Exploring the Dollverse
It is well known Joss Whedon likes to know his character names up front, and is reasonably obsessive about structure and the emotional heart of a scene (and his characters). These reasons are, I believe, the reason people relate and attach to his work; it’s not accidental.
Back during Angel season one, there was an episode called ‘Eternity’, which features Cordelia Chase performing as the character Nora Helmer in the Henrik Isben play ‘A Doll’s House’.
‘A Doll’s House’ is about the social lie and duty, with a woman in a gilded cage. The idea is a woman whose purpose in life is to be happy for her husband’s sake. As pointed out in the book “The Social Significance of the Modern Drama”;
Besides, is she not shielded, protected, and cared for? Who, then, would suspect Nora of depth? But already in the opening scene, when Torvald inquires what his precious “squirrel” wants for a Christmas present, Nora quickly asks him for money. Is it to buy macaroons or finery? In her talk with Mrs. Linden, Nora reveals her inner self, and forecasts the inevitable debacle of her doll’s house.
After telling her friend how she had saved her husband, Nora says: “When Torvald gave me money for clothes and so on, I never used more than half of it; I always bought the simplest things. . . . Torvald never noticed anything. But it was often very hard, Christina dear. For it’s nice to be beautifully dressed. Now, isn’t it? . . . Well, and besides that, I made money in other ways. Last winter I was so lucky–I got a heap of copying to do. I shut myself up every evening and wrote far into the night. Oh, sometimes I was so tired, so tired. And yet it was splendid to work in that way and earn money. I almost felt as if I was a man.”
Down deep in the consciousness of Nora there evidently slumbers personality and character, which could come into full bloom only through a great miracle–not the kind Nora hopes for, but a miracle just the same.
So, we know that Joss Whedon must have been aware of this play, considering one of his television shows featured Cordelia playing this part.
“Echo”
Eliza’s character is called Echo. Searching through the dictionary, you get these definitions:
- A repetition or an imitation: a fashion that is an echo of an earlier style.
- A remnant or vestige: found echoes of past civilizations while examining artifacts in the Middle East.
- One who imitates another, as in opinions, speech, or dress.
- A sympathetic response: Their demand for justice found an echo in communities across the nation.
- A consequence or repercussion: Her resignation had echoes throughout the department.
We know already Echo is trapped in the Dollhouse. We know people are keeping her there. We know her mind is being tampered with.
From both the character name and the concept of the Dollhouse, I think we can draw reasonable guesses as to the setup of the show.
What I don’t think we can predict is Echo’s journey. Is this a story of finding strength? Is this a story of awakening to a horrible nightmare (ignorance, as The Matrix tells us, is bliss)?
I think we’re in for one hell of a twisted ride. Sign me up.
