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Themes In A Doll's House

1671 Words7 Pages

In A Doll’s house, how is the theme of Sins of the father portrayed through Dr. Rank, to aid in Noras escape?

Edward Madbak

The American Community School at Beirut

Mrs. Larson

3/20/2016

Word Count: 1212

Reflection:
2/7/2016
A Doll’s House: 396
As shown throughout the ages, women have been portrayed or viewed as lacking in rights; and customary to give in to the authority of the man. This was the case, during Norway in the 1800’s; as the employment rate of women was low, and most women were solely reliant on the money and reputation of their husband. Due to the lack of women rights, were they were not allowed to take loans and deal with bank proceedings without permission from their husbands; they were not given their own health …show more content…

Ranks, the Helmer family friend. Ibsen first portrays this theme in an intimate conversation between Ranks and Nora,” There is nothing to be done about it…. Within a month, I may be rotting up in that churchyard.” (p.64) The author uses a dry, and straight ford word choice, such as ‘nothing’ and ‘rotting’ to set a hopeless tone for Dr. Rank, making him appear, as an incapable and dreary being; in addition, the author does this to emphasize the ironic juxtaposition of Rank, as a doctor who is faced with the dismay of no cure. This is symbolic of the clutches of the sins of the father, he is suffering from paternal induced spinal tuber chlorosis, in the views of society, where one is incapable of escaping its clutches, as shown by aforementioned words. In addition, the author uses more imagery to portray his theme; in the mentioning of the ‘churchyard. The ‘churchyard’ symbolizes the power of religion and death, the church being at the center of society in the 1800’s. This is ironic for, with all Ranks ‘paternal pain’ not even divine power can alleviate his suffering, and will result in him slowly fading in the neglected ‘shadow of society.’ Lastly, as a sign of rebellion to an inescapable fate, Rank is clear headed and does not show that he is scared to ‘tread’ to the cemetery, a path that no average person is open to take, this is done by Ibsen to show that everyone will give in trembling to suffer the discourse that society provides, and by itself is foreshadowing of future rebellion, namely Nora’s escape to

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