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A Doll HouseA Doll House

Henrik Henrik Ibsen’sIbsen’s

A Doll HouseA Doll House

Henrik IbsenHenrik Ibsen

"It was a long time before I realized that to be a poet "It was a long time before I realized that to be a poet means essentially to see, but mark well, to see in means essentially to see, but mark well, to see in such a way that whatever is seen is perceived by the such a way that whatever is seen is perceived by the audience just as the poet saw it. But only what has audience just as the poet saw it. But only what has been lived through can be seen in that way and been lived through can be seen in that way and accepted in that way. And the secret of modern accepted in that way. And the secret of modern literature lies precisely in this matter of experiences literature lies precisely in this matter of experiences that are lived through. All that I have written these that are lived through. All that I have written these last ten years, I have lived through spiritually." last ten years, I have lived through spiritually." ('Speech to the Norwegian Students, September 10, ('Speech to the Norwegian Students, September 10,

1874, from 1874, from Speeces and New LettersSpeeces and New Letters, 1910)., 1910).

RealismRealism: : A Doll HouseA Doll House

Realism:Realism: Literary technique Literary technique that attempts to create the that attempts to create the appearance of life as it is actually appearance of life as it is actually experiencedexperienced– Common Language, NOT Highly poetic Common Language, NOT Highly poetic

language formal declarations, asides, language formal declarations, asides, or soliloquiesor soliloquies

– Everyday people and events, NO Everyday people and events, NO heroes or the saving a kingdom.heroes or the saving a kingdom.

– Opening of the eyes and the minds of Opening of the eyes and the minds of an audience, NOT melodrama with an audience, NOT melodrama with happy endings.happy endings.

Henrik Ibsen 1828-Henrik Ibsen 1828-19061906Biographical InfluencesBiographical Influences

Born in Skien, a tiny coastal town in the south of Norway

Merchant father went bankrupt – raised in poverty.

Mother was a painter and loved theatre. Age 18 – fathered and supported his

illegitimate child through journalism Failed his entrance exam to the

university where he had hoped to become a physician.

Catiline, a tragedy, which reflected the atmosphere of the revolutionary year of 1848 which sold only a few sold only a few copies.copies.

The Burial MoundThe Burial Mound was performed three times in 1850. was performed three times in 1850. The first performance of The first performance of CatalineCataline did not take place did not take place

until 1881. After successfully performing a poem until 1881. After successfully performing a poem glorifying Norway's past, Ibsen was appointed in 1851 glorifying Norway's past, Ibsen was appointed in 1851 by Ole Bull as "stage poet" of Den Nationale Scene, a by Ole Bull as "stage poet" of Den Nationale Scene, a small theater in Bergen. small theater in Bergen.

During this period Ibsen staged more than 150 plays, During this period Ibsen staged more than 150 plays, becoming thoroughly acquainted with the techniques becoming thoroughly acquainted with the techniques of professional theatrical performances.of professional theatrical performances.

In addition to his managerial work he also wrote four In addition to his managerial work he also wrote four plays based on Norwegian folklore and history, plays based on Norwegian folklore and history, notably notably Lady Inger of OstratLady Inger of Ostrat (1855), dealing with the (1855), dealing with the liberation of medieval Norway. In 1852 his theater liberation of medieval Norway. In 1852 his theater sent him on a study tour to Denmark and Germany. sent him on a study tour to Denmark and Germany.

Playwright Playwright Historical InfluencesHistorical Influences

Ibsen’s best-known works were structured as Ibsen’s best-known works were structured as social commentary and written in Rome, social commentary and written in Rome, Munich and Dresden:Munich and Dresden:

BrandBrand (1866), inspired by Kierkegaard's idea of (1866), inspired by Kierkegaard's idea of subjectivity as truth. The symbolic tragedy tells about subjectivity as truth. The symbolic tragedy tells about a priest, who follows his high principles at the cost of a priest, who follows his high principles at the cost of the lives of his child and his wife. the lives of his child and his wife.

Peer Gynt Peer Gynt (1867) was a satiric fantasy about a (1867) was a satiric fantasy about a boastful egoist, irresponsible young man, an Ulyssean boastful egoist, irresponsible young man, an Ulyssean figure from Norwegian folklore.figure from Norwegian folklore.

The Emperor and the GalileanThe Emperor and the Galilean (1873) Ibsen believed (1873) Ibsen believed this to be his most important play - heavy drama this to be his most important play - heavy drama about Christianity and paganism.about Christianity and paganism.

Pillars of Society Pillars of Society (1877) dealt with a wealthy and (1877) dealt with a wealthy and hypocritical businessmanhypocritical businessman, , whose perilous course whose perilous course almost results in the death of his son.almost results in the death of his son.

A Doll HouseA Doll House (1879) was a social drama, which caused (1879) was a social drama, which caused a sensation and toured Europe and America.a sensation and toured Europe and America.

““Is Is A Doll HouseA Doll House a Feminist a Feminist Text?” Text?” (Joan Templeton 1641-1641)(Joan Templeton 1641-1641)

Templeton’s critique uses strident quotations Templeton’s critique uses strident quotations and a sarcastic tone to imply that Ibsen has and a sarcastic tone to imply that Ibsen has been “saved from feminism” by many been “saved from feminism” by many contemporary male critics. Templeton, in contemporary male critics. Templeton, in truth, calls for feminist a re-examination of truth, calls for feminist a re-examination of the character of Nora.the character of Nora.

– What does a feminist reading reveal about What does a feminist reading reveal about the character of Nora whose life was the character of Nora whose life was circumscribed by a patriarchal society? circumscribed by a patriarchal society?

– Could Ibsen have written a play with this Could Ibsen have written a play with this theme about a man? Who might have theme about a man? Who might have been controlling him?been controlling him?

““A Psychoanalytic Reading of A Psychoanalytic Reading of NoraNora”” (Carol Strongin Tufts 1641-1641)(Carol Strongin Tufts 1641-1641)

Tufts asserts an alternative character analysis of Tufts asserts an alternative character analysis of Nora. Rather than viewing Nora as a victim, Tufts Nora. Rather than viewing Nora as a victim, Tufts frames the psychoanalytic argument of Nora as frames the psychoanalytic argument of Nora as narcissistic: Can you find textual evidence that narcissistic: Can you find textual evidence that reveals:reveals:

Grandiose sense of self-importance and uniqueness – Grandiose sense of self-importance and uniqueness – exaggerates achievements and talents, focuses on how special exaggerates achievements and talents, focuses on how special one’s problems are.one’s problems are.

Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.

Exhibitionistic: requires constant attention and admiration.Exhibitionistic: requires constant attention and admiration.

Responds to criticism, indifference of others, or defeat with Responds to criticism, indifference of others, or defeat with either cool indifference, or with marked feelings of rage, either cool indifference, or with marked feelings of rage, inferiority, shame, humiliation, or emptiness.inferiority, shame, humiliation, or emptiness.

Relationship dysfunctions: Lack of empathy, Entitlement, Relationship dysfunctions: Lack of empathy, Entitlement, Interpersonal exploitiveness or vacillating between the extremes Interpersonal exploitiveness or vacillating between the extremes of over-idealization and devaluation.of over-idealization and devaluation.

Critical Perspective:Critical Perspective: A Doll HouseA Doll House

Henrik Ibsen's plays anticipate Henrik Ibsen's plays anticipate major major

developments of the twentieth anddevelopments of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries: twenty-first centuries: the individual's the individual's feelingsfeelings of alienation of alienation

and and actualactual alienation from society, alienation from society, the pressures by which society insures the pressures by which society insures

conformity to its values and conformity to its values and suppresses individuality, suppresses individuality,

the barriers which modern life sets up the barriers which modern life sets up against living heroically.against living heroically.

A Doll HouseA Doll House

A Doll´s HouseA Doll´s House (1879) was a social drama, (1879) was a social drama, which caused a sensation and toured Europe which caused a sensation and toured Europe and America.and America.

A Doll´HouseA Doll´House is about a woman who is about a woman who refuses to obey her husband and walks out refuses to obey her husband and walks out from her apparently perfect marriage, her life from her apparently perfect marriage, her life in the "doll's house." in the "doll's house."

At the turn-of-the-century physicians used At the turn-of-the-century physicians used Nora, whose mood changes from joy to Nora, whose mood changes from joy to depression in short cycles of time, as an depression in short cycles of time, as an example of "female hysteria."example of "female hysteria."

Later, critic, Havelock Ellis, inspired by Nora's Later, critic, Havelock Ellis, inspired by Nora's character, saw in her "the promise of a new character, saw in her "the promise of a new social order."social order."

A Doll’ House:A Doll’ House:Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

1.1. How does the character of Nora illustrate How does the character of Nora illustrate the alienation of women from the 19the alienation of women from the 19thth century patriarchal society?century patriarchal society?

2.2. How does the character of Torvald Helmer How does the character of Torvald Helmer illustrate Torvald’s struggle to conform to the illustrate Torvald’s struggle to conform to the 1919thth century patriarchal society? century patriarchal society?

3.3. How does the relationship between Mrs. How does the relationship between Mrs. Lunde and Krogstad serve to emphasize Lunde and Krogstad serve to emphasize certain characteristics of the Helmer’s certain characteristics of the Helmer’s marriage?marriage?

4.4. How would Dr. Rank’s relationship with How would Dr. Rank’s relationship with Nora, his illness, and his death serve a Nora, his illness, and his death serve a symbolic function in the play? symbolic function in the play?

A Doll’ House:A Doll’ House:Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

1.1. How does the character of Nora How does the character of Nora illustrate the alienation of women illustrate the alienation of women from the 19from the 19thth century patriarchal century patriarchal society?society?

A Doll’ House:A Doll’ House:Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

2.2. How does the character of How does the character of Torvald Helmer illustrate Torvald Helmer illustrate Torvald’s struggle to conform to Torvald’s struggle to conform to the 19the 19thth century patriarchal century patriarchal society?society?

A Doll’ House:A Doll’ House:Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

3.3. How does the relationship How does the relationship between Mrs. Lunde and Krogstad between Mrs. Lunde and Krogstad serve to emphasize certain serve to emphasize certain characteristics of the Helmer’s characteristics of the Helmer’s marriage?marriage?

A Doll’ House:A Doll’ House:Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

4.4. How would Dr. Rank’s How would Dr. Rank’s relationship with Nora, his illness, relationship with Nora, his illness, and his death serve a symbolic and his death serve a symbolic function in the play? function in the play?

Works Cited Works Cited

A Doll House. A Doll House. Production Pictures. Online Posting. 7 Oct. 2004. Production Pictures. Online Posting. 7 Oct. 2004. West Virginia U. 24 Aug. 2006. <http:www.wvu.edu/theatre/>West Virginia U. 24 Aug. 2006. <http:www.wvu.edu/theatre/>

A Doll’s HouseA Doll’s House. Dir. Patrick Garland. Perf. Claire Bloom, Anthony . Dir. Patrick Garland. Perf. Claire Bloom, Anthony Hopkins, Ralph Richardson, Edith Evans, and Denholm Eliott. Hopkins, Ralph Richardson, Edith Evans, and Denholm Eliott. Videocassette. Metro Goldwin Mayer, 2000. Videocassette. Metro Goldwin Mayer, 2000.

A Doll’s HouseA Doll’s House. Advertisement. Amazon.com. 24 Aug. 2006 . Advertisement. Amazon.com. 24 Aug. 2006 <amazon.com>.<amazon.com>.

Ibsen, Henrik. Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll HouseA Doll House.. The Bedford Introduction to The Bedford Introduction to Literature, 7thLiterature, 7th. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, . Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2005. 1584-1633.2005. 1584-1633.

Templeton, Joan. “Is A Doll House a Feminist Text?” Templeton, Joan. “Is A Doll House a Feminist Text?” The Bedford The Bedford Introduction to Literature, 7thIntroduction to Literature, 7th. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: . Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2005. 1644-1645.Bedford St. Martins, 2005. 1644-1645.

Tufts, Carol Strongin. “A Psychoanalytic Reading of Nora.Tufts, Carol Strongin. “A Psychoanalytic Reading of Nora.””The The Bedford Introduction to Literature, 7Bedford Introduction to Literature, 7thth ed ed. Ed. Michael Meyer. . Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2005. 1641-1641.Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2005. 1641-1641.

White, Samantha. “Symbolism in Ibsen’s White, Samantha. “Symbolism in Ibsen’s A Doll HouseA Doll House.” .” Journal Journal of World Literatureof World Literature 34 (2000):443-454. 34 (2000):443-454. Academic Search Academic Search PremierPremier. EBSCOhost. Lake-Sumter Community Coll. Lib., . EBSCOhost. Lake-Sumter Community Coll. Lib., Leesburg, FL. 24 Aug. 2006 Leesburg, FL. 24 Aug. 2006 <http://www.linccweb.org/eresources.asp>.<http://www.linccweb.org/eresources.asp>.