Stylistic Analysis of Characters in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House: Masculinity and Supremacy vs. Femininity and Helplessness

A Doll’s House brought about the disillusionment of many men and women in the ۱۹th century with its unique probing of the dynamics of married life as well as its uncompromising critique of a society that did not respect the freedom of human beings. Drawing on the works of stylisticians like Jeffries and Mills as well as using stylistic tools including endearments and sexist language, modality, and negation, this study aimed to analyze Helmer’s and Nora’s language. This research clarifies Nora’s doll-like status at home and sheds some light on the strategies her husband adopts to maintain a kind of husband-doll relationship. Findings show that Nora sometimes acts like a doll on purpose to achieve her goals without posing any threat to Helmer’s authority at home. Helmer seems to dote on Nora; he does not respect her as an equally respectable human being.

Keywords:

A Doll’s House , Drama , Stylistics , Endearments , Sexist Language , Negation , Modality