Alex Reyes CIS 133
Although both playwrights Ibsen and Williams had separate themes for their plays they followed along the same concept of flawed societal norms. In Ibsen’s play A Dolls House Nora, our protagonist, is stuck in bondage to her husband and her duty as a wife. Tom, The protagonist of A Glass Menagerie is also caught in bondage to his mother and sister due to the leaving of their father. Both characters Tom and Nora are struggling with what society expects of them and what they truly want.
A Dolls House begins on Christmas Eve. Nora walks into her well furnished living room and her husband Torvald comes to greet her. He chides her about all the presents she bought, which revealed that the Helmer's had to be careful with money for many years. Their maid enters and announces that a guest has arrived which turns out to be Mrs. Linde, one of Nora’s former school friends. They chat about their marriages and Nora tells Mrs. Linde of the hard time she had when Torvald was sick and how she had to borrow money to keep the family afloat. Krogstad, an employee of Torvald’s, shows up to the house and tells Nora that Torvald plans to fire him. He threatens to tell of her forgery if she cannot get Torvald to not fire him. The next day, Nora talks to Torvald about keeping Krogstad’s Job. Torvald refuses because he does not like his overly familiar attitude. Krogstad returns and changes the demands of his black mail. He now wants to be rehired at a higher position. In panic, Nora tells everything to Mrs. Linde and she tells Nora to keep Torvald busy while she speaks to Krogstad. The next night Krogstad and Mrs. Linde meet up and it is revealed that they were once lovers. They get back together, but instead of telling Krogstad to take back the note, she tells him to leave it. She thinks that it will be better for both of them. Torvald discovers the letter from Krogstad and is outraged at the embarrassment. He says many unpleasant things to her and calls her to unfit to raise their children. Their maid enters and brings Torvald a letter. It is the contract that Nora forged; Krogstad had left it because he no longer plans on black mailing her. Torvald is overjoyed and tries to take back everything he has said. Something has changed in Nora however, and she says that with all their years of marriage he really does not know her. She claims that he has treated her like a “doll” to be played with and admired. She leaves Torvald to go find herself.
The Glass Menagerie is a memory play and its memories are drawn from that of the narrator and protagonist Tom Wingfield. Tom works for a shoe warehouse in St. Louis to support his mother, Amanda Wingfield and sister, Laura Wingfield. Their father ran off years ago and has not been heard of except for one postcard. The play is set in 1937, where the great depression is still apparent and where war looms on the horizon.
Amanda, originally from a southern family is disappointed that her daughter does not get as many gentlemen callers as she once did. Laura is painfully shy and also wears a brace on her leg. Amanda enrolls Laura in business school, though finds out that Laura has not been attending for weeks. Her next attempt is to try and get Tom to find someone at the warehouse he works for to court Laura. Tom decided to bring a casual friend Jim O’Connor to dine with them. At the last minute Laura learns the name of her caller and it turns out that she has had a crush on him in school. Laura answers the door when Jim arrives however she soon disappears leaving Tom and Jim alone. Tom informs Jim that he plans on leaving his family for the merchant marines and did not pay the electric bill to fund his trip. Laura, feigning illness, does not decide to dine with the family. As the dinner ends, the electricity goes out. They begin to light candles and Amanda asks Jim to entertain Laura in the living room while Tom and her
clean up. The talked and danced but in the process Jim broke Laura’s glass unicorn. She is very forgiving and in the moment of vulnerability Jim kisses Laura. He quickly draws back and apologizes then informs her that he has a serious girlfriend but was caught in the moment. As Amanda enters, Jim informs them that he as an appointment with his fiancée and must leave. Amanda calls Tom inattentive, selfish dreamer and throws herself in comforting Laura. Soon after, Tom gets fired from his job and leaves for the merchant marines. Year’s later Tom realizes that no matter how far he has traveled he cannot stop the guilty memories he has for Laura.
Alexander the Great
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Napoleon
