‘The Merchant’s Tale’ and ‘A Dolls’s House’ both examine the idea of marriage, and what a truthful marriage really is. In Chaucer’s fabliau, and satire of courtly love, Januarie’s incorrect and over optimistic view of marriage appears as a vain illusion, especially when the audience is introduced to May’s clandestine affair with Damyan. Despite this,Continue reading “Happiness as a vain illusion in Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’ and Chaucer’s ‘The Merchant’s Tale’”
Tag Archives: Victorian Lit
Nora Helmer in ‘A Doll’s House,’ Act One: Puppet or Puppeteer?
In Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’ the main female protagonist Nora displays many traits. Her role within the play and the dramatic action she takes at the end rest on how much control she has within the house, leading the reader to question whether she is the puppet or the puppeteer. Nora is able to manipulateContinue reading “Nora Helmer in ‘A Doll’s House,’ Act One: Puppet or Puppeteer?”
The Demonic in ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’ and ‘Wuthering Heights’
Tess spends majority of the novel attempting to resist the demonic forces in her life, but yields to Alec for the sake of her family. If she becomes Alec’s mistress, he will financially support her family. Alec is a demonic figure in the novel. His assault of Tess and carrying of a pitchfork demonstrate thisContinue reading “The Demonic in ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’ and ‘Wuthering Heights’”
‘My Last Duchess’: Status, Possession, Egoism and Contempt
In ‘My Last Duchess, the Duchess is killed by the Duke for her failure to recognise his status within society, and his ‘nine-hundred-years-old name’ (l. 33)[1] that she possesses because of him. Her disrespect of the title, and her ability to be ‘too easily impressed’ (l. 23) insults the Duke. The Duke implies that theContinue reading “‘My Last Duchess’: Status, Possession, Egoism and Contempt”
‘Goblin Market’ Close Reading: The Fallen Woman, Female Sexuality and the Bible
Christina Rossetti’s ‘Goblin Market’ primarily serves as a warning to women about indulging in their sexual desires. Laura’s interaction and excessive gorging of the Goblin fruit allude to her indulgence in her sexual desires, and Rossetti uses the tale to warn women of the dangers of such activities. The passage being studied, lines 115-162, takesContinue reading “‘Goblin Market’ Close Reading: The Fallen Woman, Female Sexuality and the Bible”
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