Comparing the themes of Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House
In this journal, compare and contrast the themes of Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House with any other work(s) from the class so far. What similarities (and differences) do you see in the ways Ibsen develops some of the same issues?
Sample Answer
Similarities between the themes of A Doll’s House and other works from the class:
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Gender roles: Both A Doll’s House and other works from the class, such as Pride and Prejudice and Frankenstein, explore the ways in which gender roles can constrict and limit individuals. In A Doll’s House, Nora Helmer is treated like a child by her husband, Torvald, and is expected to conform to traditional feminine ideals. In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet is constantly judged for her lack of wealth and social status, which are both considered to be important qualities for a woman to have in order to find a suitable husband. And in Frankenstein, Mary Shelley explores the dangers of ambition and the importance of responsibility, themes that are also relevant to gender roles in the 19th century.