Sacrifices and compromises are necessary in life. However, making grave sacrifices that force changes in lifestyle just to keep up social appearances can make life unbearable. Its is through the characters of Edna Pontellier and Nora Helmer, who both play false roles in their lives, which are void of true satisfaction, that we see the tremendous consequences of losing integrity in trying to fill social appearances. It is just the opposite for those like Leonce Pontellier and Torvald Helmer, who are both seemingly willing to sacrifice it all for social appearances, even the women whom they love. Through presenting the sacrifices that their main characters make or refuse to make for the sake of social appearances, Kate Chopin and Henrik Ibsen illuminate humanity's far-reaching struggle with society.
Although Nora is, herself, concerned with maintaining social appearances, she later realizes how much of her life has been wasted as she has allowed it to be ruled by her husband and his societal convictions.
Edna Primrose Job Corps National Director (JCS)
Title page in the manuscript of A Doll's House, pl...
English: Detail of photograph taken in 1900 of Hen...Nora has been playing the part of a doll, which as she says, "was simply transferred" from her father to Torvald, never given the opportunity to take care of herself or determine the path of her own life, making nothing of her life (Ibsen 66). A doll is something that is admired for its beauty and has nothing else to offer except its outward appearances, which is why the title of the play, A Doll's House, holds much significance. Nora has never felt satisfied spending her days keeping up the appearance of the perfect doll's house and always dressing up for others, like her husband, while never doing anything for herself, for her own happiness. When Nora tells Torvald that she is "taking off [her] fancy dress", she means that she is finished dressing up for other...
Good for any IB English students!
IB English classes sometimes require you to compare two seemingly unrelated books in a creative way. The toughest part seems like coming up with the perfect topic, but once you have a good solid topic like this on the essay will flow easily as long as you have read the book or at least the sparks notes version of it!! This essay is well written and provides a great comparison between the major themes and symbols in The Awakening and A Doll' House.
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