Introduction of “Hedda Gabler” by (Henrik Ibsen) and “A Doll's House” by (Henrik Ibsen and Thomas Ostermeier)
In the paper,
there is the analysis of the play “Hedda Gabler” by Henrik Ibsen and the play “A
Doll's House” by Henrik Ibsen and Thomas Ostermeier. Both selected plays are famous
and have the concepts related to the theme of women empowerment. The men in the
plays coming up short on the capacity to treat their spouses however, women in
the plays did self-relinquished and furthermore treated inconsistently. Ladies
in the plays additionally know their social duties. Both plays are based on the
rules of society and how lives can remain wealthy (Ibsen and Harad).
Important themes, ideas, impressions, and images
In the play “A
Doll's House” by Henrik Ibsen and Thomas Ostermeier macaroons there is a focus
on the specific role of the women in the society. As focused on the play that
Nora disobeys her husband and eats the forbidden macaroons by her husband. She
also did Tarantella dance badly to save her husband from the shame. There are
fast-paced movements in the story because women are presented as the victim in
society. However, Nora told in the story that her father and Torvald treated
her person who is emotionless and treated her like a doll-child as she had no
opinions. The theme and ideas in the play are based on the Victorian Era as
concerned that women had some specific roles in the society that they are
expected to follow. Domination of her husband was broken by Nora Helmer; as she
wanted to do what she likes or wanted. The overall theme of “A Doll's House” is
based on the aspects that women have some specific roles that are expected to
follow which also leads to a boring life.
In the play
“Hedda Gabler” by Henrik Ibsen there is a focus on women empowerment as Hedda
was intelligent and she knew about her rights. Her father was an enigmatic
general and aristocratic and her husband George Tesman was a young man and she
married him because she believes that youthful abandon is over so she Hedda
never loved him but married George Tesman. Eilert Løvborg was George's academic
rival and also loved his wife Hedda. Hedda and Eilert Løvborg were former
lovers and talk privately together (Friel).
However, Hedda
Gabler in the play represented the role of the neurotic female, she believes in
the loveless relationships and desired the need for freedom. She craves for
power and also desire or wish to shape the man's destiny. The men in the plays
coming up short on the capacity to treat their spouses, in any case, women in
the plays did self-relinquished and furthermore treated inconsistently. Women
in the plays additionally know their social duties.
Common themes of “Hedda Gabler” by (Henrik Ibsen) and “A Doll's House” by (Henrik Ibsen and Thomas Ostermeier)
The common
themes in the plays are based on the 19th-century marriage and traditional
roles of men as well as the women in society. George Tesman was a husband who
loves his wife, Torvald’s also like his wife. However, as noted the
similarities in the play that both Hedda and Nora have to follow the norm
present in the Victorian era. Chosen plays are popular and have the ideas
related to the topic of ladies strengthening and the plays depend on the
guidelines of society that woman was not given a right to make her own choice.
The author emphasis the point the women in the plays have rights but not given.
The two men Torvald and George Tesman additionally neglected to perceive or
know the genuine hardships and weights of their spouses.
Considering the
similarities in the plays, it is known that female protagonists are portrayed;
there is the focus on the Hedda that she had a stressful life in everyday life
and also ends her life. Both the women Hedda and Nora in the stories faced
hardship, difficulties in homes as housewives there was the stress of everyday
life. However, male in the stories is portrayed as the people who think women
as the object of desire, both men Torvald and George Tesman also failed to
recognize or know the real hardships and burdens of their wives. Both women
characters have their own status and income. Men are considered as the higher
pedestal when compared with their wife. The men in the plays lacking the
ability to treat their wives, however, women in the plays did self- sacrificed
and also treated unequally. Women in the plays also know their social
responsibilities (H. Ibsen).
Major differences of “Hedda Gabler” by (Henrik Ibsen) and “A Doll's House” by (Henrik Ibsen and Thomas Ostermeier)
Both the main
characters in the stories faced or tolerated the pressure differently, the
Hedda and Nora both wanted to be an independent woman, however, there was a
difference at the end of the character as Hedda results in suicide and Nora
leaves her husband as well as the children because she wanted a new life of her
choice. It can be noticed that Hedda was never satisfied with her husband and
had a lifestyle opposite to Nora; Nora also deceived Helmer and portrayed or
think that she is a perfect housewife.
Other
differences were related to the theme of women as Hedda was an independent
person and Nora was an independent thinker. In Norway, the play A Doll's House
is set and characters in the play focused on the Norwegian culture. Moreover,
the play A Doll's House the major setting could be explained as Helmer's living
room and Torvald's study has another setting, where he sits with his friends and
have some discussions.
The common message behind stories
The common
message in the story is women empowerment as both plays are based on the rules
of society and the domination of husbands. Women have some specific roles that
are expected to follow which also leads to a boring life. Women crave for power
but not given to them as women have to obey husbands. Both were intelligent
Hedda was an independent person and Nora was an independent thinker and wanted
to survive financially. Through a focus on the husbands or society Torvald's,
George Tesman's horror is portrayed.
Reasons why and for who, stories are written
There are
several reasons to write the play by both the similar authors, as there is focus
to describe the main role or the position of women in society. As concerned
about life in A Doll's House that women were not given a right to make her own
decision her father and husband decide everything for her (Joy).
The author's
focus on the point the women in the plays have awareness and differences were
related to the theme of women as Hedda was an independent person and Nora was
an independent thinker regarding the rights and they also have their own
individuality but still, they did they self-sacrificial. Nora likewise
misdirected Helmer and depicted or imagines that she is an ideal housewife. The
writers of play "Hedda Gabler" and a play "A Doll's House"
focuses on the audience, the play was written for the audience that women
should be given rights and everyone knows about their rights but in reality
women are not treated as equals when compared with the men (Kenny and Wollenberg).
Comparative work of “Hedda Gabler” by (Henrik Ibsen) and “A Doll's House” by (Henrik Ibsen and Thomas Ostermeier)
Ø Deception
could be explained as the key theme in both plays as Nora character noticed as
selfish as well as a silly girl in the start of the play, however, later it is
revealed that to save the life of her husband, she did the great sacrifices,
she also helped her in paying back a loan.
Ø Another
deception was related to the Torvald was that as he first appeared to be a
loving, generous husband at the start of the play; however, later it is
revealed that he was a shallow man.
Ø Another
deception was related to Dr. Rank's acts as later it is revealed that he loves
Nora and this was the motive of daily visits.
Conclusion of “Hedda Gabler” by (Henrik Ibsen) and “A Doll's House” by (Henrik Ibsen and Thomas Ostermeier)
It can be
concluded that women have some particular jobs that are required to pursue in
their exhausting life. Women have to obey spouses as Hedda and Nora were the
free mastermind in regard to the rights but still did self-sacrificial. 19th-century
women were focused as women should give rights and as noticed the likenesses in
the play that both Hedda and Nora need to pursue the standard present in the
Victorian time. Both the ladies Hedda and Nora in the tales confronted
hardship, challenges in homes as housewives.
Works Cited of “Hedda Gabler” by (Henrik Ibsen) and “A Doll's House” by (Henrik Ibsen and Thomas Ostermeier)
Friel, Brian. Henrik
Ibsen's Hedda Gabler: In a New Version. Dramatists Play Service Inc, 2009.
Ibsen, Henrick and Alyssa
Harad. Four Great Plays of Henrik Ibsen: A Doll's House, The Wild Duck,
Hedda Gabler, The Master Builder. Simon and Schuster, 2005.
Ibsen, Henrik. Hedda
Gabler. Courier Corporation, 2012.
Joy, Anna. We Are
America: A Thematic Reader and Guide To Writing. Cengage Learning, 2007.
Kenny, Aisling and Susan
Wollenberg. Women and the Nineteenth-Century Lied. Routledge, 2016.