Comparison of the Marriages Portrayed in Middlemarch and a Doll's House
| Comparison of the marriages portrayed in Middlemarch and A Doll’s House : How they foster or hinder the intellectual and spiritual growth of both husbands and wives? | Middlemarch by Georges EliotA Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen | | | |
Plan of the analysis:
Introduction
1. Marriage between illusions and disillusions
(1) Idealisation/expectation (a) Education (b) Love
(2) Unveiling (c) On the partner (d) On the self
2. Marriage as a factor of deep changes
(1) Responsibilities (a) Material responsibilities (b) On the family
(2) Quest of the individuality (c) From passivity to activity? (d) Revision of the status in the family
Conclusion
Introduction André Maurois, French writer from the twentieth century used to say that “A successful marriage is an edifice that must be rebuilt every day.” Indeed, the marriage contains its difficulties and its ordeals which spouses have to overcome every day. In literature, the theme of marriage has always been important because it questions the role of men and women in this union. It questions as well the personal changes into the couple. That is precisely one of the themes in Middlemarch by Eliot and A Doll’s House by Ibsen. Also, we will compare the marriages portrayed in both of these works: How they foster or hinder the intellectual and spiritual growth of both husbands and wives? We can divide our reflection in two points. Firstly, the marriage takes place among illusions and disillusions. Secondly, it is a factor of personals changes. Thanks to these two angles of view, we will observe the different evolutions into men and women from the end of the nineteenth century in these two works. 1. Marriage between illusions and disillusions
(1) Expectations
Plan of the analysis:
Introduction
1. Marriage between illusions and disillusions
(1) Idealisation/expectation (a) Education (b) Love
(2) Unveiling (c) On the partner (d) On the self
2. Marriage as a factor of deep changes
(1) Responsibilities (a) Material responsibilities (b) On the family
(2) Quest of the individuality (c) From passivity to activity? (d) Revision of the status in the family
Conclusion
Introduction André Maurois, French writer from the twentieth century used to say that “A successful marriage is an edifice that must be rebuilt every day.” Indeed, the marriage contains its difficulties and its ordeals which spouses have to overcome every day. In literature, the theme of marriage has always been important because it questions the role of men and women in this union. It questions as well the personal changes into the couple. That is precisely one of the themes in Middlemarch by Eliot and A Doll’s House by Ibsen. Also, we will compare the marriages portrayed in both of these works: How they foster or hinder the intellectual and spiritual growth of both husbands and wives? We can divide our reflection in two points. Firstly, the marriage takes place among illusions and disillusions. Secondly, it is a factor of personals changes. Thanks to these two angles of view, we will observe the different evolutions into men and women from the end of the nineteenth century in these two works. 1. Marriage between illusions and disillusions
(1) Expectations