Trifles – by Susan Glaspell (1916)
A Doll’s House – by Henrik Ibsen (1879)
Although each play represents two vastly different times, there are common threads that weave these plays into the same fabric. The central character of each play represents a feminist appeal, in a defiant, uncompromising, masculine world. The characters of each work are ordinary people, frustrated by their social situations and their own sensibilities. They are characters who long for happiness but become entangled in everyday circumstances, thus limiting their lives.
Each play represents the feminine voice, struggling for identity in a masculine world, dominated by society’s patriarchal expectations.
Write a well-developed four or five-paragraph essay establishing a precise thesis in support of the above statement (as it applies to both plays).
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Feminine Voice in “Trifles” and “A Doll’s House”
Introduction:
“Trifles” by Susan Glaspell (1916) and “A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen (1879) are two plays set in different time periods but share common themes. Both plays present central characters who embody a feminist appeal and challenge the dominance of a masculine world. These characters, ordinary individuals trapped in their social circumstances, struggle for identity and happiness while being constrained by society’s patriarchal expectations. This essay will explore how both plays represent the feminine voice and depict the struggles faced by women in male-dominated societies.
Body:
In “Trifles,” the character of Mrs. Wright represents the feminist appeal in a masculine world. As a woman living in a rural community in the early 20th century, she is expected to conform to traditional gender roles. However, Mrs. Wright’s experiences and frustrations are brought to light through her actions and dialogue. For example, her decision to kill her husband can be seen as a defiant act against the oppression she faced in her marriage. This act represents her refusal to be subdued by the expectations placed upon her by society.
Similarly, in “A Doll’s House,” Nora Helmer embodies the feminist appeal. Nora, living in 19th-century society, is initially portrayed as a submissive wife and mother. However, as the play progresses, it becomes evident that she desires autonomy and self-discovery. Her decision to leave her family at the end of the play is a direct challenge to the societal norms that confine her. Nora’s actions demonstrate her longing for personal fulfillment and her refusal to be limited by societal expectations.
Both plays feature characters who are frustrated by their social situations and their own sensibilities. In “Trifles,” the female characters, including Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, sympathize with Mrs. Wright’s plight and understand her motives. They are frustrated by the lack of compassion shown by the men in the play, who dismiss their concerns as insignificant “trifles.” This frustration highlights the divide between genders and serves as a critique of male-dominated societies.
Likewise, in “A Doll’s House,” Nora’s frustration stems from being treated as a doll or a plaything by her husband Torvald and society at large. She realizes that her entire existence has been shaped by others’ expectations and desires, leaving her with no sense of self. Nora’s internal conflicts mirror the frustrations felt by many women who find themselves trapped in societal roles that deny them agency and individuality.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, “Trifles” and “A Doll’s House” both depict the struggles of women in male-dominated societies and represent the feminist appeal. The central characters in these plays challenge societal expectations and norms, seeking to break free from the constraints imposed upon them. Through their actions and dialogue, Mrs. Wright and Nora Helmer convey a yearning for identity, autonomy, and happiness. These plays serve as powerful reminders of the ongoing struggle for gender equality and the importance of fighting against oppressive societal structures.
