Essay Comparing A Doll's House And The Yellow Wallpaper

The use of literary devices in literature are an integral part of an author's arsenal in making the reader remain engaged in the piece. It also adds nuances to the author's work so that it may be analysed and left for interpretation. In the case of A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen and The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, they use it to show their female lead's emancipation. This is mainly expressed through symbolism, theme, and irony. The symbols prevalent in A Doll's House and The Yellow Wallpaper are an implication of the female protagonist's domestic liberation and subsequent emancipation. The themes of both writings give the female readers something to relate to, allowing them the opportunity to be emancipated along with the protagonists. The irony within both novels emphasize what

The primary theme in A Doll's House is appearance vs reality. One's perception of another's character is rarely an accurate rendition of them. Basically, people are naturally more complex than they seem. Nora is the prime example of this philosophy. Throughout the entirety of the play, many different characters have made a comment about Nora's child-like demeanor. From her old friend Kristine Linde saying that she knows, "so little about the hardships of life," (i.31-32.24) and that she is, "still a child," (3-4.25), to her husband Torvald calling her pet names and constantly patronizing her, everybody believe that Nora is helpless. Contrarily, Nora is an intelligent, hard-working, and determined woman who is willing to sacrifice herself for her family. She is anything but a helpless child people around her assume. Nora has shown all the qualities of an individual capable of self-sustenance and should be considered a role model for all women who want to be independent. This leads to her emancipation because the moment she understands that she does not need to rely on Torvald, she leaves