The document discusses Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House and its significance and influence. It examines how the play portrayed repressive Victorian society and conventions. It also explores how the play depicted the changing role of women in society at the time and their desire for individual fulfillment and identity beyond traditional self-sacrificing roles. The play shocked audiences with its feminist themes and unconventional portrayal of middle-class family life.

1. A Doll’s House Significance Influence on theater – Anh Bui Influence and Impact on Society – Mary Kay Baker

2. Society in a Doll’s House Portrayed as a repressive influence on the individual Created a series of conventions and codes that an individual would defy at his or her own peril Dramatizes the hidden conflicts in this society by opening the doors to the private, and secret rooms of the bourgeois homes

3. The Changing Role of Women in Society as seen in A Doll’s House The gender motif was more than a search for individual fulfillment Ibsen thought that women should have a chance to develop their own identity Role was actually self sacrificial

4. Changing Role of Women Cont. What defined one’s place in society was one’s ability to make and control money Their ability to control money enabled them to control others’ lives, including defining morals

5. A Doll’s House and the Theater Considered first feminist play of the Victorian time period Presented aspects of middle class life that were not supposed to be made publically known

6. Response to A Doll’s House Shocked by unhappy ending and feminism People saw their own problems on stage because Ibsen gave a more realistic view of society instead of the Victorian view of perfection

7. Banning of A Doll’s House Banned in England when first release Ending changed to be performed in Germany Created controversy after Victorian period ended

8. Criticism of A Doll’s House Reconstructive rather than destructive Superficial treatment of the problems a divorced woman Mentioned aspects of middle class life that were not publically known

9. Sources http://department.monm.edu/classics/Speel_Festschrift/urban.htm http://www.novelguide.com/ADoll’sHouse/themeanalysis.html http://portal.enesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=4957&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html http://www.lancasterukonline.net/reviews/theatre/lutg_05doll_house.htm http://title.forbiddenlibrary.com/ http://www.mnc.net/norway/Ibsen.htm