History Literature / TheDoll

* HotGuyUglyWife: While not extraordinarily attractive, Wokulski was once locked in a relationship like that with Małgorzata Mincel, who was around sixty years at the time of their marriage while Wokulski was 39.

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

* AbhorrentAdmirer: Grumpy, large and socially awkward Wokulski for Izabela. Also, the sociable Małgorzata Mincel for Wokulski.

* ShrineToTheFallen: Krzeszowska only stays in her old flat because she won't move anything in her late daughter's room.

* SingleTargetSexuality: Go ahead and guess.

Being full of social criticism, subtle philosophical arguments (on behalf of positivism) and [[Creator/CharlesDickens dickensian]] episodes, beautifully written, no wonder it became [[SchoolStudyMedia required reading]] in secondary schools.

[[SimilarlyNamedWorks No relation]] to [[Film/TheDoll the 1919 Lubitsch film.]]

* NotSoDifferent: Szuman, for all his cynicism, admits to having suffered a bad case of LoveHurts in his youth.

* UpperClassTwit: Tomasz Łęcki, Izabela's father, is very polite and well mannered, but entirely clueless as to what the world is like.
* YourCheatingHeart: Ewelina.

''Lalka'' [[labelnote:translation]]the/a doll[[/labelnote]] by Bolesław Prus (the pen name of Aleksandfter Głowacki) is regarded by some as the best novel ever written in Polish. First serialized in the 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 SelfMadeMan Stanisław Wokulski trying to win the love of an [[IceQueen aristocrat]] Izabela Łęcka, at the same time working out who he actually is and what he actually wants, which is anything but simple.

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

[[SimilarilyNamedWorks No relation]] to [[Film/TheDoll the 1919 Lubitsch film.]]

''Lalka'' [[labelnote:translation]]the/a doll[[/labelnote]] by Bolesław Prus (the pen name of Aleksander Głowacki) is regarded by some as the best novel ever written in Polish. 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 SelfMadeMan Stanisław Wokulski trying to win the love of an [[IceQueen aristocrat]] Izabela Łęcka, at the same time working out who he actually is and what he actually wants, which is anything but simple.

* DeathSeeker: Wokulski has these moments. He does try suicide later in the boo, but is rescued.

* TheTease: Izabela is a flirt. Even with her fiance around. Wąsowska can't let a men go unseduced either, though she finds Wokulski [[SingleTargetSexuality unbreakable]].

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

* TheBeautifulElite

* DeathSeeker: Wokulski has these moments.

** The second one was actually lucky loosing [[ImprobableAimingSkills his tooth]], [[ItMakesSenseInContext not head]].

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

* HenpeckedHusband: In Rzecki's part of the narrative - Wokulski's marriage to Małgorzata. He mostly did it not to starve, she thought he was hot as hell and kept fawning over him and showing him off, driving him crazy.

* GratuitousEnglish: 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.

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

* JewishAndNerdy: Szuman is a doctor of medicine with strong scientific interests. Also Szlangbaum's father thinks this trope is the greatest advantage Jews have.

'''Lalka''' [[labelnote:translation]]the/a doll[[/labelnote]] by Bolesław Prus (the pen name of Aleksander Głowacki) is regarded by some as the best novel ever written in Polish. 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 SelfMadeMan Stanisław Wokulski trying to win the love of an [[IceQueen aristocrat]] Izabela Łęcka, at the same time working out who he actually is and what he actually wants, which is anything but simple.

"Lalka" by Bolesław Prus (the pen name of Aleksander Głowacki) is regarded by some as the best novel ever written in Polish. 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, at the same time working out who he actually is and what he actually wants, which is anything but simple.

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

"Lalka" by Bolesław Prus (the pen name of Aleksander Głowacki) is regarded by some as the best novel ever written in Polish.
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, at the same time working out who he actually is and what he actually wants, which is anything but simple.

* BilingualBackfire: Farewell, miss Iza.

* DeadpanSnarker: Doctor Szuman and mme Meliton have both got the fuzzy end of the lolly in their respective lives, making them rather snarky.
* DeathByDespair: [[spoiler: Ignacy Rzecki falls ill after Wokulski's dissapearance and Napoleon the third's death]]. 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.

* 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. Tiny ones.
* DoggedNiceGuy: Second version in Wokulski. Whose LoveInterest is explicitly stated in the narrative to be incapable of true love.

* FixingTheGame: 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.

* GratuitousEnglish: 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.

* TheIngenue: Discussed and deconstructed. Izabela and Ewelina, the pretty, refined, graceful young ladies, are completely self-absorbed and shallow. The women of this sort are compared by Mme Zasławska to dolls, pretty, but worthless - and when they grow up, it's usually too late. Wąsowska is implied to have been one in her youth.

* ImStandingRightHere: Mr Łęcki runs into the shop, shouting abuse about Szlangbaum's father (who really, really hasn't ripped him off, but mr Łęcki is a bit [[UpperClassTwit deluded]] about money).

* MistakenForSpies: The English teacher and mme Meliton, by Ignacy Rzecki, who seems convinced Wokulski is part of a spy network.

* PrincessInRags: Mr. Łęcki has lost nearly all his money. You'd never tell from his and his daughter's lifestyle.

* TheBeautifulElite
* TheDandy: The young male part of TheBeautifulElite. Wokulski tries to be one for Izabela.
* TheDeterminator: Deconstructed a bit. Wokulski does not give up. Ever. Until he finally [[DrivenToSuicide does]], over something personally painful, but actually quite minor and easily foreseen.
* TheMatchmaker: Mme Meliton is one by profession. Rzecki has, in good faith, set Wokulski up with Małgorzata Mincel, and tries to set him up with Helena Stawska, because he thinks they're made for each other.
* TheMorlocks: The only thing Izabela is scared of (see the factory scene in chapter V).

* ThePhilosopher: Wokulski monologues internally on the subjects of LoveHurts and InherentInTheSystem.
* 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 molecular structures has its limits, like everything).

* GratuitousGerman: The older generation of Mincel family. Jan and Franc are bilingual. Ignacy Rzecki, who grew up with them, falls into GratitiousGerman a couple of times.

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

* AllIssuesArePoliticalIssues: 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.

* AmbiguousEnding: [[spoiler: Wokulski vanishes. He might have killed himself, or left for Paris just as well.]]

* 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. Small ones.

* FrivolousLawsuit: Krzeszowski (who has seventeen lawsuits over his own debts) falls like a ton of bricks upon his wife after she sues Stawska for theft of her late daughter's doll. Which was actually broken by Krzeszowska's maid. She then hid it to avoid punishment.
* GadgeteerGenius / AbsentMindedProfessor: Realistic version in Ochocki, who holds degrees in natural history and engineering, and has invented a couple of things.

* GratuitousEnglish: 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.
* HenpeckedHusband: In Rzecki's part of the narrative- Wokulski's marriage to Małgorzata. He mostly did it not to starve, she thought he was hot as hell and kept fawning over him and showing him off, driving him crazy.

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

* MadonnaWhoreComplex: Wokulski has hints of this, possibly because his lofty ideals clash with what Izabela does.
* MakeUpIsEvil: Not very evil, but dangerous to the user's health. Małgorzata dies after applying some sort of snake oil that was supposed to make her prettier.

* MistakenForSpies: The English teacher and mme Meliton, by Ignacy Rzecki, who seems convinced Wokulski is part of some spy network.
* MoralGuardians: Krzeszowska inexplicably accuses Helena Stawska of seducing her husband, Wokulski, Rzecki... She's also very concerned with her maid's perceived lack of morality, but can't see anything wrong in the frequent executor of her schemes, Maruszewicz. Who is a petty forger.
* NoAccountingForTaste: Peple think this of Ewelina and the baron. She only sees his money and bad health, but he's actually in love.
* NobilityMarriesMoney: Why Izabela's family isn't so adverse to Wokulski.

* PrettyBoy: Several. Mostly in Izabela's circles - Starski is one of them

* 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.

* TheDeterminator: Deconstructed a bit. Wokulski does not give up. Ever. Until he finally [[DrivenToSuicide does]], over something personally painful, but actually quite minor.
* TheMatchmaker: 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.