History Literature / TheDoll

* AloneInACrowd: Wokulski has trouble relating to people, even the normal, common-as-dirt people. He never used to belong anywhere.

* AmbiguousEnding: [[spoiler: Wokulski vanishes. Where he goes is anyone's guess, though he might have just killed himself.]]

* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: The novel has a conventional third-person narrator, but parts of it are taken from "The old salesman's diary", written by Ignacy Rzecki, whose interpretation of things is rather sadly [[EntertaininglyWrong wrong]]. Also, he reminisces a lot.

* BeautyEqualsGoodness: Averted. Helena Stawska is both, but Izabela only has beauty, and Wokulski - only the troubled goodness. Most characters are neither here nor there, but Izabela cannot comprehend that Wokulski - who's most emphatically not her type - can be a genuine person with feelings, and not a villain.

* DeadpanSnarker: Doctor Szuman and mme Meliton have both got the fuzzy end of the lolly in their respective lives, and it made them rather snarky.
* DeathByDespair: [[spoiler: Ignacy Rzecki falls ill after Wokulski's dissapearance]]. He thinks it's because he's practically retired and hasn't much to do, Szuman says it's heart disease. Whatever it is, he dies of it in the last chapter.

* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: Ochocki says he does. Might just be bored out of his skull.

* DivorceAssetsConflict: Though mme Krzeszowska won't give him an actual divorce, her relationship with her husband is an example, both sides being petty and arguing over money. Though they have one or two AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther moments.
* DoggedNiceGuy: Second version in Wokulski. Whose LoveInterest is explicitly stated in the narrative to be unable to love.
* DontYouDarePityMe: Don't try and help Izabela. She'll hate you with passion.
* DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale: Wąsowska has rather twisted explanation as to why women should be allowed to cheat on their men, and why men who do anything about this (like divorce) are morally wrong.

* DuelToTheDeath: Wokulski vs. Krzeszowski, over the latter making Izabela sad. [[spoiler: Score: Wokulski: 1, Krzeszowski: -1 tooth, no hard feelings]].

* FrivolousLawsuit: Krzeszowski (who has seventeen lawsuits over his debts) falls like a ton of bricks upon his wife, who sued Stawska for theft of her late daughter's doll. Which was actually broken by Krzeszowska's maid. She then hid it to avoid punishment.

* InterruptedSuicide: After hearing Izabella's conversation with Starski (they spoke in English, convinced he wouldn't understand), Wokulski attempts suicide by throwing himself under the wheels of the train. He gets saved by Wysocki's brother (one of the random people Wokulski has [[ChekhovsGunman helped]]).

* RomanticismVersusEnlightenment: Major theme. Ignacy Rzecki is a consummate romantic, who thinks big (when it comes to politics - in his own life he's an unassuming, quiet person). Ochocki is a (kind of western style) positivist, fascinated by science. Wokulski (who fought in the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_Uprising January Uprising]] and was sent to Siberia for it, but later got rich selling grain to the Tzar's army) zigzags between the two. In the end, he's mostly driven by emotion. While still advocating modern technology and commiting small acts of good in a somewhat detached, absentminded way. He keeps thinking like a romantic, in terms of tragedy, then crashing into the prose of life.

* TheyCalledMeMad: Geist's ideas, dismissed by the french scholars, actually seem to make some [[ScienceMarchesOn sense]] today. Though they're still a bit risque (manipulating atomic structures has its limits, like everything).

* {{Streetwalker}}: Marianna, one of Wokulski's charity cases. Once reformed, gets HappilyMarried to Węgiełek (another charity case).

* TheTease: Izabela is a flirt. Even around her fiance.

* UglyGuyHotWife: Not that they ever marry, but Izabela sees her prospective relationship with Wokulski like this.

* BeautyEqualsGoodness: Averted. Helena Stawska is both, but Izabela only has beauty, and Wokulski - only the troubled goodness. Most characters are neither here nor there, but Izabela cannot comprehend that Wokulski - who's most emphatically not a bishounen - can be a genuine person with feelings, and not a villain.

* DisproportionateRetribution: Rude or insensitive remarks on the topic of Izabela have costone man his job and another his tooth.

* ArcWord: "lalka" ("a doll"). Also, Wokulski gets called "mad" by several unconnected people, for several unconnected reasons.

* ThePhilosopher: Wokulski monologues internally on the subjects of {{Love Hurts}} and {{Inherent In The System}}

* GadgeteerGenius/AbsentMindedProfessor: Realistic version in Ochocki, who holds degrees in natural history and engineering, and has invented a couple of things.

* SiblingRivalry/VitriolicBestBuds: Jan and Franc Mincel do love each other, but their rather different outlooks result in a constant state of war. Then they make up, and then they fight again.

* DivorceAssetsConflict: Though mme Krzeszowska won't give him an actual divorce, her relationship with her husband is an example. Though they have one or two AwwTheyReallyLoveEachOther moments.

* {{Abhorrent Admirer}}: Grumpy, large and socially awkward Wokulski for Izabela.
* {{All Take And No Give}}: Izabela. In a short time she was actually in a relationship with Wokulski she was definitely the taker.
* {{All Issues Are Political Issues}}: Common trope at the time, because they really were, but Rzecki takes it in another direction and believes All Issues Are Connected To The Bonaparte Issue Somehow.
* {{Alone In A Crowd}}: Wokulski has trouble relating to people, even the normal, common-as-dirt people. He never used to belong anywhere.
* {{Ambiguous Ending}}: [[spoiler: Wokulski vanishes. Where he goes is anyone's guess, though he might have just killed himself.]]

* {{Arc Word}}: "lalka" ("a doll"). Also, Wokulski gets called "mad" by several unconnected people, for several unconnected reasons.
* {{And Now For Someone Completely Different}}: The novel has a conventional third-person narrator, but parts of it are taken from "The old salesman's diary", written by Ignacy Rzecki, whose interpretation of things is rather sadly [[EntertaininglyWrong wrong]]. Also, he reminisces a lot.
* {{As The Good Book Says}}: Izabela of all people. She misses the point, though.
* {{Badass Bookworm}}: Wokulski is an alumnus of Szkoła Przygotowawcza and was on his way to becoming an engineer when the Uprising began. He remains interested in science and technology.
* {{Based On A True Story}}: Think nobody would sue over a doll? It appears someone did, giving Prus the idea for the lawsuit episode as well as the title.
* {{Beauty Equals Goodness}}: Averted. Helena Stawska is both, but Izabela only has beauty, and Wokulski - only the troubled goodness. Most characters are neither here nor there, but Izabela cannot comprehend that Wokulski - who's most emphatically not a bishounen - can be a genuine person with feelings, and not a villain.
* {{Bilingual Backfire}}: Farewell, miss Iza.
* {{Bilingual Dialogue}}: Any conversation with Grossmutter, who only speaks German.
* {{Brainless Beauty}}: Izabela is an etherical, graceful beauty. She's also unable to see anything for what it is, not how it looks like.
* {{Cannot Talk To Women}}: Stanisław Wokulski usually has no problem talking to women, but most of his conversations with Izabela turn out disastrous - at least, so he thinks.
* {{Category Traitor}}: Szlangbaum, {{A Friend In Need}} of Wokulski's, abused by his coworkers as a Jew, would convert if not for his fear of being branded this.
* {{The Charmer}}: Mraczewski, who works in Wokulski's shop and could sell sand to Beduins
* {{Chronic Hero Syndrome}}: As much as he {{Angst}}s about it (and he does a [[KnightInSourArmor lot]]), Wokulski keeps helping random people. Mostly financially.
* {{Crazy Jealous Guy}}: If Wokulski is around, don't try and give Izabela looks. He will destroy you the best he can.
* {{Creature Of Habit}}: Rzecki's bedroom and his morning routine haven't changed in twenty five years. He's been planning a vacation for all this time [[spoiler: and never got around to taking it]].
* {{Deadpan Snarker}}: Doctor Szuman and mme Meliton have both got the fuzzy end of the lolly in their respective lives, and it made them rather snarky.
* {{Death By Despair}}: [[spoiler: Ignacy Rzecki falls ill after Wokulski's dissapearance]]. He thinks it's because he's practically retired and hasn't much to do, Szuman says it's heart disease. Whatever it is, he dies of it in the last chapter.
* {{Desperately Looking For A Purpose In Life}}: Ochocki says he does. Might just be bored out of his skull.
* {{Disproportionate Retribution}}: Rude or insensitive remarks on the topic of Izabela have caused one of their utterers loss of his job and another a duel.
* {{Divorce Assets Conflict}}: Though mme Krzeszowska won't give him an actual divorce, her relationship with her husband is an example.
* {{Dogged Nice Guy}}: Second version in Wokulski. Whose {{Love Interest}} is explicitly stated in the narrative to be unable to love.
* {{Dont You Dare Pity Me}}: Don't try and help Izabela. She'll hate you with passion.
* {{Dreaming The Truth}}: How Izabela works out just who bought her father's debts.
* {{Entertainingly Wrong}}: It's more sad than entertaining, but whenever someone tries to guess Stanisław Wokulski's motivations, they come up with something grand, fantastic, and entirely wrong. He really only cares for Izabela.
* {{Everyone Loves Blondes}}: Guess what colour Izabela's hair is?
* {{Fixing The Game}}: When they play cards, Wokulski lets mr Łęcki win, because he's in financial straits and wouldn't take help directly. Mr Łęcki, being [[UpperClassTwit who]] he is, takes it as a proof of his own intelligence.
* {{Gadgeteer Genius}}/{{AbsentMindedProfessor}}: Realistic version in Ochocki, who has degrees in natural history and engineering, and has invented a couple of things.
* {{Gratuitous French}}: The conversations between graceful ladies, naturallement.
* {{Gratuitous English}}: The actual reason people back then would learn English (fashion aside) was to read english novels, often by {{Charles Dickens}}, whose social sensibilities Prus shares.
* {{Interrupted Suicide}}: After hearing Izabella's conversation with Starski (they spoke in English, convinced he wouldn't understand), Wokulski attempts suicide by throwing himself under the wheels of the train. He gets saved by Wysocki's brother (one of the random people Wokulski has [[ChekhovsGunman helped]]).
* {{Jewish And Nerdy}}: Szuman is a doctor of medicine with strong scientific interests. Quite sterotypical for the time.
* {{Love At First Sight}}: Wokulski fell for Izabela the moment he saw her
* {{Love Makes You Dumb}}: Virtually all dumb things Wokulski does are desperate attempts to get Izabela's attention or approval. The only smart thing he does for his love is learning English (as a surprise for her), so when Izabela badmouths him to someone else in this language, he can at least get properly [[DrivenToSuicide heartbroken]].
* {{Loving A Shadow}}: Wokulski. Somewhat unusual version in Izabela, who "loves" a marble statue (of Apollo). Yes, really.
* {{Mad Scientist}}: Professor Geist, though he might just be a conman. We'll never know...
* {{Madonna Whore Complex}}: Wokulski has hints of this, possibly because his lofty ideals clash with what Izabela does.
* {{Mistaken For Spies}}: The English teacher and mme Meliton, by Ignacy Rzecki, who seems convinced Wokulski is part of a spy network.
* {{Nobility Marries Money}}: Why Izabela's family isn't so adverse to Wokulski.
* {{Not So Different}}: Szuman, for all his cynicism, admits to having suffered a bad case of {{LoveHurts}} in his youth.
* {{Obliviously Evil}}: Izabela has no idea how much suffering she causes.
* {{Patriotic Fervor}}: The prince, in a lofty, romantical way.
* {{Pretty Boy}}: Several. Mostly in Izabela's circles - Starski is one of them
* {{Princess In Rags}}: Mr. Łęcki has lost nearly all his money. You'd never tell from his and his daughter's lifestyle.
* {{Proper Lady}}: Madame Zasławska.
* {{Rich In Dollars Poor In Sense}}: Mr Łęcki and his daughter both only belong in a ballroom. Pity their money is long gone at this point.
* {{Romanticism Versus Enlightenment}}: Major theme. Ignacy Rzecki is a consummate romantic, who thinks big (when it comes to politics - in his own life he's an unassuming, quiet person). Ochocki is a (kind of western style) positivist, fascinated by science. Wokulski (who fought in the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_Uprising January Uprising]] and was sent to Siberia for it, but later got rich selling grain to the Tzar's army) zigzags between the two. In the end, he's mostly driven by emotion. While still advocating modern technology and commiting small acts of good in a somewhat detached, absentminded way. He keeps thinking like a romantic, in terms of tragedy, then crashing into the prose of life.
* {{Scars Are Forever}}: Or, in Wokulski's case, frostbite marks he got in Siberia. Izabela finds them repulsive.
* {{Shell Shocked Veteran}}: Wokulski has hints of this, especially during fancy parties, where he's not sure of himself.
* {{Shrine To The Fallen}}: Krzeszowska only stays in her old flat because she won't move anything in her late daughter's room.
* {{Sibling Rivalry}}/{{Vitriolic Best Buds}}: Jan and Franc Mincel do love each other, but their rather different outlooks result in a constant state of war. Then they make up, and then they fight again.
* {{Single Target Sexuality}}: Go ahead and guess.
* {{Silly Rabbit Romance Is For Kids}}: Szuman considers this "love" thing utter nonsense and pathology.
* {{Sliding Scale Of Idealism Versus Cynicism}} All over the scale, from the staunch idealist Rzecki to the cynical doctor Szuman.
* {{Sour Outside Sad Inside}}: Wokulski is rather aloof by default, but much more so whenever he's worrying about personal matters.
* {{Spoiled Brat}}: Izabela is genuinely devoid of empathy.
* {{Star Crossed Lovers}}: Wokulski's paternal uncle and countess Zasławska used to be very much in love. Money got in the way.
* {{Streetwalker}}: Marianna, one of Wokulski's charity cases. Once reformed, gets {{Happily Married}} to Węgiełek (another charity case).
* {{The Beautiful Elite}}
* {{The Dandy}}: The young male part of {{The Beautiful Elite}}. Wokulski tries to be one for Izabela.
* {{The Determinator}}: Deconstructed a bit. Wokulski does not give up. Until he [[DrivenToSuicide does]], over something personally painful, but actually quite minor.
* {{The Matchmaker}}: Mme Meliton is one by profession. Rzecki has set Wokulski up with Małgorzata Mincel, and tries to set him up with Helena Stawska, because he thinks they're made for each other.
* {{The Morlocks}}: The only thing Izabela is scared of (see the factory scene in chapter V).
* {{The Tease}}: Izabela is a flirt. Even around her fiance.
* {{The Philosopher}}: Wokulski monologues internally on the subjects of {{Love Hurts}} and {{Inherent In The System}}
* {{Ugly Guy Hot Wife}}: Not that they ever marry, but Izabela sees her possible relationship with Wokulski like this.
* {{Ungrateful Bastard}}: Izabela is only "grateful" to people she likes. Anyone else doing her a favour is either forgotten or taken as {{Manipulative Bastard}} and passionately hated.
* {{Unreliable Narrator}}: Slightly, we learn as much from him as from the characters speculating and gossiping. Sometimes the narrator won't say who's actually right.
* {{Unrequited Love Lasts Forever}}: Wokulski does get horribly disillusioned with Izabela, but it's ambiguous whether he stops loving her. At the point where it only causes him pain.
* {{Upper Class Twit}}: Tomasz Łęcki, Izabela's father, is very polite and well mannered, but entirely clueless as to what the world is like.

* {{Pretty Boy}}: Several. Mostly in Izabela's circles.

* {{Ugly Guy Hot Wife}}: They never marry, but if they did, Wokulski and Izabela would be this. She's not so thrilled.

* {{Based On A True Story}}: Think nobody would enter a lawsuit over a doll? It appears someone did, giving Prus the idea for the lawsuit episode as well as the title.

* {{Based On A True Story}}: Think nobody would enter a lawsuit over a doll? It appears someone did, giving Prus idea for the title.

* {{Category Traitor}}: Szlangbaum, Wokulski's {{Friend In Need}}, abused by his coworkers as a Jew, would convert if not for his fear of being branded this.

* {{Interrupted Suicide}}: After hearing Izabella's conversation with Starski (they spoke in English, convinced he wouldn't understand), Wokulski attempts suicide by throwing himself under the wheels of the train. He gets saved by Wysocki's brother (one of the random people Wokulski has [[ChekhovsGunman helped]]).

* {{Love Makes You Dumb}}: Virtually all dumb things Wokulski does are desperate attempts to get Izabela's attention or approval. The only smart thing he does for his love is learning english (as a surprise for her), so when Izabela badmouths him to someone else in english, he can at least get properly [[DrivenToSuicide heartbroken]].

* {{Not So Different}}: Szuman, for all his cynicism, is (vaguely) hinted to have suffered a case of {{StarCrossedLovers}} in his youth.

* {{Rich In Dollars Poor In Sense}}: Mr. Łęcki and his daughter both only belong in a ballroom. Pity their money is long gone at this point.

* {{Streetwalker}}: Marianna, one of Wokulski's charity cases. Once reformed, gets {{HappilyMarried}} to Węgiełek (another charity case).

* {{The Matchmaker}}: Mme Meliton is one professionally, Rzecki has set Wokulski up with Małgorzata Mincel, and tries to set him up with Helena Stawska, because he thinks they're made for each other.

* {{Creature Of Habit}}: Rzecki's bedroom and his morning routine haven't changed in twenty five years.
* {{Deadpan Snarker}}: Doctor Szuman and mme Meliton have both got the short end of the lolly in their respective lives, and it made them rather snarky.

First serialized in newspaper "Kurier Codzienny" (29th September 1887 - 24th May 1889), then published in a book form by Gebethner i Wolff in 1890, it's the story of a {{Self Made Man}} Stanisław Wokulski trying to win the love of an [[IceQueen aristocrat]] Izabela Łęcka.
And to work out who he actually is and what he actually wants, which is anything but simple.

* {{All Issues Are Political Issues}}: Common trope at the time, because they really [[UsefulNotes/Poland were]], but Rzecki takes it in a different direction and believes All Issues Are Connected To The Bonaparte Issue Somehow.

* {{Interrupted Suicide}}: After hearing Izabella's conversation with Starski(frankly they talked in English, convinced he wouldn't understand), Wokulski attempts suicide by throwing himself under the wheels of the train. He gets saved by Wysocki's brother (one of the random people Wokulski has [[ChekhovsGunman helped]]).

* {{Not So Different}}: Szuman, for all his cynicism, is (vaguely) hinted to have suffered a case of {{StarCrossedLovers}}

* {{Pretty Boy}}: Several. Mostly in Izabela's circles

* {{Romanticism Versus Enlightenment}}: Major theme. Ignacy Rzecki is a consummate romantic, who thinks big (when it comes to politics - in his own life he's an unassuming, quiet person). Ochocki is a (kind of western style) positivist, fascinated by science. Wokulski (who fought in the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_Uprising January Uprising]] and was sent to Siberia for it, but later got rich selling grain to the Tzar's army) zigzags between the two. In the end, he's mostly driven by emotion. While still advocating modern technology and commiting small acts of good in a somewhat detached, absentminded way. He keeps thinking like a romantic, in terms of tragedy, then hitting the prose of life.

* {{Spoiled Brat}}: Izabela is genuinely devoid of empathy

* {{Ungrateful Bastard}}: Izabela is only "grateful" to people she likes. Anyone else doing her a favour is either forgotten or taken to be {{Manipulative Bastard}} and passionately hated.

* {{AbhorrentAdmirer}}: Grumpy, large and socially awkward Wokulski for Izabela.

* {{AloneInACrowd}}: Wokulski has trouble relating to people, even the normal, common-as-dirt people. He never used to belong anywhere.

* {{TheCharmer}}: Mraczewski, who works in Wokulski's shop and could sell sand to Beduins

* {{DeathByDespair}}: [[spoiler: Ignacy Rzecki falls ill after Wokulski's dissapearance]]. He thinks it's because he's practically retired and hasn't much to do, Szuman says it's heart disease. Whatever it is, he dies of it in the last chapter.

* {{NotSoDifferent}}: Szuman, for all his cynicism, is (vaguely) hinted to have suffered a case of {{StarCrossedLovers}}
* {{ObliviouslyEvil}}: Izabela has no idea how much suffering she causes.
* {{PrettyBoy}}: Several. Mostly in Izabela's circles

* {{UnreliableNarrator}}: Slightly, we learn as much from him as from the characters speculating and gossiping. Sometimes the narrator won't say who's actually right.

* {{Gratuitous English}}: The actual reason people back then would learn English (aside from fashion) was to read english novels, eg. by {{Charles Dickens}}, whose social sensibilities Prus shares.

* [[NotSoDifferent]]: Szuman, for all his cynicism, is (vaguely) hinted to have suffered a case of [[StarCrossedLovers]]
* [[ObliviouslyEvil]]: Izabela has no idea how much suffering she causes.

* [[Streetwalker]]: Marianna, one of Wokulski's charity cases. Once reformed, gets [[HappilyMarried]] to Węgiełek (another charity case).

* [[UnreliableNarrator]]: Slightly, we learn as much from him as from the characters speculating and gossiping. Sometimes the narrator won't say who's actually right.

* {{Rich In Dollars Poor In Sense}}: Mr. Łęcki and his daughter both only belong in a ballroom.

* {{Spoiled Brat}}: Izabela thinks herself above most people.

* {{The Matchmaker}}: Mme Meliton is one professionally, Rzecki tries to set Wokulski up with Helena Stawska, because he thinks they're made for each other.

* {{All Take And No Give}}: Izabela. In a short time she was actually in a relationship with Wokulski she was definitely the taker.

* [[spoiler:{{Interrupted Suicide}}: After hearing Izabella's conversation with Starski(frankly they talked in English, convinced he wouldn't understand), Wokulski attempts suicide by throwing himself under the wheels of the train. He gets saved by Wysocki's brother (one of the random people Wokulski has {{Chekhovs Gunman helped}}).]]

* {{Love Makes You Dumb}}: Virtually all dumb things Wokulski does are desperate attempts to get Izabela's attention or approval. The only smart thing he does for his love is learning english (as a surprise for her), so when Izabela badmouths him to someone else in english, he can at least get properly [[DrivenToSuicide heartbroken]]

* {{Spoiled Brat}} Izabela thinks herself above most people.

First serialized in newspaper "Kurier Codzienny" (29th September 1887 - 24th May 1889), then published in a book form by Gebethner i Wolff in 1890, it's the story of a {{Self Made Man}} Stanisław Wokulski trying to win the love of an {{Ice Queen aristocrat}} Izabela Łęcka.

Being full of social criticism, subtle philosophical arguments (on behalf of positivism) and {{Charles Dickens dickensian}} episodes, beautifully written, no wonder it became {{SchoolStudyMedia required reading}} in secondary schools.

* {{Love Makes You Dumb}}: Virtually all dumb things Wokulski does are desperate attempts to get Izabela's attention or approval. The only smart thing he does for his love is learning english (as a surprise for her), so when [[spoiler: Izabela badmouths him to someone else in english, he can at least get properly {{DrivenToSuicide heartbroken}}.]]

* {{The Determinator}}: Deconstructed a bit. Wokulski does not give up. [[spoiler: Until he {{Driven To Suicide does}}, over something personally painful, but actually quite minor.]]

A novel by polish writer, Bolesław Prus, publicated at first in newspaper "Kurier Codzienny" since 29th September 1887 to 24th May 1889, then published in a book form in publishing house of Gebethner i Wolff in 1890.
It tells a story of newly enriched Stanisław Wokulski, who tries to win love of an aristocrat, Izabella Łęcka. He tries to do it by achieving friendship of her father and helping her family financially(however not so openly). As a girl is pretty cold to him because of his origin, he suffers, doubt his chances and even wonders if Izabella is really worth all of this.

* {{Desperatel yLooking For A Purpose In Life}}: Ochocki says he does. Might just be bored out of his skull.

* [[spoiler:{{Interrupted Suicide}}: After hearing Izabella's conversation with Starski(frankly they talked in English, convinced he wouldn't understand), Wokulski attempts suicide by throwing himself under the wheels of the train. He gets saved by Wysocki's brother (one of the random people Wokulski has [[Chekhovs Gunman helped]]).
* {{Everyone Loves Blondes}} Guess what colour Izabela's hair is?
* {{Love Makes You Dumb}} Virtually all dumb things Wokulski does are desperate attempts to get Izabela's attention or approval. The only smart thing he does for his love is learning english (as a surprise for her), so when [[spoiler: Izabela badmouths him to someone else in english, he can at least get properly [[DrivenToSuicide heartbroken]]
* {{Mad Scientist}} Professor Geist, though he might just be a conman. We'll never know...
* {{Madonna Whore Complex}} Wokulski has hints of this, possibly because his lofty ideals clash with what Izabela does.
* {{Romanticism Versus Enlightenment}} Major theme. Ignacy Rzecki is a consummate romantic, who thinks big (when it comes to politics - in his own life he's an unassuming, quiet person). Ochocki is a (kind of western style) positivist, fascinated by science. Wokulski (who fought in the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_Uprising January Uprising]] and was sent to Siberia for it, but later got rich selling grain to the Tzar's army) zigzags between the two. In the end, he's mostly driven by emotion. While still advocating modern technology and commiting small acts of good in a somewhat detached, absentminded way. He keeps thinking like a romantic, in terms of tragedy, then hitting the prose of life.
* {{Scars Are Forever}} Or, in Wokulski's case, frostbite marks he got in Siberia. Izabela finds them repulsive.
* {{Shrine To The Fallen}} Krzeszowska only stays in her old flat because she won't move anything in her late daughter's room.

* {{Star Crossed Lovers}} Wokulski's paternal uncle and countess Zasławska used to be very much in love. Money got in the way.

* {{The Dandy}} The young male part of {{The Beautiful Elite}}. Wokulski tries to be one for Izabela.
* {{The Determinator}} Deconstructed a bit. Wokulski does not give up. [[spoiler: Until he [[Driven To Suicide does]], over something personally painful, but actually quite minor.]]
* {{The Philosopher}} Wokulski monologues internally on the subjects of {{Love Hurts}} and {{Inherent In The System}}
* {{Upper Class Twit}} Tomasz Łęcki, Izabela's father, is not annoying or rude, but entirely clueless as to what the world is like.

* {{AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent}}: The novel has a conventional third-person narrator, but parts of it are taken from "The old salesman's diary", written by Ignacy Rzecki, whose interpretation of things is rather sadly {{wrong|EntertaininglyWrong}}. Also, he reminisces a lot.

* [[spoiler:{{Interrupted Suicide}}: After hearing Izabella's conversation with Starski(frankly they talked in English, convinced he wouldn't understand), Wokulski attempts suicide by throwing himself under the wheels of the train. He gets saved by Wysocki's brother, one of the random people Wokulski has helped {{Chekhovs Gunman}}]]

* {{Love Makes You Dumb}} Virtually all dumb things Wokulski does are desperate attempts to get Izabela's attention or approval. The only smart thing he does for his love is learning english (as a surprise for her), so when [[spoiler: Izabela badmouths him to someone else in english, he can at least get properly heartbroken {{DrivenToSuicide}}.]]

* {{The Determinator}} Deconstructed a bit. Wokulski does not give up. [[spoiler: Until he does {{Driven To Suicide}}, over something personally painful, but actually quite minor.]]

* AllTakeandNoGive: Izabella. In a short time she was actually in a relationship with Wokulski she was definitely the taker.
* Determinator: Wokulski. He would do practically everything for his love. Pity she doesn't careabout it.
[[spoiler:* InterruptedSuicide: After hearing Izabella's conversation with Starski(frankly they talked in English, which they he didn't understand), Wokulski attempted suicide by throwing himself under the wheels of the train. He was saved by Wysocki's brother, whom he earlier helped a lot. Well, Wokulski was pretty mad that this what he got for trying to be good.]]
* DudeWheresMyReward:[spoiler: Wokulski gave indirectly a lot of money to Izabella's family, getting nothing in return.]
* TooDumbtolive: A lot of aristocrats. Actually it's notable when someone isn't.

"!!The Doll contains examples of:

"!! [The Doll] contains examples of: