Rossetti + ADH Comparison themes

Romantic Love:

A Dolls House:

Nora's belief that Helmer would sacrifice himself for her - how love is perceived (juxtaposition between Torvald and Nora's ideas of love - romantic vs comfort/security)

'You never loved me. You have only thought it pleasant to be in love with me'

Shows the extent of their relationship and the views of love at the time. He doesn't view her as her own person, just an extension of him. Patriarchal views. At the end of the play she fights against this as she wants to be more than just an extension of him - more than just property.

In the beginning of the play, Nora lives the delusion that Torvald loves her, she progresses and changes as she becomes an individual - aware of society.

'You know how devotedly, how inexpressibly deeply Torvald loves me' - irony

Rossetti:

No Thank you John - juxtaposition of societal standards surrounding love, as the narrator wants love for romance rather than security. However, John could just be seen as trying to fulfill his duties as a Victorian man - gender in society.

'I never said I loved you John'

Both link with the loss of love as you come to the realization that the love you are portraying is a facade, not true. Marrying for money, power, and security was very common. Both Nora and the narrator wish to fight back on these ideas and find themselves - individual vs society.