Comparing Calvin And Hobbes And A Doll's House

Growing up and facing reality could be a cruel process, but may also be a beautiful aspect of life. Bill Watterson, famous creator of “Calvin and Hobbes” believes that such change in life is bitter and relentless to an individual. Moreover, Henrik Ibsen, the writer of the famous play “A Doll’s House”, considers that this development is actually a positive factor. There are strong components that authenticate that “Calvin and Hobbes” and “A Doll’s House” are different on their theme of growing up. The process of becoming of age may have positive and negative elements buried within it.

Both writers evidently apply their beliefs on their work, which creates a perfect environment for comparison. In the daily comic strip series, Calvin and Hobbes,

With proof, both authors use similar and opposite devices. Symbolism is used heavily in Watterson’s work with Hobbes - the imaginary stuffed tiger - being the focal point. Hobbes always places Calvin’s miraculous and imaginative ideas back to reality. In Watterson’s description of Hobbes on his website, he defines that: “Hobbes is more about the subjective nature of reality than about dolls coming to life.” (Watterson B. Characters par. 4). Simply put, Hobbes is a symbol that Calvin will eventually have to grow up and face the real world. In A Doll’s House, Ibsen places the reader in a New Year’s/Christmas setting. These two themes are associated with life and rebirth and Ibsen mentions a Christmas tree which would be the symbol of such factors. During the opening of the play, these themes are mentioned numerous amounts of time. Rebirth was also present at the conclusion of the play with Nora beginning to become a new woman. In addition, the tree could also be a factor of foreshadowing. Opposing literary devices such as utopia and dystopia are also used. Calvin and Hobbes being a dystopia, portraying a negative outlook on the future and A Doll’s House being a utopia, having a positive outlook. Not only do both writers apply their opinions using literary devices, characters in each story are of different economic

Calvin seems to be in an average, middle class family, whereas Nora is in an upper or upper-middle class position. These economic classes may contribute to each of the writer’s arguments. Stereotypically speaking, the middle class would look back on their childhood and regret having to grow up because of the freedom they lost and little to no responsibilities as a child. On the other hand, the people of the upper economic class have lots of freedom due to their assets, which theoretically makes them happier. During the opening of the play, Nora’s husband’s financial position was revealed:

Nora - “You may imagine how pleased we are! He is to take up his work in the Bank at the New Year, and then he will have a big salary and lots of commissions. For the future we can live quite differently--we can do just as we like.” (Ibsen 9)

As the above quotation shows, Nora’s husband will take on a higher position in the Bank, earning the couple lots of money. She also states that “we could live quite differently” and “we can do just as we like”, in which she could be displaying a better future different from her husband’s. Moreover, Nora’s idea of growing up may already be present in this part of the story. The two differences in economic classes define each writer’s perception on growing up and facing