Choose two of the following (status and wealth) and show how the author of a prescribed text explores the idea that both elements influence people's lives. Set in 19th century Victorian era Norway, Henrik Ibsen's tri-partite play A Doll's House explores the idea that status and wealth influence people's lives. Ibsen uses a variety of dramatic and literary techniques to demonstrate his ideas and influence the audience to take a position that views Victorian Norwegian society as limiting and does not allow women to have a voice in such a repressive community. Ibsen shows how wealth and status are considered so important by society in Norway during the Victorian era, how status can suddenly change due to a challenge of role and how wealth can give power for one individual over another. .
Ibsen conveys that wealth can give power over others and their own decisions. He achieves this through suggesting to the audience that those that do not have wealth are forced into more uncomfortable situations. Through the technique of foreshadowing, Ibsen shows how Nora is able to gain a power over Torvald, which she then uses to her advantage. After she borrows money to save Torvald from sickness, Nora says to Mrs Linde 'it might be a good thing, then, to have something up my sleeve' Nora then uses this wealth advantage that she has over Torvald to manipulate him into doing what she wants to do, which is gain freedom from the constraints of Victorian society. Similarly, Ibsen uses props to develop this idea. He describes this through Krogstad as he 'produces a paper' to show a materialistic object, whereas Nora attempts to convince him merely through words. Because Nora has borrowed from Krogstad, he is using this power to influence her role as a matriarch in society. Nora's foil, Mrs Linde, wants structure to her life, which she has not had since the death of her husband, which is in stark contrast to Nora, who is more enigmatic and mysterious; willing to hold secrets.