Essay
I&R power essay
Essay on the presentation of power in Christina Rossetti's poetry and Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House.
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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
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