Points/ Comparative topic Textual evidence Detailed analysis Context Critics
sentences
Both Ibsen and Rossetti A Doll’s House: 'I Nora and the Women’s rights “Nora’s life within
highlight the constraints of believe that before speakers in changed during the her home is tightly
gender roles and the desire all else, I am a Rossetti’s work Victorian era; at the controlled and
to break free from them. reasonable human express the time married women choreographed by
being.' “I wish restriction they couldn’t own property. her husband, akin
and I wish I were a face and their Victorian gender to how one might
man.” - From the desire for the norms restricted arrange dolls in a
antique “Yet a freedom of men in women’s autonomy dollhouse,
woman’s words the 19th century with their roles limited underscoring the
are weak.” - Twice reinforcing the to being wives and lack of genuine
idea that freedom mothers. Many shared freedom she
is something that this view that women possesses.” -
all of humanity were essential leaders Smith
wishes for as men of Britain’s domestic,
have achieved it moral, spiritual life
and now women whereas men were
aim for the same suited to the political
thing. role. Rossetti’s
progressive views and
anger at men who
failed to bear no
responsibility in the
destruction of
women's lives.
Both Rossetti and Ibsen A Doll’s House: Twice presents an The New Woman was ‘Her
depict the pursuit for “Her hair comes emotional journey intelligent, educated, transformation
freedom in association with down and falls of self-realisation, emancipated, becomes doubly
the discovery for personal down over her while Soeur Louise independent and self- credible when we
identities which is essential shoulders.” “O my explores desire supporting. Women’s realise that her so-
for all of humanity. love.” “O my and regret, primary identity and called feminity
God.” - Twice “I suggesting that value lay in the roles was for much of
have desired, and I self-awareness can as a wife and mother. her life largely an
have been bring suffering as Rossetti rejected act.’ - Critic
desired.” - Soeur well as freedom. Charles Cayley
Louise de la Nora discovers her because he couldn’t
Misericorde personal identity share her Anglican
and the feeling of faith which was
freedom which essential to her.
causes her to seek
it openly and defy
expectations.
Both Ibsen and Rossetti A Doll’s Both Maude Clare, The actress playing ‘Ibsen rejects what
present the freedom from House: “The sound Nora and the Nora, Hedwig had been most
the constraints of societal of the door speaker from No Niemann-Raabe was prominent in the
expectations, particularly shutting is heard thank you, John outraged at the Western tradition,
for women in the 19th from below.” exert ending that a woman the vicarious
century whose roles were Maude Clare: “I independence and would leave her existence of
confined to the domestic wash my hands oppose societal children and thus women.’ - Critic
sphere, allowing them the thereof.” “I’d expectations and refused to perform the
freedom of their roles. rather answer ‘No’ pressures with play as written, so
to fifty Johns than them rejecting Ibsen offered an
answer ‘Yes’ to fickle love and alternative ending
you.”- No thank seeking that Nora does not
you, John independence. leave as Ibsen wanted
to avoid the ending
being re-written by a
lesser dramatist.
Counter Argument 1 - A Doll’s House: ‘A Mrs Linde, the In the 19th century, Laura is "saved by
However, both Ibsen and poor girl who has nurse maid and women were expected her sister's
Rossetti present self- got into trouble Lizzie are to sacrifice their own devotion". -
sacrificing characters should be glad to.’ sacrificial desires and well-being Melvyn Bragg
rather than ones who seek - the nurse maid. characters whose for the sake of their
freedom which suggests an 'But to be sacrifices benefit families. Rossetti's
ability for humanity to completely alone - others suggesting father’s death causes
embrace restrictive roles. that must be the need for a lack financial difficulties,
terribly sad for of freedom as it so her mother began
you.' “For your leads to the safety teaching and her
sake I have braved and redemption sister began working
sentences
Both Ibsen and Rossetti A Doll’s House: 'I Nora and the Women’s rights “Nora’s life within
highlight the constraints of believe that before speakers in changed during the her home is tightly
gender roles and the desire all else, I am a Rossetti’s work Victorian era; at the controlled and
to break free from them. reasonable human express the time married women choreographed by
being.' “I wish restriction they couldn’t own property. her husband, akin
and I wish I were a face and their Victorian gender to how one might
man.” - From the desire for the norms restricted arrange dolls in a
antique “Yet a freedom of men in women’s autonomy dollhouse,
woman’s words the 19th century with their roles limited underscoring the
are weak.” - Twice reinforcing the to being wives and lack of genuine
idea that freedom mothers. Many shared freedom she
is something that this view that women possesses.” -
all of humanity were essential leaders Smith
wishes for as men of Britain’s domestic,
have achieved it moral, spiritual life
and now women whereas men were
aim for the same suited to the political
thing. role. Rossetti’s
progressive views and
anger at men who
failed to bear no
responsibility in the
destruction of
women's lives.
Both Rossetti and Ibsen A Doll’s House: Twice presents an The New Woman was ‘Her
depict the pursuit for “Her hair comes emotional journey intelligent, educated, transformation
freedom in association with down and falls of self-realisation, emancipated, becomes doubly
the discovery for personal down over her while Soeur Louise independent and self- credible when we
identities which is essential shoulders.” “O my explores desire supporting. Women’s realise that her so-
for all of humanity. love.” “O my and regret, primary identity and called feminity
God.” - Twice “I suggesting that value lay in the roles was for much of
have desired, and I self-awareness can as a wife and mother. her life largely an
have been bring suffering as Rossetti rejected act.’ - Critic
desired.” - Soeur well as freedom. Charles Cayley
Louise de la Nora discovers her because he couldn’t
Misericorde personal identity share her Anglican
and the feeling of faith which was
freedom which essential to her.
causes her to seek
it openly and defy
expectations.
Both Ibsen and Rossetti A Doll’s Both Maude Clare, The actress playing ‘Ibsen rejects what
present the freedom from House: “The sound Nora and the Nora, Hedwig had been most
the constraints of societal of the door speaker from No Niemann-Raabe was prominent in the
expectations, particularly shutting is heard thank you, John outraged at the Western tradition,
for women in the 19th from below.” exert ending that a woman the vicarious
century whose roles were Maude Clare: “I independence and would leave her existence of
confined to the domestic wash my hands oppose societal children and thus women.’ - Critic
sphere, allowing them the thereof.” “I’d expectations and refused to perform the
freedom of their roles. rather answer ‘No’ pressures with play as written, so
to fifty Johns than them rejecting Ibsen offered an
answer ‘Yes’ to fickle love and alternative ending
you.”- No thank seeking that Nora does not
you, John independence. leave as Ibsen wanted
to avoid the ending
being re-written by a
lesser dramatist.
Counter Argument 1 - A Doll’s House: ‘A Mrs Linde, the In the 19th century, Laura is "saved by
However, both Ibsen and poor girl who has nurse maid and women were expected her sister's
Rossetti present self- got into trouble Lizzie are to sacrifice their own devotion". -
sacrificing characters should be glad to.’ sacrificial desires and well-being Melvyn Bragg
rather than ones who seek - the nurse maid. characters whose for the sake of their
freedom which suggests an 'But to be sacrifices benefit families. Rossetti's
ability for humanity to completely alone - others suggesting father’s death causes
embrace restrictive roles. that must be the need for a lack financial difficulties,
terribly sad for of freedom as it so her mother began
you.' “For your leads to the safety teaching and her
sake I have braved and redemption sister began working
