Section 1: Subject of paper: A Doll's house ending Background information: My topic is about A Doll's House's ending, if Nora made the right choice or not by leaving. But when Henrik Ibsen debuted his play A Doll's House, realism was a shocking, new approach. Hattie Morahan, Dominic Rowan, Steve Toussaint. Doctor Rank. [SCENE.--A room furnished comfortably and tastefully, but not extravagantly. We know that she risked herself for the better of her family and when Torvald was diminishing her for trying to support the family she made up her mind. The play is set in a Norwegian town circa 1879. To she lies about a huge loan she has to pay back when her spouse hates loans. Anne, their nurse. That is a very bold decision. A Doll's House PDF December 8, 2021 wilsoncreekarts@yahoo.com A Doll's House (pdf) is a three-act play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. A DOLL'S HOUSE by Henrik Ibsen DRAMATIS PERSONAE Torvald Helmer. Her husband will not let her expand as a person, and she just lets it happen. Though it seems like a dark ending to the play there is light in the darkness for some characters. V6H;B|;qu ]=VusAM2& Easing Out the Ending of, A Doll's House. However, his father's general store failed in 1834, and he was forced to declare bankruptcy. The true sorrow and drama of "Doll House" is what made this play such an experience. She does this because she is trapped and needs to live the life that she wants. Not all women will choose. 19 0 obj [Struggles with herself, lets her travelling bag fall, and says.] A Doll's House: Additional Thoughts on Different Endings April 8, 2016 ktlambert24 A few weeks ago, Connor Collett reflected on the two endings of the play A Doll's House, Henrik Ibsen's original ending and the ending he reluctantly wrote after heavy persuasion. The pair uses the boundaries of illusions to avoid experiencing the dreary reality and to ignore the anguish of failure that their lives are. Dorine Schuhmacher. A Doll's House Teacher's Guide. A Housemaid. What I found particularly interesting on the classs preference, however, was the next question posed to us. By her own admission she cant make any choices by herself so she goes ahead and makes this drastic pronouncement. The play is set during Christmas time and New Years because these are both times of rebirth or reawakening and similar metaphors to what Nora goes through during the play. A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen Contents ACT I. It also should be very helpful to define . So perhaps its not so difficult to see why a German audience (including Noras actress) preferred a conciliatory ending, beyond the culture differences: Noras choice in the alternate ending, while it means a loss of freedom for her, comes off to an audience as far more realistic and easy to process. x]fqu>@0tg|0HbC;QiZKYU::U.yI?O_b_BE+_\:o]~ ~*_8_RA[^U)R;*RP;Kj>Mx A Dolls House RSS. 20 0 obj Forming new bond that was previously broken is form a rebirth for the two in which they start new lives together., As we see the untrusting environment and strain on their relationship grow wider and wider. On closer observation she is weeping. Realizing that she has been living in a strangers house, she packs up and leaves her husband and children in search of herself, promising never to return unless by a miracle of miracles. The alternate ending, dubbed the German ending (and dubbed a barbaric outrage by Ibsen himself) picks up just before Nora is scripted to walk out the door. Add widgets to Footer D, something, anything! All of the aspects of this quote can be applied to the play A Doll House, in Noras character, who throughout much of the play is oppressed, presents an inauthentic identity to the audience and throughout the play attempts to discovery her authentic identity., Nora, you finally stood up for yourself during the confrontation with Torvald after Christmas. The main character is a middle-class wife and mother, Nora Helmer, who spends most of her time acting like a child for the amusement of her husband, Torvald. A Doll House General Information PUBLISHED: Norway, 1879 One of the world's most frequently performed plays Forced to write an alternative ending for German audiences At the time, it was a feminist play Henrik Ibsen His most famous plays showed his discomfort with and disapproval of the empty social traditions The alternate ending causes more of a downfall for Nora because she goes against her will to leave Torvald and risks a joyful life to stay with her children. Nora's husband, Torvald, emerges from his study and greets her. At the time when it was written, Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House deemed by much of the general public to be scandalously unconventional in its liberalism. It would be good of the ending was longer because it kind of leaves us hanging why her attitude changed. In reality, however, Kieler did not forge a signature, and when her husband, Victor, discovered her secret, he divorced her and forced her to be committed to an insane asylum. IT maintains the role that the woman is inferior to the man because even though she truly doesn't love Torvald, she is forced to stay with him and be unhappy for a good portion of her life. To the reader, Nora is Torvalds doll that wastes money and talks too much.. She lies over small to huge things. The two decide to get married after Christine tries to convince she still loves him from her previous relationship with him. Which in the 18th century things, A Dolls House has several high points that lead up to what Ive considered the most defining moment. A Doll's House was based on the life of Laura Kieler (maiden name Laura Smith Petersen), a good friend of Ibsen. Nora: Father, O Father, I need your help. When he was about 8 years old, his family was thrown into poverty due to complications with his father's business. Instead of telling the truth Nora respond with "No,Torvald"(Ibsen 145, act 1). A few weeks ago, Connor Collett reflected on the two endings of the play A Dolls House, Henrik Ibsens original ending and the ending he reluctantly wrote after heavy persuasion. It is Christmas Eve, and a porter delivers a Christmas tree. 21 0 obj You are perfectly able to make your own independent decisions without relying on Torvald. stream Now she is being blackmailed and lives in fear of her husband finding out, and of the shame such a revelation would bring to his career. By Ethan Doskey A Doll's House upset and intrigued audiences unlike any play before it. Anne, their nurse. As I watched this I was very unhappy because I liked the original ending. Not a whole lot of marketable skills. [Seizes her arm.l But first you shall see your children for the last time! A1110736. Where we could makea real marriage out of our lives together. A doll's house alternate ending pdf Since housing prices increase and people become more worried about their environmental fingerprints, green building is gaining popularity. Nora turns her back on her husband and kids and takes off into the snow (brr) to make her own way in the world (brrrrr). In the first act, the husband appears before us as a strong, loving, caring husband and father of the family. Ibsen's alternate ending had Nora persuaded not to . Where we could make a real marriage out of our lives together. One critic, Peterson, warned, "The lack of reconciliation has wide-reaching consequences for the effect of this play within the world of readers," and another critic, Skram . The benefit you get by reading this book is actually information inside this reserve incredible fresh, you will get information which is getting deeper an individual read a lot of . A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2 was commissioned and first produced by South Coast Repertory, opening on April 14, 2017. In the play, Nora in order to find herself had to leave her husband and kids behind and start over by herself. We get to know the characters more in depth, we find out how Nora believed by lying she was protecting Torvald from finding out about her true personality. Sonny Fox Productions. More books than SparkNotes. If Torvald refuses to change his ways the marriage can't be saved. W hen, next Wednesday evening, Hattie Morahan picks up an armful of Christmas shopping and steps on stage to open a run of Ibsen's A Doll's House, it will be for the third time in . It's a pretty bold decision, to say the least. It was directed . As John Gray once said "When men and women are able to respect and accept their differences then love has a chance to blossom." Instead, Torvald grabs her arm and makes her look at her sleeping children, telling her they will be motherless in the morning. Nora decides to abandon her husband and kids, and takes off into the snow to make her own way in the world. Once further into the play you see that it is just because Nora is submissive, and lets it be that way. End marriage. She is made to feel guilty for leaving the side of her children. When Torvald finally reads the letter Krogstad (a fellow schoolmate and an employee at the bank) wrote revealing that it was not from Noras father that she borrowed money, but from him, what follows was totally unexpected by me. Although many would think that this marriage cannot be saved by understanding the period over the role of husband versus wife, it still can be saved. << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> Nora found out her husbands true colours when it was too late, if she had found out who her husband really was and how the love he was showing to Nora was nothing but false she could have left her husband before the eight years and lived her life with freedom. . Some thought it too revolutionary at the time, in fact, and Ibsen was compelled to pen an alternate ending for the play for German audiences. In the story, "A Doll's House" by Henrik Ibsen, we read about two different endings to the play. We can expect that Ghosts will again hold society against the wall and question it down to its core. She has to restore this or else nothing can be fixed. ] the story went from saying it is possible you don't have to abide to societies picture of you saying you basically have to stay with your kids because if your husband is driving you crazy you still have to stay for your kids. The play revolves around her realization that she has spent her whole life being defined by her . Anne, their nurse. The alternate ending to A Doll House was somewhat confusing to me. It is hard to leave your kids motherless, and leave the guilt in the back of your head for the rest of your life. Torvald has never treated Nora as anything except for a doll, calling her a songbird, giving her money to spend recklessly, and just not taking her seriously at all. Noras character becomes questionable when she starts breaking away from all the standards and expectations her husband and society had set up for her, this making her a morally ambiguous character., 1. Ibsen's message changes in the altered version because it shows that women can't achieve the freedom of every other man in the worldGhosts will do similar to what Ibsen did in the original ending of Doll House and not conform to these societal standards and try not to appeal to what people want to here and, instead, show people what is true. Ibsen, of course, would take issue with our modern-day relegation of A . Throughout the play she always says how she does not love him and it's fake love so the fact that she decides to stay would be kind of a big turn around in the story. Your guidance was the sole support in my life and I need it most now. stream Susanna Rustin. The alternate ending to A Doll House kind of left me hanging or the ending was not really clear to me what happened. home has been only "a doll's house." Ibsen shines a strong light on the Torvalds' relationship, softening none of its aspects. Helmer's three young children. This stems from the way Helmer treats Nora with affection. Torvald asked a simple question "Hasn't she even nibbled a macaroon or two"(Ibsen 145,act 1). Alternate ending of A Doll's House (Performed in Germany) NORA. . The "A Doll's House" essay you will find below is talking about the play, in the center of which is a happily married couple - lawyer Helmer and his wife Nora. 1. A Doll's House is an example of realist drama, in which the characters interact by talking in a way that closely approximates real life conversations. Now more than ever! This is well illustrated by Henrik Ibsen in A Doll's House. Hey, I just recently read the play A Doll's House. One of them is the original ending, and the other one is the alternate ending. He was the second son in a wealthy family that included five other siblings. endobj She doesn't have a job. Much that happened between Nora and Torvald happened to Laura and her husband, Victor. In the alternate ending it shows Nora making the decision to not leave her children. - Homework Help - Get started for FREE Continue stream The alternate ending causes more of a downfall for Nora because she goes against her will to leave Torvald and risks a joyful life to stay with her children. (The action takes place in Helmer's house.) The play was a (controversial) success in Germany, but Ibsen later regretted having written the alternative ending. lBNQm|j ZWO}k L_s3x;zu G#(/Rgs.^T\\cG^]y S`u?|5.D3:SUGJx8x-D48TAY/g~W2+h "}joJf;SS%4Ct?x Gg,+ KI_GPq>#!xG"f8t jvPW4l ox;RuZ6.#>S=u1IyCy%(-x>lGR Co[9@wQ4?u-NslEt{*m}L?Gr=}osK{p=\r8_MJEv0kQR]],Pvu. the alternative ending is no where as successful as the original ending. A Doll's House - Context Henrik Ibsen - Personal Context . And Ibsen himself wrote an alternate ending in which she stays with Torvald at the end of the play, and that was the one that was performed a lot in Germany in the early years. I did some research and found out that there was an alternate ending to the book that Ibsen had to write. Over and over, he treats her like a child and does not care for what she has to say. After a lifetime of being treated like a doll in a doll 'shouse, it was time for you to take control of your life (Ibsen 1016). In the end, Nora makes a decision that she doesnt want to be married to her husband Torvald any longer, and she tells him so. A Dolls House: Additional Thoughts on Different Endings, Thoughts on Foucaults Theory of Body and Soul. A Porter. A Doll's House Questions and Answers pdf A DOLL'S HOUSE STUDY QUESTIONS 1) What is the porter carrying when the play opens? She misinforms Torvald about macaroons and whether she has them. Available on videotape through MGM/UA Home Video, black and white, 89 minutes. . The new ending where Nora decides to stay with Torvald makes everything seem pointless. Explain the symbolic significance of hereditary disease in A Doll's House. With every lie that Torvald got told, it took a peice of trust out of their relationship. % In general, though, what makes the eco-friendly . A Porter. Let me go! Torvald does not "take care" of Nora The main thing that will make saving this marriage the most difficult is the social norms and having to break them. Written by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in 1879, the play is well-known for its shocking ending, which attracted both criticism and admiration from audiences when it premiered. In the middle of the left-hand wall is a door, and beyond it a window. Torvald has to fix his whole stance towards Nora. But the fact that she did not leave, her point that she made is not as strong as it was before if she were to leave. The adaptation starred Julie Harris, Christopher Plummer, Jason Robards, Hume Cronyn, Eileen Heckart, and Richard Thomas. Written in 1879 by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, "A Doll's House" is a three-act play about a housewife who becomes disillusioned and dissatisfied with her condescending husband. I might even call it foolish: she doesn't have a job, not a whole lot of skills, no home, no prospects and no money. endobj Doctor Rank. This traumatic event fostered a sense of uncertainty about his place in the Indicates that she is intelligent and possesses abilities beyond wifehood. POINTS OF INTERPRETATION Nora has an unwavering trust in her husband Helmer. His wife is cheerful, carefree and frivolous. A Doll S House Alternate Ending Good Essays 659 Words 2 Pages Aug 10th, 2021 Published Open Document Essay Sample A Doll's House ends an abrupt slamming of the door. This will be more difficult because this means he will have to break the norm of how other husbands treats their wives and I am not sure if this is possible for him to change his entire mind set but this is the only way to save this marriage. It was so big that the carter and Pat carried it into the courtyard, and there it stayed, propped up on two wooden boxes beside the feed-room door. And it will end. Nils Krogstad. A Doll's House was no different, with its Copenhagen world premiere in 1879 hailed as a "powerful work of art [about] a shocking truth," while its German premiere in 1880 was staged with an alternate ending because the show was deemed too upsetting for polite society. 4 0 obj An ellipsis in place of a character line represents a fuller beat. Women are not given the option, but rather forced to settle for the only role society feels women are capable of. The original ending of "A Doll House" with Nora walking out on her family, her kids and her husband. It was released in the 1800's, during time when women were not taken seriously. I will be discussing why Nora's decision was the best one . The plays A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen and Trifles by Susan Glaspell were written in an era were society has a different aspect on the way women should be than we do now. THE DOLL'S HOUSE (1922) By Katherine Mansfield When dear old Mrs. Hay went back to town after staying with the Burnells she sent the children a doll's house. DRAMATIS PERSONAE Torvald Helmer. Nora can most definitely fix her dishonesty, but Torvald will have to change his entire mind set towards females. All that needs to be done is for Torvald to become respectful and an equal partner. another level, modernism was seen as an alternative to the use of bureaucracies / the elite as a source of inspiration for . Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House has spawned a wealth of differing interpretations over the 130 years since its first performance, being variously analyzed from feminist, anti-feminist . 16 Dec. 2014 "How Was Ibsen's Play, A Doll's House, Received in Its Day?Ibsen's A Doll's House Was Written in the 19th Century. Directors. A Porter. Web. A Doll's House Exploring the Play Henrik Ibsen was the second of six children born into a well off merchant family in the small seaside timber port of Skien, Norway. ACT II. (The action takes place in Helmer's house.) Him creating a dark type of story and will make fun of the society in the real world.- Justina Reppucci. Carrie Cracknell, Robert Delamere. A young lady, Nora, is seen kneeling in front of a grave. Due Friday, December 20th - Alternate Ending of "A Doll House" by Henrik Ibsen Overview and Directions : We discussed Ibsen's play A Doll House and viewed the end of Act III. A Doll's House A Doll's House ( Danish and Bokml: Et dukkehjem; also translated as A Doll House) is a three-act play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. Overall I think the ending created a bad example for women. % The play raises universal issues and questions that are applicable to societies worldwide. Being just or having justice can be seen as following the law, being honest, and behaving in a good manner; although some may see it as the punishment or the reward that a person deserves on account of their actions and decisions. Near the window are a round table, arm-chairs . endobj In the right-hand wall, at the farther end, another door; and on the same side, nearer the footlights, a stove, two easy chairs and a rocking-chair . Then I feel like Ghost will be more interesting than A Doll House. The first performance in 1879 at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen was seen as fiercely scandalous, and in some cases, dangerous. A DOLL'S HOUSE ACT I (SCENE.-A room furnished comfortably and tastefully, but not extravagantly. He also takes care of his family and thinks he is good to Nora. Go then! Years ago, Nora Helmer (Claire Bloom) committed a forgery in order to save the life of her authoritarian husband Torvald (Sir Anthony Hopkins). In the first serious discussion Torvald and Nora had, she asks him, Does it occur to you that this is the first time we two, you and I, man and wife, have ever had a serious talk together?(Ibsen 1120). Synopsis. Her life was ruled and controlled by her husband Torvald. NORA. Nora can find someone that actually treats her with respects, equality, and with, In the play, A Doll House, Nora goes through a major character change. << /Pages 34 0 R /Type /Catalog >> 4) Why does Nora say that this is the first Christmas they don't need to economise? I don't think Ibsen liked this alternant ending at all but he just did it to please people. . endstream A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen Prepared by Martin Adamson A DOLL'S HOUSE by Henrik Ibsen DRAMATIS PERSONAE Torvald Helmer. No home. The play has shared an important message regarding feminism. Sean HealeySean Healey The alternate ending to, A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen I felt lacked meaning, if Nora stays after being treated so poorly it loses all the suspense that had built up. This was primarily due to the play's ending, in which the protagonist, Nora, leaves her husband and three small children in order to seek self-realization. I feel as though it was meaningless to the entire plot. The scene is set in a graveyard, somewhere in Norway. ylg_b3= *^ Most "respectable" people just aren't going to socialize with her. That a women should always stand with her family and kids no matter what type of situation. Everyone thought that this should not be the way it ends. Updated on March 09, 2020. A Doll's House ends with the slamming of a door. A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, The Electronic Classics Series, Jim Manis, Editor, PSU-Hazleton, Hazleton, PA 18202 is a Portable Document File produced as part of an ongoing publication project to bring classical works of literature, in English, to free and easy access of those wishing to make use One of them is the original ending, and the other one is the alternate ending. The title Dolls House, has many meaning behind it that symbolize events happening in the book. The reality of her trials with her marriage wake her up from her imagination to the pitiful state of her marriage. Nora, his wife. (perhaps a nod toward the theme of deception). A Doll's House is a play by Henrik Ibsen that was first performed in 1879. N.p., n.d. A Housemaid. Connor mentions that the class was in agreement that the original ending was better. I cannotl HELMER ldraws her over to the door, leftl. PDF | On May 13, 2020, Clemens Rthel published Redecorating A Doll's House in Contemporary German TheaterMultiple Authorship in Ibsen's Nora | Find, read and cite all the research you . When it was first performed in England, it was entirely rewritten by . However, Nora does not follow the expectations set up by society, she believes in her own opinion and takes her own actions. x\+j4_dO H@,Gm+[:"UQ,Z#y.^MV*}x#kMQzwjcTd*[uo2N5Ji;" @ovPh!$fN.M$Q" r(6B_w73vU~c?~;~JO]EX|T>6nI{+][pM/nC@X_j/dAK,YoynYUs{3L=|1vBlV|f`Io>B([AUFK9ZEcK#H6?XG!#)}-b$}a Her husband especially did not respect or treat Nora with equality. A Doll's House Summary. Connor mentions that the class was in agreement that the original ending was better. In The Lady from the Sea, a play he wrote nine years after A Doll's House, in 1888, Ibsen had his heroine make the opposite decision and stay with her husband. Build background knowledge in 19th-century history and culture with the lesson planning resources in this teacher's guide for Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House. Women are constantly treated as a lower class among men. [1] The play is set in a Norwegian town circa 1879. This marriage is truly walking on hot coals and it can be saved but against all odds, it will be very, Nora is the character in A Doll House who plays the 19th woman and is portrayed as a victim. With Claire Bloom, Anthony Hopkins, Ralph Richardson, Denholm Elliott. Justice in terms can be perceived differently in by society. %PDF-1.3 . He later said that the alternate endwhere Nora. 22 0 obj But by changing it the message then shows that leaving wouldnt matter because as a woman you are always going to be set to a limited role. For the time period, it's the standard for husbands to treat their wife like Torvald does to Nora. In writing the play Ibsen generates a powerful feeling to viewers that maybe they could do the same thing if there is unequalness in their home. 5) When does Helmer begin his new job at the bank? Motherless! As Connor stated, most people in our class (and, arguably, most people in our day and age) preferred the former ending: Nora became her own hero, choosing what was best for her, even if it was not the best choice for her family. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. She shows off the Christmas gifts she has bought for their children, and although Torvald chastises her for spending too much, he . Nora has the easier problem to fix due to her motivation of wanting to keep her family safe. Many of the middle-class theater-goers were scandalized that a woman might leave her husband and, more importantly, her children. With all of this negative feedback he decided to make an alternant ending to the play to make everyone happy. Mrs Linde. At this point, melodrama gives way to naturalism. In Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, Nora Helmer, having fraudulently borrowed money to save her husband, is forced to reveal her secret and, in doing so, reassess her life as it stands. Then, a womans place was in the home, especially if she was a mother: abandoning her family was unheard of. Oh, this is a sin against myself, but I cannot leave them. Mrs. Linde. Finally I feel Ghosts will be a lot more shocking then A Doll House after hearing it was not edited like A Doll House but completely banned. Between the doors stands a piano. Torvald is relieved to think that he can have his wife back, but Nora refuses to allow a conventional happy ending. That is a very bold decision. When readers first get an image of how their relationship is, it would not seem that bad. [Half sinks down by the door. Taking that away and choosing an alternative ending takes away the whole role of Nora's character and the original aspects of this heartbreaking drama. 8. This has made the work essential for humanity to observe and respond to. Doctor Rank. xc```P f33 ,M"JX{rykEkIk g`vH1'X I will not see them! A Doll's House Essay Questions. The alternate ending for A Doll House really ruins the Ibsens whole point of the play, since the scene before sort of tells women at that time how they can stand up for themselves and they can be their own person and don't have to live with a man. I am just curious, what are your opinions on the alternate ending. She believes that he really loves her and would come to her defense even when Krogstad publishes information concerning her fraud act. 18 0 obj Angelica Frey. It was very different from the original ending and did not satisfy me at all. In the alternate ending it just feels as though you build up to the final scene and Nora cannot pull the trigger. Nora also points out how for eight years they never exchanged a serious word on a serious subject (Ibsen 1120), which ultimately demonstrates how Torvald never thought Nora serious, In the beginning of a Doll House Nora is perceived as a happy, full-hearted character. Even though Torvald said he joking but this take a big toll on their, Nora is in an interesting relationship with her husband Torvald. The general meaning of the story was that women can stand up for themselves and dont need a man to make decisions. The only reason she is loving her husband is because that is what she thinks she is supposed to do. By making this determination, she's ostracizing herself from the society she's always been a part of. Through the transformation of Nora and the symbolism of the doll house, Henrik Ibsen reveals that being sheltered can make one fragile while recognizing and facing reality can make one strong., At the start of the play everything seem to be ok in a sense. Nora is just as capable as her husband Torvald, with all of the talents that could lead her into being an important or meaningful person to society just like her Husband. Similar to the events in the play, Laura signed an illegal loan to save her husband's life - in this case, to find a cure for his tuberculosis. The alternant ending makes me angry because of how awful she is being treated and she should be able to just like her husband to live whatever kind of life she wants. In the middle of the left-hand wall is a door, and beyond it a window. Ibsen was forced to create an alternate ending for German audiences after actress Hedwig Niemann-Raabe refused to perform the play as written. 23 0 obj ACT III. Some might even call it foolish. No prospects of any kind. A Doll's House Study Guide pdf Download for Free ABOUT THE AUTHOR Henrik Ibsen was born on March 20, 1828, in Skien, Norway. Nora spent eight years of her life with Torvald, and that is where she had made a huge mistake. The play is usually considered one of Ibsen's "realist" plays. In the plays A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen and Trifles by Susan Glaspell the female characters and the male characters see justice in a different point of view., Another reason Noras choice to leave her family is correct, is that she has the right to find someone who loves and takes her serious. Explore a character analysis of Nora Helmer , plot summary, and important quotes. Also contrasting to the original ending when Nora says, I have to see whos right society or me Nora does not agree with laws and the way society judges people and has to see the world for herself to be content.