A Theme of Change in The Bear Come Over the Mountain and a Doll's House

Both The Bear Came Over the Mountain by Alice Munro and A Doll's House by Henrik Isbens develop their story along the theme of changes that marriage of the main character experienced. In The Bear Came Over the Mountain is Munro tells of the marriage between Grant and Fiona that went through a transformation as their love ages, giving into rising of other minor themes such as betray, the story symbolizes the hardship in marriage life one experience when trying to attain success/happiness in it. However, the story of A Doll's House a tale that was famous in the 19th century who theme is obtained from the prejudice of women in the 18th century when women had their defined roles expected to perform for their family and society. This story demonstrates a rapid change in the position of a woman after realizing they can be more of importance than being their husband "doll."Isben through the main character Nora discusses the theme of revolutionary change in women role in society. Moreover, a theme of betrayal is also depicted in the scene. Therefore, both the writers, Munro and Isben have been successfully being able to symbolically represent societal problem with the aid of theme of changes and in a marriage setup, however, in Munro's story changes is brought up by unavoidable situation has time erodes, while in Isben's story is due to awakening of Nora in after the husband: Torvald felt sick.

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In both stories, the character shows commitment and submissive to each, as they start their marriage life, upon the realization of the feeling of dissatisfaction, that is when changes take its course. For instance, Grant and Fiona's love commences, when they are young and energetic, at this phase of marriage, love is in control. They are both have the feeling of love towards, this feeling of love pushed Grant to change the infidelity character that he used to have back university and decide to dedicate fully to Fiona; her wife. The story tells of an instance when one of the concubines Veronica committed suicide because Grant refused to leave her wife. As the time passes by, their marriage starts experiencing changes, ' fun' moments start decreasing as the passion begun to be out-powered by forces of changes. A temptation of Grant for other women started developing as he asserted the feeling of dissatisfaction in his marriage pushed him to look for women out of his marriage. Munro reveals that Grant has shifted away from marriage in a psychological depiction. He valued as never before a carnival of torn clouds and winter sunset grasped from his office window, the charm of traditional lamps glowing amid his neighbors' living-room curtains, the shouts of children in the park at dusk, disinclined to leave the hill where they had been tobogganing (Munro, 301).

On the other hand, the story of A Doll's house starts when Nora is submissive to his husband, who promises to love and joy as long as she follows the strict rules set by the husband. Torvald tells Nora, "Here is the shelter for you; here I will protect you like a hunted dove that I have saved from a hawk's claws; I will bring peace to your poor beating heart. It will come, little by little." Nora accepts the situation though consider herself 'Skylark' and 'squirrel (SAFAK, 126). She decided to live sacrificial to meet the standard of women of that time. Nevertheless, she has never been treated as equally by people surrounding her apart from Dr. Rank, what annoys her most is the names his husband call her" little lark" and "extravagant person" (Isabel,16) she comes to her awakening when the husband gets sick and gets a chance to work to raise bill to pay for his husband medication. Nora working, shows how that if society can change it ill believe toward women and grant both genders the same opportunities, women can attain as much as men. Nora's role is perceived by the society is depicted when she says, "how painfully humiliating for him if he ever found out he was in debt to me" while talking about her loan for Torvald (Isben 67). Torvald thought that society will humiliate him for the act his wife did, but it seems society change its perception and embraced the act of Nora positively, that is the reason as to why Torvald has such pleasure showing off his wife as the play end when they are dancing. "Torvald, for example, denotes to Nora as 'my dearest property' and at social occasions gives her 'social glances'" proves how to disrespect her as a wife or person, but instead as an award-winning possession (Drake 32).

Furthermore, more changes are seen as conditions of both marriages worsen. In the play by Munro, Fiona began to experience changes, as used to write down her schedule but the habit increasingly becomes weird. For instance, Grant observed new sticky notes all over, ."Couldn't she just open the drawers and see what was inside?" (Munro, 2013). What surprised Grant is when she asks to be directed home after the husband affirmed Fiona is losing the memory, Grant did everything he could even take her for a road trip, during the trip Grant was happy when he thought, Fiona has regained her memory

Fiona said, "Oh, remember."

Grant said, "I was thinking about that, too."

"Only it was in the moonlight," she said (Munro, 2013).

The act of regaining the memory represents the hope of attaining happens that he believes is found in the peak of the mountain, but when Grant does not give up, he takes the wife to the medical center, but Fiona lost the husband completely, Grant felt that Fiona has betrayed his feeling towards him. What pained him lost is when she admits to having met a new male friend and started building a memory with him, Aubrey. Aubrey acts in his case as the obstacle of bear (Grant) to reach the peak of the mountain, when Grant is almost.

While, in the A Doll's House, Torvald continues to harass her wife and she no longer treats her as precious as the society views her. Nora holds continue to pursue her womanly duties, meeting the stands of the role of women of the 1800's. this womanly role was beneficial since it builds a strong household, but to Nora, it was disadvantageous because she could manage to make economic advancement and at the same time take care of the family but she is denied the chance by her husband, as the time erodes she continue views inequalities between herself and the husband. Nora at one instance claims that her duty to herself is more important than her role as wife and mother (Lee 623).

In "The Bear Came over the Mountain" Munro narrates an impressively portrayed journey of love, who climax it at the peak of the mountain, their mountain symbolizes gaining and marriage. Alice Munro compares the past and the present to demonstrate the devastations of aging. Like another writer of romanticism era, she is able to face death and mock its restrictions. Therefore, according to her love triumphs in its conformation with aging, love is not limited by either death and has no end.

Ibsen, on the other hand, generates an excellent controversy by having a female character that is strong and smart. It is a revelation to the audience to witness the transformation that was brought up with this strong character. She not only changed her personal life after leaving her family to take care of itself, but she also inspire women of her era to open their eyes for awakens their social, and economic life, because as the Nora view, through women awakening they will receive more in life than just being their husband pets and housekeeping.

The two plays have endless significant in society, the metaphorically provide an explanation of some aspect of life, the origin of feminist movements and hardship in life. it equips the reader with knowledge of real-life situations.

Works cited

Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll's House. Trans. William Archer. Boston: Walter H. Baker & Co., 1890. Gleeditions.

Lee, Josephine. "Teaching "A Doll House," "Rachel," And "Marisol": Domestic Ideals,Possessive Individuals, And Modern Drama." Modern Drama 50.4 (2007): 62 637. Literary Reference Center. Web. 23 April 2013.

Munro Alice, A. The Bear Came over the Mountain. Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage. Toronto: McClelland and Stewar. 1989

Safak Z. Nora's Metamorphosis In A Doll's House And Miss Vivie As A Paragon Of The Modern Woman In Mrs. Warren's Profession. Journal Of Academic Studies [serial online]. August 2014;16(62):125-146. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed July 9, 2018.