Noteworthy Thoughts 
Age of Innocence vs. A Doll's House 

As we have recently transitioned into our unit involving the analyzing of literary works through different literary lenses, I have grown quite an attachment to the works Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton and A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen. While reading the novel and play simultaneously I came to recognize some interesting similarities and differences between the characters and literature itself. Noting both the exclusive and inclusive elements of the works helped me better understand the themes and ideas present.

Both Archer (from AOI) and Nora (from DH) were similar characters in that both had - to some extent - a sense of aloofness from the society they were placed in. Archer's aloofness spawned from his own belief in his "awareness" that the other members in society did not possess. He believed himself different from the other men in society because of his emotional and intellectual attachment with Countess Olenska. A passion described as one a "touch would sunder." In this same way, Nora feels herself different from others, perhaps even deserving of praise, because of the risk she took in forging a signature to spare her father and save her husband. In this way, Nora believed herself "aware" of the misdeeds that have led to this "happy" life she and her family are living. In Age of Innocence, Archer claims that women should have as much freedom as men should, an idea that Nora seems to adopt by the end of A Doll's House as well. Archer respects woman such as Ellen, who form their own opinions and stand up for themselves. By the end of the play, Nora is almost symbolic of this sort of person - the type that transforms into something beyond what a man provides for her. She holds her own stature and dignity in the face of pain and believes herself independent to fulfill her "sacred duties" to herself. 

As I continued the comparison between the two pieces of literature, I discovered that Archer reminded me a lot of Torvald throughout the duration of the novel, arguably Nora's oppressor. Although Archer claims he believes in the freedom of woman, he constantly undermines his own claims by the way he acts in the presence of May, often referring to her as a means of his possession rather than a woman - rather than a human. When May looks beautiful, he years to tell her that he is "proud" of her. Similarly, after Nora dances the tarantella at the costume party, Torvald takes her back home and flaunts her to Kristine as his own jewel. Both Archer and Torvald often take possession of the women in their lives as objects worth bragging about - they strip these women of their own independence in thought and capability of personal opinions. Further their similarities are the importance they put into conforming to society and upholding their reputation. When Archer talks to Ned Winsett he almost pities him and considers himself superior to such a middle class man. When Torvald interacts with Krogstad, he considers him inferior in the face of their accomplishments and Krogstad's past. Although Archer may deny it or seem rather liberal on such ideas, his need to show society that he approved of Countess Olenska in the face of his engagement of May shows his own inner instinct to remain on good grounds with the social codes in New York society. Torvald directly explains to Nora that he should not sacrifice his "honor" for Nora, even though she is his love. The importance Archer and Torvald put in societal conformity shows a stronger connection between the two than Nora and Archer, in this perspective. 

Through Archer's relevance with multiple characters, I found Archer to be a sort of balance between the two, again reminding us that not one extreme or the other could be categorized as "morally sound" on a universal scale. 

I thought these were noteworthy connections to make between the characters of these literary works as they relate the broader picture of the blurred lines between victim and victimizer, and help to relate two works to explore the questions both works pose as interrelated.