‘The Offstage Area Of The Naturalistic Theatre Is Just

‘The offstage area of the naturalistic theatre is just as important as the stage itself.’ (Jakovljevic 436) Naturalistic theatre sprouted during the late 19th century as a response to the rigid equation that plays had to conform to, primarily French classical dramas and Romantic theatre. Naturalism represented freedom from the conservative five act play and additionally represented theatre as a space to reflect on the natural aspects of life – to depict life as it is lived (Esslin 68). Many authors came from this era, one of whom was Henrik Ibsen, a Norwegian playwright who published a praised and controversial play in 1879 entitled A Doll’s House (Ibsen). The plot of the play revolves around Nora, who is married to Torvald, and the†¦show more content†¦For much of the play, the present and onstage actions are the result of offstage events. The offstage is an area where no rules exist – it is a representation of the imagined. For Nora, this preview of freedom is dangerous because of her ignorance. Ibsen may have inferred that without outside experience, humani ty is simply limited. As Jakovljevic writes, â€Å"Ignorance is not the lack of learning, but the lack of experience, the lack of empirical knowledge† (Jakovljevic 440). Torvald is an educated bank manager who spends his days outside in the real world, experienced in the offstage area. In contrast, Nora is a housewife who spends her day with her children and is rarely subjected to the hardships of life outside the household. The laws that Nora must follow are not those of society, but those that are constructed in the household for the purpose her marriage. Once Nora is unchained and placed into the world outside the house, she is uneducated about society as much as a child is. Gilman iterates this by writing, â€Å"In its central movement A Doll’s House is a drama of preparation, pitched beyond sexual differences, a play of encounter with the obstacles-in this exemplary case the institution of marriage-that act to prevent us from knowing ourselves and the world† (Gilman 65). It is unreasonable to blame Nora for herShow MoreRelatedThe Stanislavskis System Essay1123 Words   |  5 Pagesand dies in 1938. He was a Russian actor, director and acting trainer. In 1898 together with Nemirovich- Danchenko, he founded the Moscow Art Theatre. ===================================================================== Stanislavski believed that theatre was about working together, he recognized the need to improve the theatre practice of his time and saw actors needed methods to help them act well and consistently. To solve these problems he developed what was later