A Doll’s HouseA Doll’s House

Intro. to Drama NotesIntro. to Drama Notes

What is Realism?What is Realism?

Literature that attempts to create the Literature that attempts to create the appearance of life as it is actually appearance of life as it is actually experienced. Commonplace, everyday experienced. Commonplace, everyday life rather than extraordinary events life rather than extraordinary events (Oedipus) are the focus. (1875-1900)(Oedipus) are the focus. (1875-1900)Records details of ordinary lifeRecords details of ordinary lifeConcentrates on the typical/average “Joe” Concentrates on the typical/average “Joe”

(not royalty)(not royalty)Examines a slice of lifeExamines a slice of life

Realism CharacteristicsRealism Characteristics

Speak the way we speak in real lifeSpeak the way we speak in real lifeConflicts involve work, love, Conflicts involve work, love,

marriage, children, deathmarriage, children, deathDeals with factories, slums, bosses, Deals with factories, slums, bosses,

social outcasts, shopkeepers, the social outcasts, shopkeepers, the rising & struggling middle classrising & struggling middle class

Portrays man imprisoned by forces Portrays man imprisoned by forces he could not control or understand. he could not control or understand. Viewed society as restricting.Viewed society as restricting.

Realism on StageRealism on Stage

Attempts to create the illusion of Attempts to create the illusion of “real life” on stage“real life” on stage

Scenery is realScenery is real““life-like” languagelife-like” language““well-made” plotswell-made” plots44thth wall convention - actors address wall convention - actors address

each other; they do not speak each other; they do not speak directly to audiencedirectly to audience

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906)Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906)

Father of realism and the modern Father of realism and the modern dramadramaHe moved away from romanticism and He moved away from romanticism and

its use of stereotyped characters, its use of stereotyped characters, exaggerated emotions, and flowery exaggerated emotions, and flowery languagelanguage

Explored controversial topics of his Explored controversial topics of his timetime

Ibsen’s styleIbsen’s style

Lack of metaphorsLack of metaphorsPresence of symbolismPresence of symbolismShort, choppy, dialogueShort, choppy, dialogue

A “social problem” playA “social problem” play

Addresses controversial topics, problems Addresses controversial topics, problems in societyin society A Doll’s HouseA Doll’s House – inferior role of women – inferior role of women An Enemy of the PeopleAn Enemy of the People – corrupt public – corrupt public

officialsofficials Want to teach about & correct social probsWant to teach about & correct social probs Danger is playwright has to create Danger is playwright has to create

characters with whom the audience can characters with whom the audience can identify otherwise play feels like identify otherwise play feels like propagandapropaganda

Major Themes in Major Themes in A Doll’s A Doll’s HouseHouse

Coming-of-age and loss-of-innocenceComing-of-age and loss-of-innocenceLoss of female identity that the inferior Loss of female identity that the inferior

position of women in this society position of women in this society fosteredfostered

Concept that one’s highest duty is to Concept that one’s highest duty is to oneself, even if that duty appears to oneself, even if that duty appears to break all the rules of societybreak all the rules of society

The idea that the appearance of things The idea that the appearance of things does not always mirror reality and, does not always mirror reality and, sometimes, may mask the true realitysometimes, may mask the true reality

Cast of CharactersCast of Characters

Nora Helmer: the protagonist, a young Nora Helmer: the protagonist, a young mother, with very few apparent mother, with very few apparent responsibilities, she went from her responsibilities, she went from her father’s house to her husband’s without father’s house to her husband’s without having had any real contact with the having had any real contact with the worldworld

Torvald Helmer: Nora’s husband, her Torvald Helmer: Nora’s husband, her chief antagonist. He is a serious man chief antagonist. He is a serious man who is concerned with the appearance of who is concerned with the appearance of things. things.

Cast of CharactersCast of Characters

Nils Krogstad: a bank clerk. He was Nils Krogstad: a bank clerk. He was known to have been involved in a known to have been involved in a crime a while ago. He had also lent crime a while ago. He had also lent money to Nora without Torvald’s money to Nora without Torvald’s knowledge, which was against the law.knowledge, which was against the law.

Christine Linde – recently widowed, she Christine Linde – recently widowed, she has come to the Helmers’ home hoping has come to the Helmers’ home hoping Torvald can help her get a job. She & Torvald can help her get a job. She & Krogstad were close at one timeKrogstad were close at one time

Cast of CharactersCast of Characters

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