxis - The lack of conjunctions - The lack of conjunctions between items in a list (example facelift, had my breasts enlarged) is an example. It creates quick and disjointed feelings. It also emphasizes a fast pace, this fast pace highlights how temporary and superficial her choices are, showing that her rejection of traditional roles is driven by self-obsession and. focus on wealth rather then emotional fulfilment.
A Doll’s House (Point - Differences)
Nora’s rebellion is grounded in a deep emotional awakening, where she recognizes the limitations of her life as a wife and mother. For much of the play, she has been seen as the inferior partner, however, her soon decision to leave Torvald is not simply a rejection of marriage but an acknowledgment that her personal development has been stifled.
“I’ve been your doll-wife, just as at home I was Papa’s doll-child. And here the children have been my dolls. I thought it was fun when you played with me, just as they thought it was fun when I played with them. That’s all our marriage has been, Torvald.”
Explanation “I’ve been your doll-wife, just as at home I was Papa’s doll-child. And here the children have been my dolls. I thought it was fun when you played with me, just as they thought it was fun when I played with them. That’s all our marriage has been, Torvald.”
In this moment, Nora recognizes that her entire life has been defined by her relationships with others—first with her father, then with her husband, and now with her children.
She comes to understand that she has been treated like an object, a “doll,” without agency or a true sense of self. This realization marks the emotional awakening that drives her to leave her husband and children.
She is rejecting the limitations of her traditional role as a wife and mother, recognizing that to grow emotionally, she needs to separate herself from these roles and find her own identity, free from societal expectations.
This powerful statement highlights her rebellion and her desire for autonomy, as she no longer wants to be defined by her relationship with others but instead seeks to live authentically and independently.
Technique in “I’ve been your doll-wife, just as at home I was Papa’s doll-child. And here the children have been my dolls. I thought it was fun when you played with me, just as they thought it was fun when I played with them. That’s all our marriage has been, Torvald.”
1) Metaphor - Nora compares her self to a doll in various stages of her life. The metaphor of a doll is central to the message of her realization, as she then realizes that she has been ofectified her whole life, with no freedom and no scope to develop personally. In literal terms they are useless, lifeless and are easily manipulated/controlled, indicating that Nora recognizes that she was the doll throughout her life, first with her father, and then with torvald. Seeing that it is a never ending cycle.
It allows the audience to understand and empathise with Nora and also makes them aware about the situation. It empowers other people who may be in the situation to get the courage to break free.
2) 2) Parallelism:
The repetition of the structure “doll-wife” / “doll-child” / “my dolls” creates a parallelism that draws a connection between the different stages of Nora’s life. Each comparison underscores how she has been treated as an object, first by her father, then by her husband, and finally by her children.
Effect: This parallelism reinforces the idea that Nora has never been allowed to define herself outside of the roles others have imposed on her, and it helps to highlight the cyclical nature of her oppression.
