A Doll's House Research Paper

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What is the ideal home life to live? A Doll’s House is a play written by Henrik Ibsen. The setting of the play is the Helmer’s house in 1879. The main characters are Torvald and Nora Helmer. In this time period women were not considered as equals to men. Nora is treated like a doll living in Torvald’ s doll house because he controls her actions and calls her pet names. He believes Nora’s only job is to please him. Torvald has the power to control Nora’s actions. Since she was a little girl, starting with her father, she is based off his opinions. Nora grew up thinking his way was the only way and that idea transferred to Torvald. He does not trust Nora with money because she is incapable and immature. In the opening of act one, Torvalds thoughts on money shows when he …show more content…

Nora’s main task is to please Torvald in a few different ways. He wants her to take care of the children and clean up around the house. Torvald wants Nora to pleasure him at his command. He gets his way by loving her with his words that admire her beauty. Another reason she is so quickly to do things for Torvald is because she is completely dependent on him. Nora lives in Torvald’s house and without him she wouldn’t have much of a place to stay. One thing Nora does for herself in her spare time is knit. When Nora and Mrs. Linde are talking about the ball she says, “Tomorrow evening there is to be a fancy- dress ball at the Stenborgs’, who live above us; and Torvald wants me to go as a Neapolitan fisher-girl, and dance the Tarantella that I learned at Capri” (Ibsen 1378). Nora asked Torvald to help her pick out a costume, but this expresses exactly how specific in what he wants for Nora. According to the way he thinks, Nora’s presentation at the ball is a reflection of him and their marriage. They spend quality time together at the ball and while Torvald helps Nora practice her

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