Honesty in Pride and Prejudice and a Dolls House.

Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice are set in similar time period and feature protagonists who go through different struggles, but whose themes have some overlap. Honesty is a theme that is played out in both stories resulting in opposite consequences for the protagonists. The power of honesty can either hurt or enhance lives. The truth means ruination in Nora and Torvald’s marriage in A Doll’s House whereas the truth brings Elizabeth and Darcy together in Pride and Prejudice. Honesty in both male and female protagonists is equally important in forging good relationships between each other. In both stories, strong honesty shapes the two couples’ fates. Both novels begin with the dishonesty of female†¦show more content†¦The two contrasting consequences not only depend on Nora and Elizabeth’s honesty, but also depend on their spouses. Nora believed that Torvald would understand her dishonesty because she trusted his love. However, when Torvald learns about the blackmail, Nora and Torvald’s marriage falls apart: â€Å"Miserable woman†¦who was my pride and joy†¦ a hypocrite, a liar, worse than that, a criminal! †¦they [people] might even think I was the one behind it all, I who pushed you†¦I’ve taken such good care of you†¦done to me?...you’ll go on living here†¦you will not be allowed to bring up the children, I can’t trust you with them (75-76).† In this moment of truth, not only Nora but also Torvald shows his true color. In order to keep his pride and reputation, he makes Nora live with him and pretends that they are married. Even worse, when Torvald receives the IOU letter back, he suddenly hides his true color, as if nothing has happened after he had said horrible words to Nora: â€Å"We are saved, Nora! †¦I forgive you everything. I know you did what you did because you loved me. (77)† Nora â€Å"understands† the truth of Torvald after revealing the truth of herself. She learns that Torvald’s love is not genuine, and their marriage has been fake and artificial. Nevertheless, honesty in Pride and Prejudice empowered Elizabeth and Darcy’s relationship. Although Darcy’s first proposal to Elizabeth was not successful, he tries once more as he writes a letter with honesty. â€Å"†¦may be offensive