The Best Loved Doll By Madeleine L Engle

Charles Chesnutt’s “The Doll” is a story of seeking truth, facing discrimination, and making bold choices for the sake of one’s own livelihood. Through Tom Taylor’s slow-building narrative, Chesnutt reveals the complications keeping the barber from exacting his revenge on the man who murdered his father, Colonel Forsyth. Despite having the perfect opportunity to do so, Tom remains steadfast in the face of the colonel’s taunts, ultimately deciding to stay silent. Aside from highlighting Tom’s emotional turmoil throughout the tale, “The Doll” also ponders how black Americans are to advance and protect themselves, especially as individuals within a societal system built against that very idea of social mobility. The story therefore

Some of the oldest and fondest memories I have from my childhood are those of my mother reading to me. Before I even began Kindergarten, I remember my mom reading stories to me from children’s books, or making up stories as she went along. I enjoyed listening to the stories and still remember some to this day. She also taught me how to write my name, count, and recite the alphabet. I loved the time I spent reading with my mom because she made it fun, so much so that I didn’t realize I was learning.

Ibsen 's play A Doll 's House centers on a stereotypical and comfortable family in the nineteenth century which, outwardly, has the appearance of respectability to which any audience can relate. There are many indicators that reveal that this family upholds a false image, such as the symbolic title “A Doll 's House". Nora is introduced as a "little Spendthrift" (p 6), which foreshadows future tension in her relationship. Torvald believes she is spending money frivolously, but she has actually secretly borrowed money to save his life, and is using the money he gives her to pay back her debt.

Most of what I can remember from my childhood is being read to by my mom and her teaching me how to read, alongside my older sister. During the day all that I wanted to do was have my mom read to me, so she would. And every night before I went to bed she would let me pick one book for her to read to me. It was my favorite part of everyday. It wasn’t just at home that people would read to me, my grandma would too whenever we went to her house. She had this book full of short stories that always had a good lesson at the end. I loved hearing my grandma’s soothing voice right before I fell asleep. My favorite book was “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish” by Dr. Seuss. Since my mom read it to me at least once everyday, I began to memorize it. I wasn’t actually reading the words on the page, I just knew the story so well that I could recite it.

A Doll 's House by Henrik Ibsen, is a play that has been written to withstand all time. In this play Ibsen highlights the importance of women’s rights. During the time period of the play these rights were neglected. Ibsen depicts the role of the woman was to stay at home, raise the children and attend to her husband during the 19th century. Nora is the woman in A Doll House who plays is portrayed as a victim. Michael Meyers said of Henrik Ibsen 's plays: "The common denominator in many of Ibsen 's dramas is his interest in individuals struggling for and authentic identity in the face of social conventions. This conflict often results in his characters ' being divided between a sense of duty to themselves and their responsibility to others." All of the aspects of this quote can be applied to the play A Doll House, in Nora Helmer 's character, who throughout much of the play is oppressed, presents an inauthentic identity to the audience and throughout the play attempts to discovery her authentic identity.

The Dollmaker by Harriette Arnow is the story of one woman whose genius is undermined by those surrounding her. Gertie Nevels, a tall, big-boned woman raised in the Appalacian region of Kentucky is creative, self-sufficient, strong, and resourceful. In her native home, Gertie creates for herself an atmosphere where she is able to survive any situation and has everything under control. As Wilton Eckley states in “From Kentucky to Detroit“, a chapter in his novel, Harriette Arnow, “Certainly while the family is living in Kentucky, she [Gertie] is self-sufficient and has no fear that she will be unable to get along if Clovis is called to join all the other younger men of the community in the service”

Mr. Krogstad, a former employee of Torvald is the leading antagonist in A Doll House. He clearly has an agenda and a lust for power. Krogstad’s lust for power gives the reader a sense of subtle rage because Krogstad only wants what’s best for him and his family but he exploits Nora for his own gain. Krogstad advances the plot by controlling Nora through a loan, while illuminating both main characters, and reinforcing the themes of confusion and lost love.

In most societies, the person who holds the most money is considered to hold the most power. In the case of the household, the person who holds the most power is the person who handles the money, and in our man-centric world, it is usually the man who holds both money and power. In Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll’s House, the theme of money is used to establish power roles between the characters of the play, and how the theme contributes to typical gender roles in the 19th century.

Henrik Ibsen showed the meaning of "woman" in the 1800's to be wonderfully empty-headed. They were to take care of the children, and keep the house clean. Particularly wealthy women had maids and nannies to assist them. This led to a life of comfort and status for Nora Helmer, and it is idea that is sacrificed in A Doll's House to give Nora the room she needed to grow.

Ibsen 's concerns about the physical and mental oppression of women by male dominance are brought to life in “A Doll 's House”. Through the characterisation of male dominance Ibsen expresses the view that all women possess the right to develop their own individuality, but in “A Doll’s House” the reality is that their role was often sacrificial. During the late 19th century, when the events of “A Doll’s House” unfold, women were not treated as equals with men, either in relation to their husbands or society. Torvald’s egotistical fear that his employees would think his wife influenced him is evident in the following quote, “Everyone at the bank knows I’ve sacked him. If it comes out that that the new manager changes his mind when his wife demands it-…... I’d be the laughing stock”. Women could not conduct business or control their own money, for which they needed the authorization of men, whether that was husbands, brothers or fathers. Moreover, they were not educated for responsibility. Nora suffers from both of these inequalities, firstly by taking out a loan without the authority of her husband, and secondly by believing, out of naivety and ignorance of the world, that she could forge a signature and be absolved of the consequences of her actions. Throughout the text Ibsen implements specific characterisation in an effort to effectively comment on the effects of male dominance. It is evident that Nora and Torvald represent the stereotypical ideals of male dominance

Henrik Ibsen, in his play “A Dollhouse,” sets the stage and opens the curtain so we can have a front row view of Nora’s life. The time is the nineteenth century, and the critical attitude towards women’s role was one of male dominance. During this time, women were expected to stay at home, take care of the children, and attend to the spouse. Nora, is portrayed by Henrik Ibsen as a toy or a doll, as a child, and as a mother and wife. As we perambulate through Nora’s life we will try to ascertain why the greatest miracle did not happen in her life.

As we are humans we love the repeated events of life. As evidenced in our most loved literature and shows. The great everlasting mask of what is really behind everything or what really is there. Continuously asking why again, again, and again, never satisfied. Nora from A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen provides one of the favorite themes linking her to the Showgirls of Las Vegas, the stuffed animals that roamed the land in the past, and Edna from The Awakening by Kate Chopin. Illusion is what seems to binds people but, is the illusion reality or fantasy or both?

The play A Doll House written by Henrik Ibsen has strong symbolisms such as the doll house, Christmas tree, macaroons, and New Year’s day that help outline the theme. The author uses symbolisms to pull his audience in and allow them to feel the full effect of inequality and emotional abuse men gave women in the year of 1879, when Ibsen wrote this play.

Dr. Rank says in reference to himself, “[Rank]…leave behind… nothing but an empty place which the first comer can fill as well as any other.” (Ibsen 47). With these words it is implied that he is essentially inconsequential. Although Rank does not greatly affect the happenings of the play and appears to be a relatively superfluous character, he helps set the mood and the progression of his illness runs alongside the predominant story. Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House takes place after a woman, Nora, illegally takes a loan. She then struggles to hide it when the lender, Krogstad, threatens to reveal her crime to her husband, Torvald Helmer. Dr. Rank appears to play a minor role in the story but his illness is a highly underrated element. Dr. Rank plays an important role in A Doll’s House through his companionship with Nora, his illness and his choices. Ibsen’s elaboration of Doctor Rank’s role is vital as it helps accentuate major plot points, develop characters and progress the plot.

Henrik Ibsen illustrates how self sacrifice of characters, cultivates betrayal in relationships. Characters in the novel recognize conflict, and that causes them to go against their morals. Betrayal in relationships occurs to justify their acknowledgement of conflict. Nora chooses to neglects her own safety because she does not trust her relationship with Torvald. She desires to sustain her position as a woman. Women cause a disturbance in the family dynamic, as gender roles say that women must comply to unwritten rules and never abandon their responsibilities. The ideal of a women is a direct reflection of how status and wealth shape the society. Illness presents an aspect of sacrifice for others which inspires betrayal. Nora’s psychological issues result in her questioning herself, her abilities as well as causing her to betray her family. Nora isolates herself in the house to sustain the appearance of the household. Dr. Rank also isolates himself with knowledge of his disease and betrays Torvald by admitting to Nora of his feelings. The betrayal made by characters are a cause of the sacrifices that are displayed in and outside of themselves.