Rossetti poetry Flashcards
Maude Clare: key quotes and links to ‘A Doll’s House’
“She followed them/ with a lofty step and mien “- Maude Clare → confident represents the “new woman”
“His bride was like a village maid / Maude Clare was like a queen.” → the contrast between the two represents the traditional woman and the new woman. This could be linked to Nora at the beginning vs at the end of the play. Could also be linked to Mrs Linde vs the woman that Krogstad had to marry instead.
“May Nell and you but live as true/ as we have done for years;/ your father thirty years ago/ had just your tale to tell.” shows continuity of societal expectations and the patriarchy. Links to the theme of inheritance in A dDoll’s House, Nora being “passed from papa’s hands into [Torvald’s] “ this is a criticism of the Victorian marriage market, and how it is a formal business-like procedure more so than a result of love.
“My lord gazed long on pale Maude Clare/ or ever he kissed the bride.” signifies the feelings that Thomas still possesses for Maude, and criticises the restrictions of society at the time. Could be linked to krogstad and Mrs linde, who both were forced to endure unhappy marriages as couldn’t be together.
” that day we waded ankle-deep / for Lillies in the beck.” → scandalous during Victorian era. Lilies~ purity so contrast
“The feet among the lily leaves,-/ The lilies are budding now.” lilies often symbolise grief and rebirth, Maude Clare here is returning her half of the shared possessions her and Thomas had, thereby symbolising the end of their relationship. This links to what Mrs Linde reveals to Krogstad, “Since I had to break it with you, l thought it my duty to destroy all feelings you had for me.”
“Take my share of a fickle heart/Mine of a paltry love:/… I wash my hands thereof.” Maude Clare is very confident and outspoken/blunt which goes against the expectations of a typical Victorian woman. This draws parallels with Nora, who seeks out her own identity and realises & confronts Torvald on what kind of husband he is, “ you have never understood me” “You have never loved me. You just thought it was fun to be in love with me.” They both symbolise female empowerment.
“And what you leave, I’ll take,/ And what you spurn, I’ll wear/ For he’s my lord for better and worse,/And him I love Maude Clare.” The first words that Nell says are in the last two stanzas, which symbolises her lack of identity as well as the fact that they are to do with her husband and her duties to him. While it can be said that the poem embraces the “new woman”, it also can’t be said that it rejects the traditional virtuous woman, which Nell represents by confidently embracing her societal role, which show she is not a silent, subservient woman either. This mirrors Mrs Linde, as she also years to be a mother and carer, stating she is “unspeakably empty” with no one to care for anymore and ultimately only feels fulfilled when she can be a mother to Krogstad’s children. However, like Nell, she also has modern aspects- she is eager to find a job to fulfill a purpose “If only I could get a regular job-office work of some kind.” The two women could symbolise Mrs Linde and Nora (the decisions in the play’s conclusion)
“Though you’re taller by the head/ More wise and much more fair:/ I’ll love him till he loves me best.” Rejects the circulating idea of the New Woman, who has a purpose besides her husband and looks beautiful for herself, and not for a man- at the time, this would have been regarded as sinful due to the similarities to “fallen women”, as woman were expected to only alter/beautify their appearance privately and for their husband, those who did were often linked to promiscuity and prostitution. “I’ll love him till he loves me best” insinuates that Thomas doesn’t love Nell, criticising the marriage system and also showing Nell’s awareness- she is not as naive as society thinks, but knows she must marry him for security and reputation.
From the Antique: Key quotes and links to ‘A Doll’s House’
“Doubly blank in a woman’s lot”- Criticises the patriarchy, shows men also fall victim to it. Can link to Torvald- “He’s so proud of being a man- it’d be so painful and humiliating for him to know he owe anything for me” highlights the toxic masculinity prevalent during the era. “I am condemned to humiliation and ruin simply for the weakness of a woman” Only when Nora declares that she is leaving does Helmer promise to change and do anything to make her stay; he is dependent more than society has made him think he is.
“I wish and I wish I were a man.”- Links to Nora and the restrictions of society pre Married Women’s Property Act, not being able to borrow or have money without a husbands consent. “It was great fun though, sitting there working and earning money. It was almost like being a man” She yearns to do what men can do and even though she partially experiences it, “almost” highlights the fact that in Victorian society a woman could never have what a man had openly, or she would be shamed for it. Parallels are also visible when Krogstad demands Nora changes Helmers mind, and she ultimately fails. “Mr Krogstad, I have no influence!..How on Earth could you imagine I would have any influence on my husband?”
“None would miss me in all the world.” “Still the world would wag on the same” Woman are regarded useless in society unless they have a purpose deemed acceptable, like raising children and being lives. They’re only considered worthy if they care for someone more important in society than them (men, children). Links to Mrs Linde, “Unspeakably empty. No one to live for anymore” She is clearly distressed and unhappy mentally, only living to survive- its not until she has children to care for and Krogstad as her husband where she can be happy; she does not live for herself and doesn’t think she has a purpose beside caring for other people.
Shut Out: Key Quotes and links to ‘A Doll’s House”
“The door was shut” The very first line of the poem link significantly to A Doll’s House, where doors are a big symbol (“Door” is said 40+ times). They represent Noras entrapment and isolation by the patriarchy. She contemplates and almost leaves on numerous occasions. Helmer locks the door when Nora runs out planning to kill herself because she thinks he’ll take the blame for her, to demand an explanation. The concluding line of the play is “The street door was slammed shut downstairs.”, highlighting that doors not only signify entrapment, but also freedom and new beginnings.
“I looked between/ Its iron bars; and saw it lie,/ My garden mine” Also represents entrapment and isolation. The possessive pronouns “my” and “mine” shows the narrator is being forcibly restricted from her possessions. This could link to the patriarchy and how, by getting married, women are automatically restricted from things they may have loved like academia since they should now focus on domesticity and their family. “It had been mine, and it was lost.” Could link to Nora and the analogy of the Doll’s House- these are her ‘iron bars’ and the ‘garden’ is her sense of identity and her independent opinions. “I never had any opinions but his…even if i did i kept them quiet, because he wouldn’t have liked them.”
“A shadowless spirit kept the gate,/ Blank and unchanging” Highlights the continuity of society, patriarchy and the roles of men and women. She spirit is referred to as “he” further supporting the point. Parallels Helmer and Nora’s father restricting Nora from finding her true identity by infantilising her and not allowing her to express her own opinions. “I’ve been your doll-wife, just as I used to be papa’s doll-child” There is never any mention of Nora’s mom- symbolises her lack of influence/identity compared to her husband; shows that this is a hereditary cycle that Nora broke (her mom was probably also treated like a doll)
“A violet bed is budding near,/Wherein a lark has made her nest:/And good they are, but not the best;/And dear they are, but not so dear.” The replacement is not as good as what was before. Links to why Nora leaves, even after Torvald vows to change- it won’t be the same.
“In the Round Tower at Jhansi” Key quotes and links to ‘A Doll’s House”
“ ‘Is the time come?—‘The time is come.’ “They’re in sync and in full acceptance of the circumstances
“Young, strong, and so full of life” Emphasises the tragedy of the situation
“Close his arm about her now,/Close her cheek to his” Their love is shown as equal and the wholesomeness of their intimacy indicates that there is no power dynamic present; they have a pure relationship.
“God forgive them this!” “them” signifies they are both held responsible and no one is more to blame; reinforces the equality in their relationship. Unusual for Victorian period, as men/husbands usually held power over the women. Women were quickly blamed for things due to their inherent “weakness” due to their gender and being regarded as inferior- Helmer describes Nora as having “feminine helplessness” says he will face humiliation and ruin “simply due to a woman’s weaknesses”.
“I wish I could bear the pang for both/I wish I could bear the pang for both.” Highlights their true, pure love
“Courage, dear, I am not loth” She is not a damsel in distress in need of rescuing. Subverts traditional gender roles as SHE is the one reassuring and supporting him; this goes against the idea that women are too emotional to deal with distressing situations. Contrasts with Nora and Torvald’s relationship- “My frightened little songbird. Don’t be afraid. I have broad wings to shield you.” Helmer infantalises Nora and fantasises about saving her from a great danger “Do you know, Nora, how often I wish some terrible danger might threaten you, so that I could offer my life and my blood, everything for your sake”. Nora also believes that when her secret comes out he will attempt to take the blame and sacrifice his reputation for her. However, ironically,when the time comes, he does not. He is instead willing to do anything to hush up the deed and keep up their appearances, while villainising her and vowing that she cannot raise their children and “corrupt” them.
“One kiss more—And yet one again” They are unified & struggling to let go of each other due to their love
“ ‘Goodbye.’—‘Goodbye.’ “ Finality, their fate is decided and that is it.
