A Doll

1
A Dolls House

• Intro. to Drama Notes

2
What is Realism?

• Literature that attempts to create the appearance
  of life as it is actually experienced.
  Commonplace, everyday life rather than
  extraordinary events (Oedipus) are the focus.
  (1875-1900)
• Records details of ordinary life
• Concentrates on the typical/average Joe (not
  royalty)
• Examines a slice of life

3
Realism Characteristics

• Speak the way we speak in real life
• Conflicts involve work, love, marriage, children,
  death
• Deals with factories, slums, bosses, social
  outcasts, shopkeepers, the rising struggling
  middle class
• Portrays man imprisoned by forces he could not
  control or understand. Viewed society as
  restricting.

4
Realism on Stage

• Attempts to create the illusion of real life on
  stage
• Scenery is real
• life-like language
• well-made plots
• 4th wall convention - actors address each other
  they do not speak directly to audience

5
Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906)

• Father of realism and the modern drama
• He moved away from romanticism and its use of
  stereotyped characters, exaggerated emotions, and
  flowery language
• Explored controversial topics of his time

6
Ibsens style

• Lack of metaphors
• Presence of symbolism
• Short, choppy, dialogue

7
A social problem play

• Addresses controversial topics, problems in
  society
• A Dolls House inferior role of women
• An Enemy of the People corrupt public officials
• Want to teach about correct social probs
• Danger is playwright has to create characters
  with whom the audience can identify otherwise
  play feels like propaganda

8
Major Themes in A Dolls House

• Coming-of-age and loss-of-innocence
• Loss of female identity that the inferior
  position of women in this society fostered
• Concept that ones highest duty is to oneself,
  even if that duty appears to break all the rules
  of society
• The idea that the appearance of things does not
  always mirror reality and, sometimes, may mask
  the true reality

9
Cast of Characters

• Nora Helmer the protagonist, a young mother,
  with very few apparent responsibilities, she went
  from her fathers house to her husbands without
  having had any real contact with the world
• Torvald Helmer Noras husband, her chief
  antagonist. He is a serious man who is concerned
  with the appearance of things.

10
Cast of Characters

• Nils Krogstad a bank clerk. He was known to
  have been involved in a crime a while ago. He
  had also lent money to Nora without Torvalds
  knowledge, which was against the law.
• Christine Linde recently widowed, she has come
  to the Helmers home hoping Torvald can help her
  get a job. She Krogstad were close at one time

11
Cast of Characters

• Dr. Rank He is an old friend of the Helmers, who
  has been secretly in love with Nora. The doctor
  is suffering from tuberculosis.