A Doll's House By Henrik Ibsen

A Doll House, written by Henrik Ibsen, is a dramatic play about a man and a woman’s marriage. Nora, the protagonist, is trapped in the norm, she is a housewife and does what is instructed. Torvald, Nora’s husband, is the contributor of the family, yet can be portrayed as Nora’s puppet master. After eight long years Nora realizes she is not happy in life and wants to discover what exactly she seeks in life. Nora leaves behind Torvald and her children to find true happiness. The chains bounded to Nora casts a burden on her, restricting her leave thus, demonstrating the treatment of women in the past. Nora is a middle aged woman who is married to a man and has given birth to three children. Her children represent the heavy burden that Nora feels

Nora has a husband with such qualities, yet that is not what she dreams of having. Torvald is portrayed as the puppet master due to his actions and treatment towards Nora. Torvald limits the rights of Nora and prohibits her from doing certain things. One, for example to receive the letters from the mailbox. The key is kept with Torvald at all times as stated by Nora after asked by Mrs. Linde, “And your husband has the key?” “Yes, always.” (1745). This simple right that Nora is prohibited to causes intense drama in the future. Torvald not only limits her rights as a woman, but as a mother as well. When confronted with Nora’s past actions Torvald states, “But you can’t be allowed to bring up the children; I don’t dare trust you with them…” (1756). Torvald controls Nora as if she were a puppet, instructing her on what to do and say. Nora clearly states that she nothing but a doll living in a doll house, “But our home’s been nothing but a playpen. I’ve been your doll-wife here…” (1758). Torvald’s puppetry on Nora lead to her leave, thus showing how in this time period women were puppets, living in doll