Nora essays

Nora essays Nora Helmer is a delicate, pampered wife who was spoiled by her wealthy father and later by Torvald. As Ibsen alludes, Nora is the doll of this dollhouse, as her role is to bend into the shape of the ideal housewife. If it is dancing for her husband, completing the family shopping, or playing childish games to attract Helmer's attention, Nora will do what it takes to fit the roles. As readers, we soon read that beneath the blank smile of this doll lies a web of lies, deception, and debt. Nora lives a life separated from the glittering housewife of Torvald Helmer. Nora is possible of her own triumphs and tragedies, independent of the life and decisions of her husband. Using creative symbolic animal imagery, Ibsen develops a deeper understanding of Nora's character, allowing her the capability to deceive and strike a blow for independence of women. Helmer's first spoken phrase comes from the study off-stage: "Is that my little lark twittering out there?" (346) He refers to Nora as a lark, a lighthearted, cheerful, petite songbird found in Eurasia. Helmer is most probably attempting to make the similarity with the characteristics between the bird and his wife. The name also gives a basic meaning of Nora's actions during this situation, as when he first calls her his "little lark" Nora is scurrying around the room humming. This little lark name also suggests Nora's childlike attitude, and Helmer's desire to promote her childish behavior. It illustrates Helmer's desire to cling to his false reality of a happy, simple housewife. What is even more intriguing is the physical characteristics of the bird in relationship to Nora. All larks have white outer tail feathers with their black tail, a black band across their upper head, a black line encircling the crown, and a black "mask" across the eyes. A mask is defined as a "face covering that, in ritual and theater, disguises the wearer and usually communicates an alternate ide...

Word Choice Angel vs. Angle

Word Choice Angel vs. Angle Word Choice: Angel vs. Angle Do you have a guardian angle watching over you? If so, is it acute or obtuse? Oh, wait. We may have confused the words â€Å"angel† and â€Å"angle† there. It’s an easy mistake, as you can’t rely on divine intervention to ensure perfect spelling. But you can check out our guide to what these terms mean. Angel (Guardian Spirit or Divine Messenger) â€Å"Angel† is a noun that refers to a spiritual being or a messenger from God: He was visited by an angel from the Lord. We often picture angels as human-like figures in robes with wings, halos and harps. But there is one part of the Bible that describes them as having â€Å"six wings . . . covered all over with eyes, inside and out,† which is a little more horrifying than the version you’ll see in a church. No eyes on these guys wings. (Photo: Evelyn Simak) Sometimes, we also use â€Å"angel† to suggest someone is morally good: She’s such a well-behaved little angel! This doesn’t mean that the person so described has scary, eye-covered wings, though. In this case, it simply suggests angelic behavior. Angle (Space Between Intersecting Lines) Used as a noun, an â€Å"angle† is a space between intersecting lines or surfaces: The internal angles in a triangle always add up to 180 degrees. We can also use â€Å"angle† as a verb meaning â€Å"position at an angle or incline†: She angled her visor to protect her eyes from the sun. â€Å"Angle† has some secondary meanings, too. As a noun, for example, it can also mean â€Å"point of view or approach.† And as a verb, it can mean â€Å"design for a particular audience.† For instance: We need a new angle if want to attract more viewers. We have angled the new edition at younger readers. Finally, â€Å"angling† is also a word for fishing with hooks. Summary: Angel or Angle? These words may contain the same letters, but they are very distinct in meaning (nor do they sound the same when spoken): Angel is a noun that refers to a guardian spirit or divine messenger. Angle is usually a noun that refers to a space between two intersecting lines. However, it is also often a verb meaning â€Å"incline at an angle.† If you struggle to remember which is which, keep in mind that the â€Å"-gel† in â€Å"angel† is pronounced the same as in â€Å"hair gel† (you could even imagine an angel gelling its hair, if that helps). And to guard against typos, we recommend having your work proofread by a professional.