The Impact of Marriage in "Like Water for Chocolate" by Laura Esquivel and "The House of Bernarda Alba" by Federico Garcia Lorca
analytical Essay
1243 words
Marriage is an important theme in the plays, ‘A Doll’s House’ written by Henrik Ibsen, and ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’ written by Federico Garcia Lorca. Though the concept of marriage is two people living together through love and companionship, it revolves around the duties and principals put up by the society. Both of these books share anachronistic views of marriage where marriage is not an emotional attachment between two entities but a social engagement between two entities of similar wealth and power.
In the play “A Doll’s House”, marriage is merely a social formality. Torvald and Nora, husband and wife, share merely a few intimate moments throughout the entire novel and their relationship is devoid of any affection at all. The setting of the play “A Doll’s House” is 19th century Norway and the norms and beliefs of this era play a huge role in defining the role of Torvald as a husband, and Nora as a wife. The husband in this era is supposed to be the sole guardian of the house, responsible for taking care of the families financial requirements and ensuring a high standing for the family in society. Torvald believes that Nora is confined to looking after their children and basically taking care of the physical aspects of their household, and Nora feels so oppressed by her husband that she helps him in a time of dire need without even telling him. This incident occurs in the scene where Torvald falls dangerously sick and is too foolish to spend money on foreign treatment that could save his life, Nora sensing the grave danger goes behind Torvald’s back and collects money to save Torvalds life by committing the crime of forgery.
When Torvald finds out about the crime that Nora commits, he completely disregards the fact tha...
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...e. Frederico was later caught by rebels and executed for his homosexual orientation that the rebels found “nonconforming”.
All in all, from this vivid analysis of the role of marriage in “A Doll’s House” and “The House of Bernarda Alba”, one can see that marriage did not have much value and was completely devoid of emotion. In these two tragedies the idea of marriage is influenced by the cruel society and its orthodox views and beliefs in general that mould a “model” citizen. Ultimately, in both of these works of literature, marriage is a key theme that forms a substantial amount of the plot of the story and marriage is also an element that repressed individuals in the dramas who finally took extreme measures to free themselves from the unrelenting grasp of societies vortex.
Works Cited
Published texts: "Like Water for Chocolate" and "The House of Bernarda Alba"
In this essay, the author
- Explains that marriage is an important theme in the plays, "a doll's house" written by henrik ibsen, and "the house of bernarda alba".
- Analyzes how the setting of the play "a doll's house" is 19th century norway and the norms and beliefs of this era play a huge role in defining the role of torvald and nora as husband and wife.
- Analyzes how the drama, "the house of bernarda alba", has a similar idea of marriage as the "a doll's house".
- Analyzes how torvald, in "the doll's house," obliviously addresses his wife with childlike names to establish an air of superiority and dominance over her.
- Analyzes how the climax of "the house of bernarda alba" is the culmination of repressed desires that are the fault of the 20th century spanish society.
Related
- argumentative
- analytical
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2244 wordsRead More - A Doll's House Marriage Analysisanalytical essayHenrik Ibsen once said, “Never wear your best trousers when you go out to fight for freedom and truth.” In his play A Doll’s House, Nora is seen by surrounding friends and family as a housewife and idea mother, but she is fighting for independence and recognition. Ibsen’s A Doll’s House presents an image of an ideal marriage to demonstrate that the 19th century social expectations on husband and wife were unrealistic.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how henrik ibsen's a doll’s house presents an image of an ideal marriage to demonstrate that 19th century social expectations on husband and wife were unrealistic.
- Analyzes how ibsen's play is set up in the first act to present to the readers a happy marriage.
- Analyzes how ibsen attacks the institution of marriage as nora challenges her roles as a wife, woman, and friend.
- Analyzes how ibsen's characters set up the reader to believe it would be happy family with a happy marriage based on their surroundings and attitude toward each other. the pet names are intended to be caring, but are truthfully demeaning to nora.
- Analyzes how ibsen constructed nora and torvald to show that the ideal marriage is not realistic based on the reality that marriages have disagreements and each spouse is an independent human being.
1041 wordsRead More - Trifles Henrik Ibsen Analysisanalytical essayIn “A Doll’s House”, when Torvald learns of her secret affairs concerning Nora forging her father’s signature to get a loan to save Torvald’s life, he began to treat her horribly, insulting her in every way that is possible. In that moment, Nora realized that she could no longer live a life as Torvald’s wife anymore. He wanted to live a life in which no one in the society would know what had happened. They would act like they were a happily married couple in public, but in private they would act as though they were brother and sisters. Torvald cared about his image rather than
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the idea of equality of women ignited a fire within the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. the inequality between men and women in marriage and society plays strong roles in literary works.
- Analyzes how the play, "a doll's house," was published to the world in 1879. it is about the helmers, a married couple who seem to have the perfect life, but the audience learns that is not the case.
- Analyzes how torvald's name calling towards nora shows his possessiveness of her by calling her domineering names.
- Analyzes how torvald teases and interrogates her about eating macaroons when he had forbid them.
- Analyzes how nora and torvald's relationship is not one of a husband and wife, but rather father and daughter.
- Analyzes how women in "trifles" are belittled by their male counterparts. in the play, minnie wright is accused of murdering her husband john by wrapping a rope around his neck.
- Analyzes how the sheriff commented on the women's foolishness when they found a quilt and wondered if she was knotting it. the domineering men mocked them like children or unintelligent.
- Analyzes how the narrator and her husband, john, move into a colonial mansion. john claims that he is the practical one and that the room that they picked is good for her health.
- Analyzes how the narrator is always trapped within the room. the disturbing yellow wallpaper makes her despise the woman trapped in the wallpaper. her husband won't let her be free.
- Analyzes how women in "a doll's house" have been confined because of their husband and society, but have essentially pulled away from the controlling men.
- Analyzes how nora realized she had "duties to [herself]" and could no longer play the role of torvald’s “lark” and little “doll.” she wanted to escape from being a human being.
- Analyzes how the women in "trifles" realized that john wright was abusive to minnie, and if they were in the same place, they would do it.
- Analyzes how the narrator in "the yellow wallpaper" rips the yellow wallpaper apart believing that she is releasing the woman trapped in the wallpaper.
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1355 wordsRead More - The Role Of Norm In 'The Yellow Wallpaper'analytical essayHowever, Nora, wife of Torvald, proves otherwise. She clearly portrays her ability to handle the finance of her household even when Torvald was sick. She manipulates Torvald to successfully pay off her loan that she borrowed to cure his sickness as well as successfully maintaining household chores. She claims that “she [worked] and [earned] money [that made her feel like] a man.” She, however, refuses to tell Torvald the truth because she fears that the truth will taint his pride. When Nora finally confesses the truth, Torvald yells at her for ruining his reputation, yet he does not bother to ask how she managed to do it or state his gratitude for saving his life. Instead, Torvald worries about his image in front of the society. The society compels men like Torvald to bear the financial burden. If, women handled the finance then this idea of women taking the role as a bread winner, tarnishes the men 's image. The society will, therefore, taunt their inability to provide necessity items for his family and the household. Torvald claims that "[he] will change" to accommodate to Nora 's realization of her worth which is more than just a trophy wife; however, Nora refuses this offer because Torvald confesses that “ no man [is able] to sacrifice his honor for ones he loves”. Nora understands that men are never able to “stoop” low to level with the woman because if a person whether
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how men and women play a big role in stalling the process of women's freedom in "the yellow wallpaper."
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- Analyzes how the society binds leonce to comprehend the idea of self-expression of his wife and forces robert, edna's lover, to deny the lust to fit into the norm of society.
- Analyzes how the society molded men into thinking that women are unable to perform the same tasks as they do. nora portrays her ability to handle the finance of her household even when torvald was sick.
- Analyzes how jessie in mermaid chair feels stuck in the typical housewife role of a woman.
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- Analyzes how hugh portrays that men can slowly modify their views and the expectation of society to fit the needs of the women.
1727 wordsRead More - A Doll House Gender Analysisanalytical essayLiterature normally touches on traditional gender stereotypes and the role of the society in building those gender biases. From earlier centuries, gender stereotyping is closely intertwined with every aspect of the social fabric. The play, A Doll 's House by Henrik Ibsen presents a critical reflection of marital norms of the nineteenth-century. This three-act play revolves around the need of every individual, particularly women, to discover oneself, and how they have to strive to establish their identities. This aesthetically shaped play depicts traditional gender roles and the subsequent social struggles that every woman encounter in a stereotyped society. Though, Nora fits rightly to the nineteenth century social norm of submissive housewife
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how literature touches on traditional gender stereotypes and the role of society in building those gender biases. a doll's house by henrik ibsen presents a critical reflection of marital norms of the nineteenth-century.
- Analyzes how nora is stalked by torvald's employee and money-lender, krogstad, who accuses her of bringing shame and disgrace to him.
- Analyzes how ibsen portrays nora as submissive to her husband, as she is confined by the societal values of their era.
- Analyzes how nora, despite being a nave and submissive wife, is equally courageous while deciding for the welfare of the family and her husband.
- Analyzes how men in the play are manipulative and dominant toward women, forcing them to conform to the social values and beliefs. torvald is depicted as a male chauvinist who shows little concern for his wife.
- Analyzes how ibsen uses gender roles in the play to emphasize the importance of personal choices overriding social expectations and obstacles.
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how henrik ibsen illustrates the problems in marriage as an inequality between men and women's position relative to being a husband and wife.
- Analyzes how susan glaspell portrays women's suffering and the power of women were pressed by men in the triflies.
- Analyzes how susan glaspell depicts that women have been continuously underestimated by women by showing how the women solved the crime quietly while the men scrambled around looking for evidence.
- Analyzes how ibsen and glaspell show the power of women by sticking together and looking out for one another in order to improve their social positions.
- Compares a doll's house by henrik ibsen, and trifles, by susan glaspell, to illustrate the similar perspectives on how men repress women in their marriages.
1060 wordsRead More - Non-Traditional Relationships in The Storm and A Doll´s Houseanalytical essayMany stories talk about relationships, especially the ones between man and woman as couple. In some of them, generally the most popular ones, these relationships are presented in a rosy, sentimental and cliché way. In others, they are presented using a much deeper, realistic and complicated tone; much more of how they are in real life. But not matter in what style the author presents its work, the base of every love story is the role each member of that relationship assumes in it. A role, that sometimes, internal forces will determinate them, such as: ideas, beliefs, interests, etc. or in order cases external, such as society. In the story “The Storm” by American writer Kate Chopin and the play A Doll’s house by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen I am going to examine those roles, giving a special focus to the woman´s, because in both works, it is non-traditional, different and somewhat shocking, besides having a feminist point of view.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the basis of every love story is the role each member of that relationship assumes in it.
- Analyzes how kate chopin's "the storm" breaks the socially accepted conception of how women should be and act in a relationship to express their sexuality.
- Analyzes how introduces us to the story with the arrival of a storm, which has both literary and symbolic meaning.
- Analyzes how nora's perspective of her marriage changed at the end of the play. torvald was furious because krogstad threatened to publish her act, but he changed and wanted to start a new life with her.
- Analyzes the parallelism between the storm outside and their sexual intercourse. the irony of this story is presented at the ending of it.
- Analyzes how the self-sacrificial role in women is viewed throughout the play. nora had to make a big sacrifice in order to find her true self and independence of her doll-like life.
1731 wordsRead More - Torvald and Nora in in Ibsen's A Doll's Houseanalytical essayIn Ibsen's "A Doll's House", there are many clues that hint at the kind of marriage Nora and Torvald have. It seems that Nora is a type of doll that is controlled by Torvald. Nora is completely dependent on Torvald. His thoughts and movements are her thoughts and movements. Nora is a puppet who is dependent on its puppet master for all of its actions.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how torvald makes his grave mistake when nora realizes that he places both his social and physical appearance ahead of his wife.
- Analyzes how torvald's physical control over nora can be seen in his teaching of the tarantella.
- Analyzes how torvald is more interested in nora physically than emotionally. he doesn't trust her with money; she's incapable of handling a matter of such importance.
- Analyzes how nora has been treated like a child by both torvald and her father, who denied her the right to think and act the way she wished.
1045 wordsRead More - Medea And A Doll's Houseanalytical essayMarriage is defined as the legally recognized union of two people as partners. Although partners, husband and wife are not always treated equal under marriage. The roles between husband and wife has been questioned in literature since ancient times. Texts such as “Medea” by Euripides and “A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen focus on the idea that unequally in marriage leads to tragedy. This idea is supported through protagonists, Medea and Nora, and their experiences in marriage including sacrifice, betrayal, and moving on.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that marriage is the legally recognized union of two people as partners, although husband and wife are not always treated equal under marriage.
- Analyzes how medea and nora's husbands hold great power over their wives, despite their different personalities. their sacrifice for jason comes from the very beginning of their relationship.
332 wordsRead More - The House of Bernarda Albaanalytical essayIn both plays “A Doll’s House” and “The House of Bernarda Alba”, domination and love have been key elements in the development of the plays. Characters that are by nature dominating over their family portray love in many different ways. Love is not as easy to interpret from these characters as compared with the straightforward Aunt Polly in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”. Love is defined in the characters of Torvald and Bernarda in the form of domination. Torvald is a lot more subtle about his feelings and more open for interpretation, while Bernarda is more complex and closed in the form of expressing love.
In this essay, the author
- Compares fredrico garcia lorca's "the house of bernarda alba" and the norwegian playwright henrik ibsen' "a doll’s house". both portray domination as a contributory of love.
- Analyzes how domination and love have been key elements in the development of the plays. torvald and bernarda are more subtle about their feelings and open for interpretation.
- Analyzes how ibsen and lorca use name calling to ridicule the antagonist's subjects in "a doll’s house" and "the house of bernarda alba."
- Analyzes how bernarda and torvald have a similar trait, criticism. both playwrights, ibsen and lorca, use it to bring about the concern and love that the antagonists have towards the success of their family members.
- Analyzes how protection comes from the sense of domination in "the house of bernarda alba" and how torvald disallows nora from eating her favorite macaroons.
- Analyzes how domination helps bernarda and torvald protect and secure their respective families from societal aggression. in a doll's house, nora is considered a subordinate to any male figure in society.
- Explains that respect is a requirement to head the household and it is brought forth by the intention of love.
- Analyzes how bernarda alba and torvald are portrayed as tyrants dominating their household with an iron fist but a sense of affection and love exist in them.
- Cites http://www.enotes.com/dolls-house/discuss/nora-macaroons-63873 and https://classiclit.about
1294 wordsRead More