The Theme of the Individual vs Society in A Doll's House and Hedda Gabler

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Individual vs Society in A Doll's House and Hedda Gabler

George Brandes once insisted that the only way literature could be made into a vital and living piece of art would be by "subjecting problems to debate" Indeed, it was the `problem' at the heart of Henrik Ibsen's plays that caused most of the controversy that surrounded them. Whereas other theatrical productions of Ibsen's time adhered to a standard plot and set of characters, Ibsen chose to break free of conventions by introducing topical issues into his drama, challenging contemporary assumptions about the role of women, the institution of marriage and the state of society.

A close friend of George Brandes, Ibsen shared his view that only free individuals could create a free society, and that without truth there could be no genuine freedom. Ibsen believed that the morality of Victorian society was simply a façade and that "this kind of society could not satisfy the natural need of the individual for freedom." This concept of the individual in opposition to society is inherent in both `A Doll's House' and `Hedda Gabler'. In both plays, Ibsen focuses on the individual but, as is typical of realist drama, uses these individuals to "embody contemporary social problems."

In the case of `A Doll's House', the marriage of Nora and Torvald is clearly representative of the struggle between individualism and the expectations of society. At the beginning of the play Nora is almost completely immersed in the roles that are set out for her by society - that of a dutiful wife and mother. In her dialogue with Mrs Linde, Nora illustrates how a woman was valued according to how well she fulfilled those two roles. Her sympathy is evident ...

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...ra is happy as an individual, and so there is at least some truth in his claim that "I do but ask, my call is not to answer."

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Text

Arup, J. and McFarlane, J. (ed.), Henrik Ibsen: Four Major Plays. Oxford World's Classics (Oxford University Press, 1981)

Critical Studies

Finney, G., `Ibsen and Feminism'. In The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen (ed. James McFarlane) (Cambridge, 1994)

Garton, J., `The Middle Plays'. In The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen (ed. James McFarlane) (Cambridge, 1994)

Hemmer, B., `Ibsen and the Realistic Problem Drama'. In The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen (ed. James McFarlane) (Cambridge, 1994)

Internet Resources

http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Goldman/Writings/Drama/doll.html

http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Goldman/Writings/Drama/ibsen.html

http://www.mnc.net/norway/Ibsen.htm

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