Detailed essay plan produced by an A* Literature student in response to the question:
“The ideal marriage is based on a combination of both romance and security.”
In light of this view, consider ways in which writers present relationships. In your answer compare one poetry text and one drama ...
“The ideal marriage is based on a combination of both romance and se
In light of this view, consider ways in which writers present relationships. In your answer compare on
Start by improving this introduction by adding in the importance of genre to the writers in response to these ideas.
In both Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost’ and ‘Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’, the principal marriages contain elements of romance and security. Howev
performative under the constraints of the patriarchal society is explored in both texts; suggesting that the security that marriages provid
ideals of each society, those being religion and bourgeois respectability, and that marriages can exist as devoid of love. Ibsen’s realist
marriages often presented in the well-made play as solely performative, while Milton’s epic genre allows the examination of A
texts it seems romance fails to mask the flaws in a marriage.
Topic sentence/idea PL ADH AO3
Both texts present a woman’s Adam is reluctant to grant Eve temporary From the outset of the play, it is clear that Nora’s Milton compared ill-suited spo
dependency on a man as crucial to autonomy when she suggests “let us divide our submissive position as Torvald’s “little squirrel” is carcasses chained unnatura
a marriage and that a need for a labours” as he believes her company allows him simply a performance which she chooses to highlighting the importance of
to be “more wise, more watchful, stronger”. It adopt in order to manipulate her husband; she is marriage. Adam and Eve’s focus
life outside their marriage
seems that he views Eve’s helplessness and his capable of surviving without his influence, their duties, rather than their r
ultimately leads to widespread role as the protector as the foundation of their however it seems she initially chooses to remain each other, which in turn resu
dissatisfaction. However while relationship; her desire for agency outside of the in the marriage due to the social and financial mutual love and understanding. T
Milton condemns this desire if it marital bond undermines the couple’s ability to security it offers. Indeed, she admits it “was great attitudes towards their role in the
leads to a woman’s disobedience perform their duties and in turn creates a rift fun, though, sitting there working and earning to them both failing to be a
Ibsen recognizes that it is within the relationship. Milton condemns Eve for money”, suggesting that she embraces autonomy although Milton places all blame o
necessary for an individual to fully limiting Adam’s ability to serve God as her and her increasing experiences of this fuels her
understand themselves, regardless liberation undermines his authority over her; desire for a life outside of her marriage. Through Expectations of bourgeois resp
when he notices her fallen state, the garland he her conversations with each visitor in the prominent in the Victorian fin de
of their sex.
had “wreath’d for Eve down drop’d”, symbolising doll-house, her lack of knowledge about the society to value strong sec
the death of their idyllic, traditional relationship outside world is highlighted - she is still a “child” - marriages; Torvald’s diminishing
and the subsequent absence of pure love. It and Ibsen demonstrates the need for her Nora causes their marriage to fa
seems Milton is emphasising the need for a man emancipation in order for her understanding to be expectations and appear far from
to educate and “guard” his wife in order to developed. She admits “I must educate myself” Ibsen accepts the need for
prevent disobedience and dissatisfaction within and prioritises herself over her marriage, structures to be undermined in
the marriage, however instead it appears that it is indicating that while a marriage may offer both about social change. Indeed, fe
this shaping of female knowledge by the romance and security, this is not always ideal and was becoming more attainable d
patriarchy which is the source of discontent. security can also be found through as educational and employmen
independence. women were improving.
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