A Doll's House Analytical Essay

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In the 1800s, women were not allowed to be themselves or do what they loved; instead, they had to act and dress a certain way to please their husbands. In the play, A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, Nora Helmer lives a life that is not her own.Her existence is based around the thoughts of others. But, the reader can begin to notice more of who she really is: a woman with her own thoughts and feelings. Nora escapes her controlled nightmare because she realizes she needs to develop her own perspective on life. Torvald belittles Nora as a human being and treats her like a child because he believes she cannot do anything for herself. When Nora tries to make intelligent commentary on an important subject Torvald comes back with a sarcastic comment saying, “Just listen! ---little Nora talking about scientific investigations” (Ibsen 3.59)! He does not respectfully acknowledge the commentary she tries to create for herself because he believes she is nothing more than a woman with a pretty head on her shoulders. He cannot fathom Nora trying …show more content…

Nora explains to Torvald that “[she] can no longer content [herself] with what most people say or with what is found in books. [She] must think over things for [herself] and get to understand them” (3.68). Nora goes through a midlife crisis but for the best, she wants to create her character and learn from her own mistakes. She can read books and listen to what those around her say but unless she goes out and creates her own perspective, she will not learn or grow as a human being. When she gets the opportunity to experience a life away from the one she has always led, she takes it. Nora knows that people will talk about her but by the end of the play, she cares about what she wants in life, not what other people will think of her decisions. Above all else, she finally takes the chance to be the heroine of her own

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