Purpose

A Doll’s House
To draw attention to/influence change in family structure.
To draw attention to secrecy in society. (appearance vs. reality)
To show the absurdities in relationships.
To show the beginning of feminist thoughts. (Nora’s change)
To draw attention to society’s sickness. (Dr. Rank)
To show the imperfection in the conception of “women’s roles” in a marriage.

Othello
To draw attention to discrimination.
To depict jealousy as the tragic flaw.
To question deception.
To deal with the subject faithlessness within relationships.

Pygmalion
A social commentary/criticism.
To draw attention to/influence change in the class system.
To draw attention to women’s roles. (objectification)
To criticize the emphasis on proper language.
To show the contrast between men’s and women’s views on relationships. (Higgins does not understand Eliza’s unhappiness with simply becoming a bachelor with him as he would wish.)
To entertain.

The Lion and the Jewel
A comparison of cultures, black comedy, heavy use of irony.
To draw attention to the difference in relationships in the African culture and European culture. (For example, the bride price.)
To criticize the treatment of women in African cultures.
To demonstrate similarities between African and European cultures. (For example, vanity.)
To question societal structure; aimed at reform. (satire)
To criticize marriage structure.
To contrast western ideas vs. Nigerian tradition.

The Merchant of Venice
To draw attention to discrimination.
To use satire to attack marital structure (Portia’s lottery, the caskets.)
To contrast happy and unhappy society. (Belmont vs. Venice)
To draw attention to women’s rights. (Shakespeare shows women’s potential with Portia’s impressive demonstration in the courtroom even though she is not considered good enough to be there)