The School For Wives and Ghosts | Analysis

The teach For Wives and Ghosts AnalysisIn Henrik Ibsens Ghosts and Molieres The shoal for Wives, the licentiousnesswrights portray the concept of ph on the wholeic command with the help of the relationships amid the characters. Ibsen depicts masculine handedness in the late 1800 Norwegian society mainly through and through the characters of Mr. Manders and Mrs. Alving. On the other hand, Moliere portrays priapic dominance in french renascence society victimization the characters of Arnolphe and Agnes. The playwrights portray their societies through miniature ho intenthold with conventional characters. Male domination in both the plays is depicted by the metric character of speech, actions and social beliefs. This similarity reflects upon the two 17th century European societies, the Norwegian and the French Renaissance. The writers establish odd custodyts in perception using movie. The recitation of rhetoric speeches of Mr. Manders in Ghosts shows that domination i n Norwegian society is elusive. At the same time, the use of simple language in The School for Wives illustrates manlike domination that is prominent in the French Renaissance society. Important aspects of polish offing and society nominate also been incorporated in the two plays.In Ghosts, and School for Wives the playwrights convey phallic dominance through dialogue and action. However, the difference lies in the manner of portrayal. Ibsen employs intellections and social norms in his speech to stick step forward the oppressive character of Mr. Manders and to influence Mrs. Alving. The insurance of the orphanage is an example of indirect influence being employed as a tool to dominate. afterwards Mrs. Alving decides to insure the orphanage, Mr. Manders asks, But what about the opinion of the people hereabouts?1The final suggest of Mr. Manders is to avoid judg workforcet by public. The character of Mr. Manders allows Ibsen to present the thoughts of gross people in the Norwegian society who do not have the courage to deter from the norms of society. The issues in a domestic household much(prenominal) as the conflict between Mr. and Mrs. Alving act as a microscopic portrayal of Norwegian society. It is evident that this portrayal of male dominance in Ghosts was not approved by the Norwegian norm as it was proscribed from being staged in a number of theatres in S raftdinavia.Similarly, Moliere depicts fare male dominance through words and actions. The character of Arnolphe is used to channel out the theme of oppression of women. Arnolphes dialogue and soliloquys are used for this purpose. For example, he controls the upbringing of Agnes and restricts her right to current education. Arnolphe says, A wife who writes knows more than can be good for her.2This excerpt of Arnophes speech shows that the society presented in the play saw educated women as unsuitable wives. Arnolphe acts as a music director when he says, A trusty soldier knows his pla ce, however hard, and shows obedience to the senior pilot of the guard a valet serves his master, and a child obeys his father, and a priest does what the bishop says3. In this speech, Moliere metaphorically compares the inferior ranks of professions to women and the superior to men in French household. This quote also shows that hierarchy and domination exist in all parts of the French society as presented in the play. The God-like figure of Arnolphe is a lot portrayed throughout the play as he says She never should usurp to look him in the face- Except if he looks kind, and smiles at her with grace.4It also suggests that the bewilderment that men receive from women and society is like a myth or action that is supposed to be done disregards to the individual person. The Maxims of Marriage mentioned in Act III Scene II of the play is the portrayal of male domination in French Renaissance society. Each saw theme depicts the traits expected by the husband in an ideal wife. For instance, the maxim states that a good wife must not dress to tease or must never play cards5. The wives must obey the maxim as a bible whether they want to or not. Through this, Moliere portrays a French domestic household and complete male dominance in a marriage.Another technique of the playwrights in portraying male domination is through characterization and the different traits between the male and female characters. In Ghosts, Mrs. Alving and Mr. Manders are the two extreme opposite characters. Ibsen makes Mr. Manders a dutiful priest who represents conservative society while he makes Mrs. Alving a widow who represents modern beliefs and radical thoughts. This characterization technique is a tool enabling the male characters to influence the female characters. By doing this, Ibsen portrays unhomogeneous conflicting beliefs and ideas that exist in the Norwegian society conservative and unorthodox.Similarly, in the play The School for Wives, Moliere uses characterization to po rtray male dominance. Arnolphe is a man of society who has wealth and holding to his name. On the other hand, Agnes is portrayed at the beginning of the play to be an orphan with no wealth or status. She is uneducated and very preadolescent compared to Arnolphe. The relationship between Arnolphe and Agnes acts as a mirror image to the French Society. The age difference and the lack of education of women make it possible for men to control womens life in all aspects as Arnolphe says Whichever way I choose, Ill shape her very life- Ill mould her in my hands, tho like a lump of wax, and then Ill sculpt her, in whatever form she lacks.6An image of a toy or a figure being created out of clay is portrayed. This speech of Arnolphe, represent men in society, means that men do not want to get hitched with a specific woman but they want to marry anyone who is, agree to them, an ideal wife. In Act III, scene IV, this lengthy passage illustrates that he wanted to marry a woman who fitted i n his vision of idealism in a marriage. Arnorphes soliloquy is an insight to the insecurities of French men in the 17th century. Moliere devoted a scene for this lengthy speech of Arnolphe to itemize the audience about the selfish thoughts of men. The structure of this passage also shows Molieres use of punctuations to increase the pace of the monologue. It also makes the audience feel like Arnolphe is reciting a lyrical poem hence the audience is kept interested until the end of the scene. The importance given to this scene by Moliere suggests that male dominance is a main theme which he wants to bring out in this play.The playwrights use some of the elements of the society as a tool to portray male dominance. In Ghosts, Ibsen depicts male dominance through concepts of duties, public opinions and individual beliefs as themes. For instance, Mr. Manders says What right have we to happiness? No we must do our duty, Mrs. Alving.7This emphasizes the idea of conservatism in the Norwegi an society. General responsibility regardless to the personalized situation or feeling applies to everyone in the society.Similarly, Moliere depicts male dominance using tools such as education, naivety and religion in the play The School for wives. The restriction of basic rights of Agnes is can be viewed as immoral, but at that point of time, men considered it to be a venture as Arnolphe says then youll see the result of my experiment,8Religion is used to portray men as God-like figure in society. And the profound respect she must show, in a word, to him, for hes her husband, ruler, chief and lord,9This part of Arnolphes speech illustrates the overall image of relationship between husbands and wives in the French rebirth society. Men are not that husbands but also the owners of the wives. Naivety plays an important role in allowing men to dominate womens thoughts. I want her ignorant, since all she needs to know is how to manage me, pray to God, and spin and sew.10This quote again emphasizes the point that stereotypical husbands do not want educated wives because they are considered too intelligent to be a good wife. The only qualities needed in a consummate wife are adeptness at chores and respect their husbands. Moliere employs Arnolphes speech to bring out the image of who was believed to be an ideal wife in renaissance society.In conclusion, Ibsen and Moliere represent their views on male dominance in Norwegian and French Renaissance societies respectively through Ghosts and The School for Wives. Using ignite hearted farce and comical elements, Moliere depicts human folly and elaborates the hidden motives such as fear of power of women.11Similarly, Ibsen attacks the sanctity of marriage and identity of women.12He accomplishes the aim of portraying taboos and making an impact on the Norwegian society. By analyzing these two plays, we understand the nature and culture of Norwegian and French societies. Male dominance exists in all societies but it i s portrayed in a various ways depending on the nature of the society.