Final answer:
Characters such as Calixta, Catherine, and Nora defy societal and legal norms in their respective narratives, embodying a spirit of rebellion and illustrating a theme of self-determination against oppressive structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks for instances in which characters from selected novels diverge from societal norms and legal expectations. In these narratives, characters such as Calixta, Catherine, and Nora display acts of rebellion against the limitations imposed upon them by society and law. For instance, Calixta's self-expression and passion in Chopin's story symbolize her resistance to the repressed womanhood of her time. Similarly, Catherine in the works of Austen, and Nora in Ibsen's play, demonstrate their unwillingness to conform to socially accepted behavior.
Nora, from Henrik Ibsen's 'A Doll's House', particularly questions the validity of a law that does not take into account personal motives or moral considerations, signifying a challenge to the strictures of her society. These characters collectively embody a spirit of defiance and illustrate a thematic preoccupation with the individual's right to self-determination in the face of oppressive societal and legal structures.