Assignment of Comparison and Contrast, Essay Example

The two plays Antigone by Sophocles and A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen were very different in terms of time, and even language written. However, both plays mirrored each other in terms of theme, which was very clear that it was of a feminist point of view. Both stories had tragedy, betrayal and mind games in its plot. In Antigone, the lead character –  who defied the orders of King Creon by burying her brother even though he was seen as a traitor of Thebes – was seen as a strong and determined woman.

Ismene: Poor sister,-and if things stand thus, what could I help to do or undo?

Antigone: Consider if thou wilt share the toil and the deed.

Ismene: In what venture? What can be thy meaning?

Antigone: Wilt thou aid this hand to lift the dead?

Ismene: Thou wouldst bury him,-when ’tis forbidden to Thebes?

Antigone: I will do my part,-and thine, if thou wilt not,-to a brother.

False to him will I never be found.

Ismene: Ah, over-bold! when Creon hath forbidden? (Sophocles 1.1.7-13)

Whilst Nora in A Doll’s House,  is regarded as one of the most complex characters of the 19^th century drama. She exhibits child-like qualities, and is both playful and obedient. The title of the play regards to how she is like Trevold’s doll, his property. This is seen immediately in Act 1:

Helmer [calls out from his room]. Is that my little lark twittering out there?

Nora [busy opening some of the parcels]. Yes, it is!

Helmer. Is it my little squirrel bustling about?

Nora. Yes!

Helmer. When did my squirrel come home?

Nora. Just now. [Puts the bag of macaroons into her pocket and wipes her mouth.] Come in here, Torvald, and see what I have bought. (Ibsen 1.1.4-9).

At the start of the plays, Antigone is seen as more bold and free-minded, yet Nora was less deviant to society, and was under the ownership of her husband. However, in the middle of the story she goes through a transformation after her time of desperation.

With Creon, he is the deciding factor in the story, he is the one who opposes Antigone and puts her through much struggle.

Creon: See, then, that ye be guardians of the mandate.

Leader: Lay the burden of this task on some younger man.

Creon: Nay, watchers of the corpse have been found.

Leader: What, then, is this further charge that thou wouldst give?

Creon: That ye side not with the breakers of these commands.

Leader: No man is so foolish that he is enamoured of death. (Sophocles 1.2.1-6)

Then later it shows how Antigone had deliberately disobeyed Creon’s orders.

Antigone: I knew it: could I help it? It was public.

Creon: And thou didst indeed dare to transgress that law? (Sophocles 1.3.4-5)

With Trovald, he was the center of Nora’s life, and she did everything to please him, even acted the way she did for him. However, he did not pull through for her, leaving her world lost, and realizing that her marriage was nothing but an illusion.

Helmer. What is this? Do you know what is in this letter?

Nora. Yes, I know. Let me go! Let me get out!

Helmer [holding her back]. Where are you going?

Nora [trying to get free]. You shan’t save me, Torvald!

Helmer [reeling]. True? Is this true, that I read here? Horrible! No, no–it is impossible that it can be true.

Nora. It is true. I have loved you above everything else in the world.

Helmer. Oh, don’t let us have any silly excuses.

Nora [taking a step towards him]. Torvald–!

Helmer. Miserable creature–what have you done? (Ibsen 3.2).

In both plays, it seems as if the fate of these two women revolved around men in their society. There were tragic deaths in Antigone, this compares to the tragic death of the marriage between Trovald and Nora. Both women managed to pull through their struggles in society, even though their presentation at the start of the play were very different. It was not suspected that Nora could be as bold a character as Antigone was presented to be.

Works Cited

Henrik Ibsen, A Doll’s House. Copenhagen, Denmark. 1897.

Sophocles, Antigone. 442 BC.