Relationships in A.D.H

                                     Relationships in A.D.H

There are many relationships in A Doll's House, each as complex as the next. Some of the relationships tie in with each other creating more layers of the text to be analyzed and studied. I will highlight the key relationships in A.D.H and how they add to the main themes and story of the text.

The key relationship in A.D.H is of course that of Nora and Helmer.

Straight away we can see that it is not an equal sided relationship. In the opening scene we are shown how Nora is on an allowance provided by Torvald. "Has my little squanderbird been overspending again?"

Not only is Helmer controlling her finances but it is apparent that he feels that he owns her, (he uses possessive language "my little squanderbird"). Their relationship adds to main theme of power in the story.

Another key relationship in A Doll's House is the relationship between Christine and Nora. Christine acts as a foil for Nora and provides Ibsen with the means of showing how Nora truly feels. During one of their conversations, Nora reveals that she is proud of her actions to save her husbands life. "I too have something to be proud and glad of. It was I who saved Torvald's life." First it was her eating macaroons behind her husband's back, now this. This reveals a new side of Nora that was previously unseen and shows that Nora is not always truthful to her husband. Nora is proving that she can not be controlled and she won't do as Torvald bids. Her relationship with Christine highlights major themes in A.D.H making their scenes vital in the overall text.

The relationship between Christine Linde and Nils Krogstad is a very interesting one. During their conversation by the lamp, they discuss their history and how they have done wrong. Despite their actions of the past, it seems as though they are given a second chance when they decide to try their relationship again. Their relationship is a curious one and causes the viewer to contemplate the character's cases and whether they deserve a second chance or not. And then onto the global topic, if people in general deserve a second chance, if so under what circumstances? This relationship adds diversity to A.D.H with a surprisingly light-hearted scence in an overall melancholy play.

Throughout the text, Ibsen uses relationships as a way of connecting the viewer to the story. With Nora and Helmer the viewer has mixed feelings about both characters motives, constantly second guessing themselves as the characters go through a wheel of emotions. This level of engagement with the story is part of what makes it such a complex and memorable text.

     Relationships in King Lear and Rear Window

It is clear that in King Lear and Rear Window that relationships play a key part in developing the story and characters. The characters can be used to different effects and I will discuss how this impacts the content and overall quality of King Lear and Rear Window.