Going against traditional norms Flashcards
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 and autonomy in the face of patriarchal constraints.
Similarity - (Mrs Faust) + Evidence 1
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 own happiness. She doesn’t care about the relationship or follow the usual expectations for women in marriage, showing that she values her own life and goals over what society thinks she should do.
“I grew to love the lifestyle, / not the life.”
Explanation of “I grew to love the lifestyle, / not the life.”
This quote reveals Mrs. Faust’s detachment from the emotional and relational aspects of her marriage, which society traditionally expects women to prioritize. The contrast between “the lifestyle” and “the life” uses juxtaposition to highlight her focus on materialism rather than emotional fulfillment, emphasizing her rejection of traditional expectations.
The simplicity and bluntness of the statement reflect her lack of remorse, using a detached tone that mirrors her emotional disengagement. For readers, this creates a sense of shock or discomfort, as it challenges the conventional ideal of a wife as selfless and nurturing. It also prompts readers to question societal values that tie a woman’s worth to her relational or moral contributions, aligning with the poem’s critique of conformity and traditional roles.
Techniques in “I grew to love the lifestyle, / not the life.” (3)
Techniques used
1) Juxtaposition - The lifestyle” and “the life” use juxtaposition to highlight her focus on materialism rather than emotional fulfillment
2) Tone - The simplicity and bluntness of the statement reflect her lack of remorse, using a detached tone that mirrors her emotional disengagement
3) Caesura - the use of caesura (a pause in the middle of the line) in “I grew to love the lifestyle, / not the life” helps to emphasize the separation between the material world she embraces and the emotional world she rejects. This pause forces the reader to reflect on the stark difference between the two concepts, reinforcing the disconnect between Mrs. Faust and traditional expectations.
Link back to question (similarity )
This goes against traditional roles because women were often expected to prioritize their families, relationships, and moral duties over their own desires, while Mrs. Faust rejects these expectations and focuses entirely on herself.
Similarity - A Doll’s House + Evidence
Nora’s decision to embrace financial independence and enjoy the work she does directly challenges traditional gender roles, as both Torvald and society at large hold the belief that women should not earn money or participate in the financial sphere. In the context of the play, Torvald and other characters expect Nora to remain in the domestic sphere, dependent on her husband for financial support.
“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.
Technique
1) Contrast: The juxtaposition of “I often got so tired” with “it was great fun” creates a striking contrast between the fatigue of work and the joy Nora finds in it. This contrast highlights the complexity of Nora’s feelings toward her job—while the work is physically tiring, it brings her a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment that she has never experienced before. This encourages the reader to see Nora’s growing independence as a positive, empowering choice, and to reflect on how work, traditionally seen as burdensome, can also be rewarding and liberating, especially when it leads to personal growth and freedom.
2) Colloquial language: The phrase “it was great fun” uses simple, conversational language that makes Nora’s feelings sound genuine and relatable. It’s not a formal statement but rather an honest reflection of her personal experience. This makes Nora’s excitement feel more authentic and underscores her genuine pleasure in her newfound autonomy.
The casual tone invites the reader to connect with Nora on a human level, evoking empathy and perhaps admiration for her courage in embracing this nontraditional role, in defiance of societal expectations.
3) Repetition: The repetition of the concepts of “working and earning money” reinforces how significant this activity is to Nora. By repeating these actions, Ibsen emphasizes that Nora’s work is not just something she does but a defining part of her journey toward independence. The effect on the reader is to underline how Nora is asserting her agency and challenging the traditional roles of women, drawing attention to how important it is for her to step outside of the conventional boundaries and create her own path.
Difference
Although both A Doll’s House and Mrs. Faust feature women rejecting traditional roles, the nature of their rejection significantly differs in terms of emotional depth, motivation, and personal development.
Difference - Dolls House
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 confined to a role defined by her relationship with her husband, Torvald, and her duties as a mother. However, as she comes to realize that she has been living under the shadow of societal expectations and her husband’s control, she decides to take charge of her own life. Her 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.”
Difference - Dolls House - Explanation
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.
Explain techniques 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 herself to a “doll” in various stages of her life—first as her father’s “doll-child,” then as Torvald’s “doll-wife,” and now as the “doll” of her children. The metaphor of the “doll” is central to the message of Nora’s realization that she has been treated as a passive object in her relationships, devoid of autonomy or personal development. Dolls are typically lifeless and controlled, which reflects how Nora has been manipulated and confined to predefined roles in her life.
Effect: This metaphor emphasizes Nora’s lack of agency and highlights the infantilizing nature of her relationships. It allows the audience to understand the depth of her realization and her subsequent decision to break free from these limiting roles.
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.
3) Allusion:
The reference to “Papa’s doll-child” and “doll-wife” alludes to the idea of patriarchal control, where women are seen as possessions or playthings. This allusion brings attention to the wider societal context in which Nora has been conditioned to accept these roles.
Effect: The allusion enhances the critique of societal norms that restrict women to these roles and demonstrates how Nora’s awareness has expanded beyond her immediate family to the larger patriarchal system.
Difference - Mrs. Faust
In Mrs. Faust, the nature of Mrs. Faust’s rejection of traditional roles differs significantly from Nora’s in A Doll’s House. 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.
Difference - evidence - (mrs faust)
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.”
Difference 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 quoxte 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.
