DH Synthesis Essay Pre-Writing
Tentative thesis. (Remember that your thesis should not only indicate the point of comparison, but also the significance of that comparison.
With both A Doll’s house and “Roman Fever”, both of the rebellions against society are fruitless, because even with the intention behind it, you can’t oppose it.
3 quotes from each work you intend to synthesize. (Remember you MUST choose A Doll’s House, but you have your pick of which story you’ll synthesize.)
A Doll’s House:
I have been your doll wife, just as at home I was Daddy’s doll child. And the children in turn have been my dolls. I thought it was fun when you came and played with me, just as they thought it was fun when I went to play with them. That’s been our marriage, Torvald.
I believe that first and foremost I am an individual, just as much as you are—or at least I’m going to try to be. I know most people agree with you, Torvald, and that’s also what it says in books. But I’m not content anymore with what most people say, or what it says in books. I have to think things for myself, and get things clear.
If it ever got around that the new manager had been talked over by his wife… As long as the little woman gets her own stubborn way…! Do you want me to make myself a laughing stock in the office? Give people the idea that I am susceptible to any kind of outside pressure? You can imagine how soon I’d feel the consequences of that!
Short Story Choice: “Roman Fever” or “Jury of Her Peers”
“I don’t know why you should be sorry for me … After all, I had everything; I had him for twenty-five years. And you had nothing but that one letter that he didn’t write.”Mrs. Ansley was again silent. At length she turned toward the door of the terrace. She took a step, and turned back, facing her companion.“I had Barbara,” she said, and began to move ahead of Mrs. Slade toward the stairway.
Mrs. Ansley’s voice grew clearer, and full of surprise. “But of course he was there. Naturally he came—” “Came? How did he know he’d find you there? You must be raving!” Mrs. Ansley hesitated, as though reflecting. “But I answered the letter. I told him I’d be there. So he came.” Mrs. Slade flung her hands up to her face. “Oh, God—you answered! I never thought of your answer…. “”It’s odd you never thought of it, if you wrote the letter.” “Yes. I was blind with rage.”
Mrs. Slade nodded. “But she really sent her because they were in love with the same man—” “Well, that was the family tradition. They said Aunt Harriet confessed it years afterward. At any rate, the poor little sister caught the fever and died.”
Topic sentences for each body paragraph.
Body paragraph #1 topic sentence: Firstly both writings explore women finding roles in society, and uncovering a balance for their lives. Unlike Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley, finding their roles together somewhat competitively, Nora struggles to keep her life together in her efforts to save her husband from sickness…
Body paragraph #2 topic sentence: Though both stories have a common conflict of Individual v.s. society, there is a contrast in their “rebellion” with society, also both fruitless to changing their life. All no longer comfortable with their place in society, Nora leaves her husband. Mrs. Slade, and Mrs. Ansley widowed, resort to bragging their secrets to each other, of their rebellions as young.
Body paragraph #3 topic sentence (optional):