In my opinion, A Doll's House is a realistic work because of the way the characters are portrayed and interact with each other. Although I find that some of the character's actions can be considered irrational and many times unrealistic, the major themes of the text overall is by no means a stretch of the imagination.
Qualities that most of the characters share in A Doll's House is insecurity and indecisiveness. These two human qualities lead to many issues between characters. At the same time it is apparent that there are true feelings and a sense of caring between many of them including Nora and Helmer, Nora and Dr. Rank, or Krogstad and Mrs. Linde; whether that affection is reciprocated or not. These qualities also show the human characteristics and the realism of each character. Nora is not satisfied with her marriage and decides to take action. In doing so she displays bravery and is also very real with herself and her husband.
Although there are many true emotions and life-like situations portrayed in A Doll's House, like when Dr. Rank professes his love to Nora or when Mrs. Linde tells Krogstad that shes misses being with him, certain characters overall are not so realistic. In my opinion Nora puts on quite the act in the first few acts of the play if she has really fallen out of love with her husband. I think that she could be seen as somewhat unrealistically devoted to a man she claims to no longer love although I admire her strength in sticking up to him instead of living a merely average life. In addition, I find Torvald's reaction to the circumstances surrounding Krogstad's letter to be unrealistic. First he says that he must read his mail, then he decides he rather spend the evening with Nora; he is enraged when he reads the letter, and suddenly all too forgiving when he comes to understand that the problem is solved. Torvald's actions are the main reason Nora leaves him, a decision that is in my opinion VERY realistic and one which he deserves.
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6 comments:
So watch out for michael silverman because he disagrees with you almost everywhere.
I agree too that Doll's house is realistic for the senerio that is involved, but I think it does not reflect normal life.
I think real people would have reacted in this climax of a situation, but I think for the author to pick a climax of a situation is not a realism thing to do.
I like your use and reference to the Rank-Nora Love scene because not many others used it...but I think it is a very important and interesting scene.
I like your well-rounded overall view of the story that you come to by the end of your story.
You used your blog well to figure out your ideas...and you wrote a nice blog...I thoroughly enjoyed it.
And you are a great lab partner...and Fluffy smells terrible
Farewell
Hey J!
So I agree that A Doll's House is a realistic play in many respects. The characters' hardships, confusions, etc are not only realistic but are also evident in the world. The characters, although I agree can sometimes act irrationally, represent real people with real struggles and real emotions. Especially Nora, who is basically driven out of her house by her degrading husband, symbolizes a universal need to escape when one feels miserable and inferior. So, I loved your blog: your clarity of thought, your organization, and of course your message about the realistic elements that are present.
Great Job!
Hello!
So I completely agree with you about the realistic nature of the play and the true sense of feeling present throughout Ibsen's work. I disagree with you on many points in your third paragraph however. I don't see Nora's show as unrealistic. Nora doesn't know who she is and I think she believes that's the role of a wife due to the ideas of her society. I also don't think she realizes all love for her husband is gone until she sees the true fault of their relationship in Act III.
I agree with you regarding your feelings toward Torvald. I simply see him as a little child playing the game that is his life, without care to the reality outside his game. For sure though Torvald is to blame.
Overall great blog! Always a pleasure!
J-Z,
I was the one in my class to share my disgust with the Nora-Torvald marriage. However, you point out that in many cases in today's time, this situation occurs too often. For this reason, I comend you on adding a different perspective to my pessimistic view on the play.
Good Job!
Great Job Janey! I like how you mentioned the insecurity of the characters-I completely agree. I also think it is interesting that you don't think Nora loves her husband. I don't think she does either, but I think she makes her self believe that she does because she doesn't know how to think for herself. I really enjoyed your blog! :)
Great blog Janey! Very interesting, I think you make good points about the play's realism. I like how you link qualities characteristic of many different people in the play in your second paragraph. I don't know if I agree with part of your last paragraph, Torvald's reaction seemed pretty realistic and true to his character to me, but I see where your coming from. Anyway yeah awesome job sis.
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