- was there anything happening in the world (socially, culturally or historically) that you think might have influenced the subject matter of this play?
The Victorian era of the United Kingdom was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from June 1837 until her death on the 22nd of January 1901. The reign was a long period of prosperity for the British people, as profits gained from the overseas British Empire, as well as from industrial improvements at home, allowed an educated middle class to develop. Some scholars extend the beginning of the period—as defined by a variety of sensibilities and political games that have come to be associated with the Victorians—back five years to the passage of the Reform Act 1832. Queen Victoria is the longest reigning British Monarch ever, ruling for 64 years.
Was Victorian Society a moral one? In what way?
Compared to the Georgian Society before, the Victorian Society was a very moral one. Moral values and family life were important to people, and as Europe was a predominantly religious; many people led their lives by the teachings of the church. Britain was seen as the leader of the majority of cultural revolutions, so when Britain chose to follow a new, improved way of life, the rest of Europe followed. However, in 1859, a ‘Crisis of Faith’ hit the religion and citizens’ faith like a brick. When Charles Darwin’s work ‘On the Origin of the Species’ was published it called into question the Christian beliefs and the Victorian morals. Another idea of the Victorian Society was if they worked hard enough, all men can become wealthy. The Elite or Upper class saw themselves as the father of the family of society and had the belief that it was there duty to take care of society. They intended to stay on top through institutions such as the law of primogeniture (first son inherits everything.) However, when the financial crisis threatened there position, they adapted and opened their ranks to the wealthiest of the middle class.
Norwegian Society in 1800s
- what was happening politically?
- what was happening socially?
- what was happening culturally?
Role of women
The legal rights of married women were similar to those of children. They could not vote, sue, or own property and they could not even have a job other than a teacher, nor were they allowed to have their own bank accounts. The law regarded a married couple as one person. The personal property the wife brought into the marriage was then owned by the husband, even in case of a divorce. The income of the wife belonged completely to her husband and women had no legal say in how many children they would have nor would they get custody of children if the marriage ended in divorce.
However there is evidence that men were kind to women and were expected to protect them. This is because in case of disaster or other danger, women were supposed to be saved before men. On the other hand this may simply be because men were bound by law to protect their wives and be responsible for them. In return she was expected in her role to have children and tend the house. In summary women were not allowed a mind of their own, and were expected to obey the men. To run a respectable household and secure the happiness of her family the woman had to perform her duties thoroughly. Firstly she had to control her servants, which was no easy task as many of them were unreliable. She was also expected to organise parties and dinners to bring prestige to her husband. At the same time she had to devote enough time to her children and also be the "sick-nurse" who took care of ill family members. This required a good temper, compassion and cleanliness; all qualities a woman worthy of the name should possess in the 19th century. Men even controlled the way in which a woman dressed and encouraged her to often deform herself as a result through the use of corsets. Women were also expected to never show their ankles or be deemed a prostitute. In a similar way they were seen as pure and clean, and because of this view, their bodies were seen as temples that should not be covered in makeup. In the start of the 19th century these views began to change slightly. For example it was not always the husband that decide the custody of the children and women were allowed into different jobs e.g. in more medical professions.
Styles of fashion
Modern day would describe this set as middle class, they did not inherit money but the man of the house earnt his way.
- what is Victorian Melodrama? How was this different from A Doll's House?
Victorian Melodrama was a form of theatre taken in the 1800s which used sensational
plot and storylines featuring themes of love and murder. It's intention was to evoke
great emotion, and it's fantastical storylines allowed the public to detach
themselves from the monotony of day to day life.
Typically, a melodrama would contain a hero, a villain, a heroine, an aged parent and
a comic man. Often, the unintelligent hero would be duped by the villain in his attempts
to save the damsel in distress, until fate intervenes and good triumphs over evil.
'A Doll's House'differed from the typical theatre of the era as it used day to day, middle
class language as opposed to the usual flamboyant language seen in melodrama. Furthermore,
Ibsen adopted naturalism, stylistically, a technique used to criticise the conventions of
Victorian marriage. This was seen as radical for the time, compared with the previous
romantic storylines. - what is realism? Is this a realist play? Realism was a theatrical movement developed in the 19th Century, in which the normal
conventions of theatre moved from melodrama to a style more true to real life. It uses the
idea of a stage as an environment as opposed to an acting platform. - what is naturalism? Is this a naturalist play?
General Information
- was there anything happening in the world (socially, culturally or historically) that you think might have influenced the subject matter of this play?
The Victorian era of the United Kingdom was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from June 1837 until her death on the 22nd of January 1901. The reign was a long period of prosperity for the British people, as profits gained from the overseas British Empire, as well as from industrial improvements at home, allowed an educated middle class to develop. Some scholars extend the beginning of the period—as defined by a variety of sensibilities and political games that have come to be associated with the Victorians—back five years to the passage of the Reform Act 1832. Queen Victoria is the longest reigning British Monarch ever, ruling for 64 years.
Was Victorian Society a moral one? In what way?
Compared to the Georgian Society before, the Victorian Society was a very moral one. Moral values and family life were important to people, and as Europe was a predominantly religious; many people led their lives by the teachings of the church. Britain was seen as the leader of the majority of cultural revolutions, so when Britain chose to follow a new, improved way of life, the rest of Europe followed. However, in 1859, a ‘Crisis of Faith’ hit the religion and citizens’ faith like a brick. When Charles Darwin’s work ‘On the Origin of the Species’ was published it called into question the Christian beliefs and the Victorian morals.
Another idea of the Victorian Society was if they worked hard enough, all men can become wealthy. The Elite or Upper class saw themselves as the father of the family of society and had the belief that it was there duty to take care of society. They intended to stay on top through institutions such as the law of primogeniture (first son inherits everything.) However, when the financial crisis threatened there position, they adapted and opened their ranks to the wealthiest of the middle class.
Norwegian Society in 1800s
- what was happening politically?- what was happening socially?
- what was happening culturally?
Role of women
The legal rights of married women were similar to those of children. They could not vote, sue, or own property and they could not even have a job other than a teacher, nor were they allowed to have their own bank accounts. The law regarded a married couple as one person. The personal property the wife brought into the marriage was then owned by the husband, even in case of a divorce. The income of the wife belonged completely to her husband and women had no legal say in how many children they would have nor would they get custody of children if the marriage ended in divorce.
However there is evidence that men were kind to women and were expected to protect them. This is because in case of disaster or other danger, women were supposed to be saved before men. On the other hand this may simply be because men were bound by law to protect their wives and be responsible for them. In return she was expected in her role to have children and tend the house. In summary women were not allowed a mind of their own, and were expected to obey the men.
To run a respectable household and secure the happiness of her family the woman had to perform her duties thoroughly. Firstly she had to control her servants, which was no easy task as many of them were unreliable. She was also expected to organise parties and dinners to bring prestige to her husband. At the same time she had to devote enough time to her children and also be the "sick-nurse" who took care of ill family members. This required a good temper, compassion and cleanliness; all qualities a woman worthy of the name should possess in the 19th century.
Men even controlled the way in which a woman dressed and encouraged her to often deform herself as a result through the use of corsets. Women were also expected to never show their ankles or be deemed a prostitute. In a similar way they were seen as pure and clean, and because of this view, their bodies were seen as temples that should not be covered in makeup.
In the start of the 19th century these views began to change slightly. For example it was not always the husband that decide the custody of the children and women were allowed into different jobs e.g. in more medical professions.
Styles of fashion
Modern day would describe this set as middle class, they did not inherit money but the man of the house earnt his way.
Theatre at the time
- what is Victorian Melodrama? How was this different from A Doll's House?
Victorian Melodrama was a form of theatre taken in the 1800s which used sensational
plot and storylines featuring themes of love and murder. It's intention was to evoke
great emotion, and it's fantastical storylines allowed the public to detach
themselves from the monotony of day to day life.
Typically, a melodrama would contain a hero, a villain, a heroine, an aged parent and
a comic man. Often, the unintelligent hero would be duped by the villain in his attempts
to save the damsel in distress, until fate intervenes and good triumphs over evil.
'A Doll's House'differed from the typical theatre of the era as it used day to day, middle
class language as opposed to the usual flamboyant language seen in melodrama. Furthermore,
Ibsen adopted naturalism, stylistically, a technique used to criticise the conventions of
Victorian marriage. This was seen as radical for the time, compared with the previous
romantic storylines.
- what is realism? Is this a realist play?
Realism was a theatrical movement developed in the 19th Century, in which the normal
conventions of theatre moved from melodrama to a style more true to real life. It uses the
idea of a stage as an environment as opposed to an acting platform.
- what is naturalism? Is this a naturalist play?
Other info you find (give it a heading)