Essay
I&R power essay
- Course
- Institution
- Book
Essay on the presentation of power in Christina Rossetti's poetry and Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House.
[Show more]
Connected book
Book Title:
Author(s):
- Edition:
- ISBN:
- Edition:
More summaries for
-
A Doll's House AO5 Key Critics Revision Grid
-
I&R - female desire essay
-
Complete Revision Set - Quotes, Summaries, Context and Critics
Seller
Follow
jackexton06
Content preview
Through Ibsen’s 1879 realist play A Doll’s House and Rossetti’s collectedpoetry of the Victorian era, both writers present power as an unachievable
option for women within 19th century society. Writing in 19th century
Norway, Ibsen was influenced by the imbalance of power in relationships,
particularly through his own experience of his father, who was an alcoholic
and took out his troubles on his wife. Ibsen’s sister described her mother
as “loving and self-sacrificing", which can be seen clearly through Nora’s
character, as can the influence he drew from his family members involved
in the feminist movement in the late 1800s. Similarly, writing in 19th
century England, Rossetti was influenced by the pressured influence
society had on female freedom and control over their own lives. Her work
at St Mary Magdalene House from 1859 until 1870 certainly had a
significant impact on this through the influence of religion and its negative
attitudes towards female individuality. Whilst Ibsen argues that true
power can only be achieved by men, with women always being restricted
by having to live purely for the sake of impressing men, Rossetti suggests
that women can hold power, though not if one allows societal
expectations to limit them.
Both Ibsen and Rossetti use their writing to explore the theme of power as
an unachievable option for women in 19th century society. Hewa argues
that, in A Doll’s House, Nora is forced to “smother her sexuality, creativity,
and energetic nature” in order to please Torvald, highlighting the
significance of an imbalance of power between men and women as she
must sacrifice her individuality once married. Through the play Ibsen
focuses on Torvald’s treatment of Nora to reflect an insight into the
restrictions that marriage can have on women as their power is
relinquished.
...
Similarly, regarding Rossetti’s anthology, Avery comments on it being “a
clear critique of dominant masculinity”, as both No, Thank you John and
Twice display man’s poor use of the power he has, as he attempts to take
advantage of it. Through her poetry, Rossetti focuses on the inequality of
power in 19th century England by deviating from ordinary society, and
using the female voice to narrate.
...
Whilst Ibsen argues that true power can only be achieved by men, with
women always being restricted by having to live purely for the sake of
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller jackexton06. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $9.07. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
66579 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now