Dramatic techniques - A Doll's House

Describe what Torvald reveals of himself through: dialogue, actions, beliefs, conflict, and stage directions/costumes.

Pg214-215

Torvald is a man who focuses all his efforts into appearing the way that is expected for men in those days. In this patriarchal society, men were expected to be the leader of the household. They were expected to provide guidance and financial support for the women and children under their care. Through Torvald’s dialogue we see how controlling he is when he tells Mrs Linde she should give up knitting simple because it is “ungraceful.” His opinion of knitting is purely dependant on the appearance of the “arms held tightly in, needles going up and down... an almost Chinese effect...” This reveals much of Torvald’s character. This exposes much of Torvald’s beliefs and proves him to be judgemental, and quite stereotypical, all linking into the theme of “a doll’s house” where only appearance matters.

Distortion of Kien's soul (pg63)

Throughout the book we are constantly reminded about how war distorts one’s soul. Kien’s tortured soul is the main contributor to his ongoing suffering. War has slowly aged Kien physically as well as spiritually. When Kien finally catches a glimpse of his “blank” reflection in the mirror, “his wrinkles, the circles under his eyes” show Kien’s physical deterioration. Kien’s physical deterioration reflects the deterioration of his soul. Kien no longer showed interest in living his post war life. Kien becomes “bored with his university studies.” He spends the rest of his post war life drinking, to escape to the few innocent memories before the outbreak of war. Kien’s soul could never recover from the brutality of war. He can never seem to get over the past, often found himself suffering from his “poisonous nightmares” of battle. The distortion of Kein’s soul has lead to the uncontrollable nostalgia Kien is forced to live the rest of his life with.

The Sorrow of War (pg160) The symbol of Phuong

Phuong’s youth and innocence represents the youth and innocence of Vietnam before war broke out. By looking at the effects war impacted on Phuong, we are able to understand what war has done to Vietnam as a whole. We are able to understand how war has forever scarred Vietnam by impacting many generations of its people. We see this through how war has forcefully taken the joyous youth Phuong was entitled to as a teenager. War forces her to grow up quickly in order to deal with the dangerous situation, she is raped and forced to lead a harsh life due to the war. Just like how invasions forced Vietnam to quickly grow up and fight to protect themselves, this meant that Vietnam had no choice but to give up what they had. Phuong’s post war sufferings also represent Vietnam’s suffering even though they won the war. Although the war is over, a spiritual suffering still haunts Phuong, her and Kien try and regain the passionate love they had prior to war as a way to regain the happy pre war lives they lived, however that passion is long gone due to the harsh spiritual damages the war has had on both of them. This represents what war has done to the Vietnamese, it represents that people come back from war trying to lead the life they had been living prior to war, however somehow the people cannot continue as it was before and it is scary because war changes people.

Hao

Hoa’s relationship with Kien

Kien is forced to rely on Hoa for directions in a desperate and deadly situation. Kien uses force and treats Hoa harshly at first. Yet Hoa still tries to earn his forgiveness.

Kien's attitude towards Hoa changes after she safely takes him to the right location and they are able share a peaceful moment together

Later Hoa sacrifices herself for Kien and the others by shooting the tracking dog and diverting the Americans

This becomes Kien’s most memorable escapes

- The borders of morality shifts in battle

When Kien brutally says: "you ought to be shot, but bullets wouldn't be good enough." it seems unnecessarily harsh. However, in the mist of battle, when the stakes are high, morality shifts. In some ways his words are justifiable because due to her mistake, Hoa placed the lives of many in danger.

Later when they are back on the right track and are clear of danger, Kien's mood softens and he realizes how close he had come to shooting "a teenage girl because she'd lost her way in unfamiliar jungle."

Now that the pressure has been lifted, he is able to treat her as a human being. And his morality shifts back.

- War can bring out the best of people and the worst

From the pressures of war, a darker side of Kien is brought to light from his harsh threats towards Hoa. Soldiers become so accustomed to killing, they become barbaric and seem to find violence is the only way to solve disputes.

However by killing the tracking dog and diverting the Americans, Hoa's noble act of self sacrifice shows us that war can also bring out the best in people.

- War brings out the "spiritual beauty" of war through the acts of courage by "nameless ordinary soldiers"

Hoa had been like the many other “nameless ordinary soldiers.” She had not even reached 20 when she gave her life for the safety of others. Before this noble act Kien saw her as “little Hoa.” The Americans were well armed and very powerful. To stand strong in face of certain death takes much bravery. This is a quality Kien did not expect Hoa to posses, Hoa herself probably did not think she possessed such bravery herself which is what makes her sacrifice so beautiful.

When Hoa emerges from the ant-hill, ready to give her life, the writer uses a semantic field of fire related words to describe her. In this paragraph words such as: “final rays of the setting sun silhouetted her... tingeing her skin copper... bronze statue” are used to reflect her fiery fierceness and help highlight her bravery and honours the “spiritual beauty” of her heroic actions.

- However, most of these noble acts go unrecognised

Hoa “was a magnificent portrait of courage." She saved Kien’s life and many others. Even though she had vanished, “not one of them asked about Hoa”. Hoa’s self sacrifice affected Kein heavily, yet she only drifts back into Kien’s mind when he returns to the area where it all happened. Acts of self sacrifice were common during war, it became “expected” and an “everyday occurrence.” This sadly means that such brave actions go unrecognised and forgotten over time.

- This is adds to the "immense sorrow of war"

Because Hoa’s brave act went unrecognised, this adds to the sadness Kien carries. Kien feels a heavy burden that it is his fault Hoa’s bravery was not acknowledged. It is also because others have sacrificed lives so he could live which meant he could not kill himself to “escape the psychological burden of killing others.” All these factors add to the “immense sorrow of war” Kien suffers.

Essay planning

Often the setting in a text will carry symbolic significance, supporting as well the writer's key themes. Discuss these concepts in the light of The Sorrow of War.

-constant mention of the river. The river is used as a metaphor of life. This metaphor is used by the writer to express how war tampers with life in destructive ways.
-pg1 constant mention to water which links to rotting
"water-soaked and dull.. greenish vapour... carpet of rotting leaves"
water links to the river which is a significant symbol.
-pg4 setting symbolizes the eternal scarring war was on the landscape.
"set the village alight to cleanse it, but after the fire soldiers were still terrified.."
this touches on the spiritual side of this novel.
-the setting of the entire book is untidy and uncontrollable, reflecting the battle field and the inside of Kien's mind.

Essay planning:

Introduction: Introduce the key themes of the book as: how war can leave a permanent suffering on all those who participate, the dead and living. Bring in the theme of a spiritual world. Explore briefly how the writer uses symbols in the setting to express this key theme.

Paragraph 1: Using the metaphor of the river and quotes explore the effect of war on the living. Also use quotes from other examples throughout the book

Paragraph 2: Using the metaphor of the river and quotes explore the effect of war on the dead/spirits. Also use quotes from other examples thorughout the book.

Paragraph 3: Explore what connects the two, sorrow of war for the living and dead. close analysis using clear evidence from text.

Conclusion: summarise the key themes supported by the setting in the text: how war effects the living and non, how they are connected and the importance of the setting in the text.

Character study: Hoa in the Sorrow of War.

How does Hoa effect Kien?

-Kien is forced to rely on Hoa even though he does not trust her
-Kien is horrid to to Hoa for her innocent mistakes
"It's not a mistake, it's a f***ing crime" Kien says
-However Hoa still desperately keeps trying to earn his forgivness
-They share a special moment together
-Hoa sacrificed her life for him by shooting dead the tracking dog

Through the behaviour Kien shows around Hoa helps us understand how war can change you. Hoa never crossed Kien, and desperately tried to gain his trust. However Kien does not let her in easily. The constant fighting and killing has made it difficult to trust easily. It is from Kien's story with Hoa that we come to see in detail the effects war has on the soldiers.