A Doll's House Analytical Essay

1313 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: A doll's house essay on symbolism

Along what seems in the beginning to be a similar path is the dramatic play written by Henrik Ibsen, titled, “A Doll’s House”. The play, “A Doll’s House” contains three acts that take the reader through an a comprehensive level of developing the dynamics of a family household, a circumstance that creates difficulty and some twists and turns in which the circumstance brings about clarity and resolve (BachelorandMaster.com, n.d.). In reality this dramatic play seems to have it all, early indications of what appears to be perfect home and loving marriage, followed by deceit that has been created by the so-called perception of society, wealth, individual virtue, and moral standards. The play takes place during Christmas and New Year’s which seems …show more content…

It opens with Christmas day and Mrs. Linde stopping by to help Nora sew a costume. During conversation Mrs. Linde becomes bothersome asking questions and wanting to know more details about Nora’s secret, which Nora does not oblige her with. Nora continues to ask her husband to keep Krogstad on the bank payroll, which he does not budge instead sends him a letter of termination. Meanwhile, the daily visit from Dr. Rank occurs except for he seems to be a bit sadder than usual and explains to Nora that he is dying and basically indicates to her that he has feelings for …show more content…

Krogstad then exits, but stops at the letter box dropping a letter to Torvald, filled with the details of Nora’s deceit. Nora tells Mrs. Linde what Krogstad has done and her marriage is in jeopardy in which Mrs. Linde agrees to help by talking with Krogstad. Both women devise a plan to stall Torvald from going to the letter box until Mrs. Linde can talk some sense into Krogstad. The scene closes with the unfortunate news that Krogstad is out of town for a couple of days, but that Mrs. Linde left word for him to contact her. Nora seemingly admits to defeat as Henrik Ibsen writes, “Nora: You should have let it alone; you must prevent nothing. After all, it is splendid to be waiting for a wonderful thing to happen. Mrs. Linde: What is it that you are waiting for? Nora: Oh, you wouldn’t understand. Go in to them, I will come in a moment…Five o’clock. Seven hours till midnight. Then the Tarantella will be over. Twenty-four and seven? Thirty-one hours to live.” (Ibsen, 1879, pg.

Show More
Related

  • Free Essays on A Doll's House: Manipulation

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    Krogstad is different from Torvald because he is not as well off economically and socially and this leads him to try an extremer form of manipulation.  Krogstad is desperate to keep his job at the bank and tries to get Nora to secure the job with her husband through blackmail.  Since he was once found to be forging documents, his reputation has been flaky, so in order to regain his reputation for his sons: "For their sake I must win back as much respect as I can in the town" (22), he needs to keep his job at the bank.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Ibsen's A Doll's House

    1853 Words  | 4 Pages

    Nora is the pampered wife of an aspiring bank manager Torvald Halmer. In a desperate attempt to saves her husband's life Nora once asked for a loan so she and her family could move somewhere where her husband could recover from his sickness. Giving the circumstances she, as a woman of that period, by herself and behind her husband forged her dad signature to receive the loan. Now, Nora's lender (Mr. Krogstad), despite her paying punctually, uses that fault as a fraud to pressure her so she could help him to keep his job in the Bank where her husband is going to be the manager. Nora finds out that Torvald would fire Mr. Krogstad at any cost. At learning this, Nora trembles for she knows Mr. Krogstad will tell everything to Torvald. She remains confident; however that Torvald will stand by her no matter what outcome. His reaction though is not what she expected and therefore here is when she realizes that she "must stand quite alone" and leaves her husband.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Women In 'A Doll House And Simply Maria'

    1256 Words  | 3 Pages

    This leads Nora into a frenzy of techniques to convince her husband into not firing Krogstad, however; Nora had been the one who recommended Mrs Linde to work for Helmer, who is now the one replacing Krogstad. After many attempts, Nora is unable to convince Helmer to keep Krogstad. The last day she seems hopeless and willing to assume the consequences, she has a final opportunity at getting away with it; by finding out Mrs Linde and Krogstad have unsolved romantic affairs and that he is deeply in love with her. This new development convinces Krogstad to be with Mrs linde, but unfortunately the previous letter telling everything about the debt and forgery was already in Helmer’s mail. When the night comes for Helmer to read his mail, he finds out about the note and Nora’s mistakes, he is quick to think of a way to come up clean, while at the same time dishonoring Nora for her actions. “ Oh, what an awful awakening! In all these eight years-she who was my pride and joy-a hypocrite, a liar-worse, worse-a criminal” (Doll Act 3). Nora’s attitude at this point is guilt and shame. Soon after another letter is received. Krogstad sends the note, implicitly liberating them from all guilt and also attaches a letter apologizing and explaining the events that recently took place in his life,

    Read More

  • Examples Of Narcissism In A Doll House

    963 Words  | 2 Pages

    A grandiose sense of importance and uniqueness can be argued for Nora in the beginning of the play when she reunites with a friend she hasn’t seen in many years. Instead of allowing the friend to talk Nora rhapsodizes about her ideal life with her husband and children all while knowing about the hardship her friend has faced in recent years (Ibsen, 1731). Although this is a selfish thing to do to a friend; Nora is a secretive person afraid of allowing people to get close enough to see under the mask she wears every

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Realism Essay

    1918 Words  | 4 Pages

    Although Krostad’s blackmail does not change Nora’s whimsical nature, it opens her eyes to her underappreciated potential. “I have been performing tricks for you, Torvald,” (Find a different quote perhaps?) she exclaims in her confrontation with Torvald. She realizes that she has been putting on a facade for him throughout their marriage. Acting like someone she is not in order to fill the role that her father, Torvald, and society expected her to have.

    Read More

  • Similarities And Differences Between Nora Helmer And Nils Krogstad

    1121 Words  | 3 Pages

    His appearance in the story proves to be the catalyst forcing Nora to examine how happy she is hiding secrets from her husband for fear that he would not love her if he finds out. Because both are the lone ones in A Doll’s House who see every case about morality situationally, they starkly see how those who do not conform to society’s conventions are greatly ostracized. Krogstad has even experienced this isolation when he is shunned from his work place despite being fairly competent at his tasks. This unfair treatment lingers in Nora’s mind as she struggles with her own worries. To aid her toward the direction of self-honesty, Krogstad and Christine decide that the truth of Nora’s actions must be revealed since they have just finished their talk about their feelings and pasts. Ultimately, Nora realizes that no matter her efforts, she is fake for constantly trying to be someone she is not without finding who she really is. She sees that Torvald treats her horribly like how he treats Krogstad because both committed a similar crime, and she decides that if Torvald acts the same way to her as to a coworker for the sake of appearances, she is like a stranger to him. The two must separate to reflect in order to live a life without deceit, even if it means breaking this perfect doll-house life Nora has meticulously crafted for the past eight

    Read More

  • Character Analysis Of Nora In A Doll House

    1168 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nora is a dynamic character. When the play begins Nora is viewed and presented as a playful and carefree person. She seems to be more intent on shopping for frivolous things. But, as time goes on it becomes apparent that Nora actually has a certain amount of seriousness in her decisions and actions in dealing with the debt she incurred to save Torvald’s life. Nora’s openness in her friendship with Dr. Rank changes after he professes his affections toward her. Her restraint in dealing with him shows that Nora is a mature and intelligent woman. Nora shows courage, not seen previously, by manipulating her way around Krogstad and his threats to reveal her secret. After feeling betrayed by Torvald, Nora reveals that she is leaving him. Having

    Read More

  • A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen

    1413 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Krogstad makes his first entrance, the audience senses that he portends evil. Nora “starts” and “trembles” at his voice (Ibsen). Dr. Rank says that Krogstad “suffers from a diseased moral character” (Ibsen). Torvald says that Krogstad has been “persistently poisoning his own children with lies and dissimulation” (Ibsen). It is obvious that Nora and Krogstad have a secret, but uncomfortable, relationship. Nora becomes nervous when she sees him, but pretends that she does not know who he is when speaking to others. Krogstad works at the bank where Torvald has just been appointed as director. Krogstad senses that he will be dismissed when Torvald assumes the supervision of the place. Therefore, he comes to Nora asking her to u...

    Read More

  • The Use Of Crime As A Device In Crime And Punishment And A Doll’s House

    1042 Words  | 3 Pages

    an example of the individual’s struggle against society” (Mitchell 136). She was punished severely for something that could be considered a petty crime and the crime ultimately led to her and Torvald’s separation and her leaving the house. In addition, “Christine Linde and Nils Krogstad’s subplot ending in marriage happens at the same time as Nora’s break with Torvald.” (Davies 51) The sharp contrast between the two creates conflict within the audience members because Krogstad is being rewarded for blackmail as Nora is being punished for saving her husband’s life.

    Read More

  • An analysis of A Doll’s House main theme: Independence

    932 Words  | 2 Pages

    The theme in the play is widely centered on independence, as Nora shares her experiences with it during the beginning of the play. In Act I, it is Christmas Eve and Nora is decorating the house while Dr.Rank and Mrs. Linde visit the household. Nora and Mrs. Linde began talking, and Nora starts to reminisce about the time when she and Torvald had first gotten married and she was required to work to earn extra money because they were having financial difficulties. Nora looks back on that moment and has fond memories although the working world is seen as a “man’s” world; she reveled in the independence to make...

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Symbolism Essay

    1088 Words  | 3 Pages

    The play “A Doll House” by Henrik Ibsen starts in the Helmer’s home on Christmas Eve. At the beginning of the play, the audience is introduced to Nora Helmer, the woman of the household. Nora is completely delighted with her life, and feels favorable for the way her life is coming along. She looks forward to the New Year when her husband starts his new job as a bank manager, where he will “have a big salary and earn lots and lots of money” (Ibsen 1350). Torvald Helmer, her husband, teases her and treats her like a child who is incapable. Nora responds to her husband’s actions with pure affection and does not seem to mind her controlled doll-like life. In the play Ibsen creates the setting in the late 1800s where women took care of the household, family, and children. Men saw women as delicate, innocent, unknowledgeable, and uneducated in the business world. Symbolism plays a large role in comprehending the play. The Christmas tree, the Tarantella, and the New Year are symbols that unveil the life of the characters and what they stand for.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis: A Doll's House

    1433 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lastly, the amount of deception and dishonesty between Nora and Torvald would have broken the marriage even without Krogstad’s extortion plot. Both Nora and Torvald are living in a world of lies, and both of them are not honest with each other and themselves. In the beginning of the play, Torvald and Nora are portrayed to be a perfect couple with a perfect life. Nora is seen returning home after a day of shopping and is greeted lovingly by her husband. Even though they seemed to have had some financial troubles in the past, Torvald just received a new job as a bank manager and everything seemed to be alright, but behind the scenes nothing was alright.

    Read More

  • The Breaking of a Family in A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen

    738 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nora’s life begins to fall apart with the arrival of Krogstad as Nora becomes fearful of him. The life Nora had now begins to slowly change as more people are added to the mix of visitors during the Christmas holid...

    Read More

  • The Character Of Nora In A Doll's House

    1110 Words  | 3 Pages

    Krogstad creates an elaborate plan to blackmail Nora and tell her husband about her forgery if she does not persuade Torvald to keep him employed. This would lead to many legal consequences for Nora and would disrupt the family and Torvald 's business as he would take full blame for her illegal actions. Nora 's secret begins to eat at her as she contemplates what she is going to do to solve the problem.  To the audience, Nora 's impression has been completely altered. The secret that Nora possesses, reveals to the audience that her character is much more than just a trophy-wife and an object. In the meantime, Nora begins to look for different ways in order to pay back all of her debts. Nora explains that she, "was lucky enough to get a lot of copying to do... [like] working and earning money" (Ibsen Act 2). Nora begins to deter from that of a traditional wife, and takes on the role of the man and begins working to pay back all of the debt. The audience begins to recognize that Nora is evolving into a determined and brave wife who is willing to protect her secret to support her

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Sacrifice Analysis

    2126 Words  | 5 Pages

    After asking his wife if she understands what she has done Nora answers “[Looking squarely at him, her face hardening] Yes. I am beginning to understand everything” (835). This statement might be the key phrase of Nora’s realization. The double- meaning implies Nora’s understanding of the actual situation as well as her awareness that her marriage, even though it conforms with social expectations, is far from perfect. She now doubts the depth of her love for Torvald and becomes calm with comprehension as she begins to recognize the truth about her marriage. While she expects compassion for her sacrifice, she is none given. Instead of sacrificing anything to help Nora out of her predicament, Torvald is only worried about himself and appearances. It becomes very clear, after the second letter from Krogstad arrives, that her well-being always comes second “I’m saved. Nora, I’m saved! You too, of course” (836). Throughout the conversation with Torvald, Nora finally realizes, she needs to rearrange her life and priorities to be happy. This implies independence and self-awareness. While Nora finally understands the situation, she is in and what she needs to do but Torvald defines her new attitudes as madness “You’re ill, Nora; you’re feverish; I almost think you’re out of your mind” (840). “However, the characterization has been tied to the fact that she is breaking taboos or challenging conventions” (Langås 160). Torvald is still stuck in his fantasy world of how a wife should talk and act per his standard and the society he stands for. “Nora still has no way of knowing that she is not endangering her children with her presence and in the end, she feels impelled to leave, and her decision is less an act of defiance against her husband and society than an attempt to save the lives of her children” (Brooks

    Read More

More about A Doll's House Analytical Essay

Open Document