Casting Off the Shackles of Family: Ibsen’s Nora Figure in Modern Chinese Literature, 1918-1942

Nora, a character from Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll House , was a model for feminist Chinese women during the May Fourth Era of the 1920s and 1930s. In this study, Chang examines the reception and transformation of the Nora theme in the works of Lu Hsün, Mao Tun, Ting Ling, and other writers of the time. The focus is on the recurring theme of the female protagonist leaving the father’s home in order to pursue personal freedom. Chang teaches at the National Changhua U. of Education in Taiwan. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)