Assignment Number 1

Henrik Ibsen was a Norwegian playwright. His family was relatively wealthy when he was younger, but they soon fell into poverty. His mother was extremely religious, while his father suffered from severe depression. He was married for a short time, before leaving his wife to further his career. His plays usually took place during the Victorian era. Many of his plays centered around the faults of society during that time.

A Doll's House is an example of one of those plays. Often when people think of dollhouses, they think of the extravagant miniature Victorian houses with porcelain occupants, wearing beautiful, lacy clothing. When children are playing in them, they often give their dolls stereotypical personalities and roles in their doll family. Rarely would someone find a little girl placing the "mother" doll outside the house while she goes to work and the father stays and helps with the house and children. The play will most likely either challenge traditional roles in Victorian society, or demonstrate how flawed they were. From what we have read so far, it certainly seems like it will be the latter.