love and duty theme Flashcards
Mrs Linde’s marriage
an example of a marriage embarked upon out of duty to one’s family
brought her family financial security and brought her misery
Mrs Linde sees herself
as a “shipwrecked soul”
through her life she has “learned to look at things practically”
love
this play shows true love to be a delusion, stopping the development of the individual
Nora pretends
to be helpless around Torvald and suppresses her true feelings
expects him not to love her when she’s lost her beauty
Helmer is blinded
with the idea of being in love with Nora
treats her like a child
Nora as Helmer’s
“most treasured possession”
trapped themselves in roles, through trying to maintain a romantic view of marriage
slam the door
when Nora slams the door, she shatters the romantic masquerade that has been their life
Gail Finney- she opens “the way to the turn-of-the-century women’s movement” by slamming the door
the play is significant
for its critical attitude towards 19th-century marriage norms
society could not satisfy the natural needs of women for freedom and this idea forms the background of his criticism of society
money
stands for pretences, false promises and the misuse of power - a fitting symbol of their marriage.
“pretend that you are my young bride”
the ultimate act of male possession through depriving a woman of her virginity
Torvald accuses Nora
of having “No religion, no morality, no sense of duty” and is shocked that she can abandon her “most sacred duties” - but she replies that she has “duties to myself”
Ibsen and Rossetti
the disappointment of earthly love is tempered for Rossetti by the promise of God’s love
Ibsen offers no such salvation and presents love as controlling and self-serving
views marriage as an
economic transaction - she “performed tricks” for him and her gave her “food and drink”
