context Flashcards
What is the “New Woman” and how is it shown in A Doll’s House?
Late 19th-century feminist ideal: educated, independent woman.
Nora rejects the “angel in the house” role.
Act 3: “I believe that I am first and foremost a human being.”
Nora’s door slam = New Woman asserting independence.
How does Rossetti’s poetry connect to the New Woman idea?
Rossetti shows longing for escape but often with resignation.
From the Antique: “Doubly blank in a woman’s lot” — despair at female existence.
Rossetti’s women dream of freedom but rarely break free like Nora.
How does A Doll’s House critique religious morality?
Victorian religion tied to moral judgement and control.
Act 1: Torvald says Nora’s “sins” could corrupt her children.
Act 3: Nora says she must “educate myself” before following religion blindly.
how does torvald use christian morality as a weapon. quote?
act 1, he lectures nora about her fathers ‘sins’ might corrupt her children
‘every breath the children take in such a house is full of germs of evil’
nora internalises this guilt, showing a christian concept of inhereted sin
strong Anglican belief in redemption but critique of oppressive religious expectations” mean for Rossetti?
Believes deeply in salvation through Christ (redemption).
But critiques how religion restricts women’s choices.
Shut Out: “The door was shut” — excluded from paradise/societal opportunity.
What does “truthfully presenting life shaped by money, gender, heredity” mean?
Naturalist writers show individuals controlled by external forces, not free will.
Money: Nora can’t borrow legally (Act 1).
Gender: Treated like a child (“my little skylark”).
Heredity: Fears inheriting her father’s sins.
How is naturalism seen in Rossetti’s poetry?
From the Antique: Woman’s life is “weary” by nature.
Maude Clare: Social reputation destroys a woman’s prospects.
How does Rossetti’s life relate to her poetry?
Lived with illness (Graves’ disease), religious devotion, and restricted social freedom.
Refused marriage for religious reasons; shows women’s limitations in her work.
how were the gender roles and patriarchal expectations like in the 19th century
society was deeply patriarchal, with rigid gender roles
women were seen to be naturally suited for domestic life.
how were womens meant to behave in the 19th century
obediant
depenedant on men
how did Nora behave at the start in ACT 1 and Act 2
behaves as an ideal victorian wife infantillised by torvald, calling her pet names
what does infantillised mean?
treated like a child, even though you’re an adult.
how did nora behave in act 3
rejects the ‘angel in the house’ role
explain on how marriage was seen as a social contract and not an emotional union.
marriage was seen as a social and finalcial marriage rather than a romantic partnership
how did torvald show marriage as a social contract and not an emotional union
he cared more about noras appearance and control than emotional intimacy.
his reaction to noras loan - more concered about his reputation than her sacrifice- exposes the hallowness of their rs.
why was respectibility
important in the 19th century
It helped people gain social status, avoid shame, and appear moral. A good reputation meant power, especially for the middle class. Losing it could destroy a person’s life.
how does torvald show the importance of respectibility
obbsessed with public image and moral appearance, often speaks about honour and reputation
‘ a mans name in society, how important that is’
how is nora taking the loan affecting their respectibility
Noras dept is not only a financial issue but also a social issue,
if exposed this would destroy the Helmers family reputation
how is money important in the 19th century
symbolises power and independance
why did Nora needman’s permission to take out a loan
nepoleonic code is A legal system from 1804 that gave men control over women. In the play, it explains why Nora needed a man’s permission to take out a loan
how did torvald control her money
gives her a fixed allowance, reinforsing her child like status, shows thw limitations of womens financial rights can lead do moral compromise and break the nepoleonic code.
