If drama is tension, then Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House must be an all-out war, with Ibsen taking on the role of a Realistic Period Patton. The play, first published in 1879, tells the story of Nora, a middle-aged house wife living in a society in which she has no rights or voice. However, with disregard to societal norms and the law, Nora forges her father’s signature to borrow money so that she and her family may go on a vacation that is responsible for saving her husband’s life. With Nora’s action unbeknownst to him, Nora’s husband, Torvald, fires the man from whom Nora loaned the money. Ibsen foreshadows, introduces, and resolves the conflict flowingly, leaving the reader in suspense throughout the entire play.
Ibsen doesn’t blatantly present the conflict to the reader at the onset of the play. Instead, he gives the reader subtle clues that suggest conflicting character traits may later serve as catalysts for the tension. For instance, the play opens during the Christmas season. Nora is returning home from buying a tree for her house and gifts for her children. Nora calls Torvald into the room to “come and see what [she has] bought,” (12). Though Nora is obviously proud of herself for buying her family gifts, her husband’s sardonic tone shows his opinion that she has been too excessive in her spending: “Did you say you bought? All that? Has Madame Extravagant been throwing money away again?” (12). If the Helmers disagree on spending money on Christmas gifts, then the same argument would surely occur over borrowing a large sum of money. Ibsen leaves it up to his reader to fill in the blank for this syllogistic foreshadowing.
In reply to Torvald’s reprimand, Nora reminds her husband of his new, higher-paying promotion, and ...
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...s out, he blackmails her to try and keep his job. Torvald fires him unbeknownst to the situation. At the end of the play, the connection between relationships and the tension is shown. When Nora’s husband finds out about the loan, he harasses her, calling her a lunatic. Then, he tries to reconcile with her upon learning that Krogstad has forgiven the loan, but Nora, seeing his true feelings about her, leaves him. The whole situation could have been avoided had Mrs. Linde let Krogstad ask for his letter back. Ibsen methodically builds and releases the suspense throughout the play, never being too melodramatic or over-the-top. The ebb and flow of the emotional feel of the play makes it more realistic and, in turn, the relatability of the play makes the suspense, as a reader, more believable.
Works Cited
Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll's House. Chicago: I. R. Dee, 1999. Print.
A Doll House, a play written by Henrik Ibsen, published in the year 1879, stirred up much controversy within its time period because it questioned the views of society's social rules and norms. "Throughout most of history... Wifehood and motherhood were regarded as women's most significant professions... The resulting stereotype that 'a woman's place is in the home' has largely determined the ways in which women have expressed themselves" ("Women's History in America"). Ibsen places many hints throughout his play about the roles of women and how they were treated in his time. Nora is perceived as a typical housewife; maintaining the house and raising her children. However, Nora had actually hired a maid to do all of those typical housewife duties for her. Nora was naive, and ambitious. She hid many secrets from her husband. The way women were viewed in this time period formed a kind of barrier that Nora could not overcome. Women should not be discriminated against just because of their gender and within reason they should be able to do what their heart entails.
Nora and Torvald were very poor and had to watch what they spent, but after Torvald earned a new position at the bank where he works, they no longer had to worry about how much money they have spent. Mrs. Linde, Nora’s friend, came to speak to Nora about her life and what has gone on since her husband has died. Nora then begins to tell her how Torvald became sick and how they had to travel to Italy so he could recover, but since they didn’t have enough money she illegally borrowed money for the trip and has been trying to repay the debt before he or anyone could notice. Krogstad, an employee at the bank, then black mails Nora and threatens to tell her husband that she stole money if she does not convince him to let him keep his job. Mrs. Linde and Krogstad both reveal that they had fallen for each other and she tries to convince him to not tell Torvald of his wife’s secret, but instead she tells him to leave the note for him to find out. Torvald then finds the letter and is angry. He tells Nora mean things and calls her a liar and then tells her she will not be allowed to raise their kids. Once Helene, their housemaid, brings another letter containing the contract the tries to apologize and ask forgiveness. Nora then begins to express her feelings of how they do not belong together and explains that she feels like a “doll” that is played with and admired. She then decides to leave Torvald. Mrs. Linde and Krogstad both used Nora’s secret to get what they wanted. Although, Mrs. Linde didn’t know her secret at the beginning she still used it against her at the end because she felt that Torvald needed to know what she had
Henrik Ibsen uses his play, A Doll’s House, to challenge the status of the typical marriage and question feminist equality. Ibsen makes an example of the Helmer marriage by exposing social problems within society. The play ends without any solutions, however, Ibsen does offer women possibilities. Nora is a heroine among women, then and now.
...the tensions which lied within the Helmer household. After living within Torvald’s world and not being able to participate in activities in which she pleased, Nora walked out on her family and said “now it is all over” (Ibsen 129). She began to refer to Torvald as a “stranger” (Ibsen129), because she was leaving his misogynistic ways behind and pursued to commence a better life for herself. Seeing that the play defines the perceived gender roles of the time, Ibsen wrote A Doll’s House to support his ostracized view of a woman being the equivalent of a man.
The manner in which Torvald talks down to his wife and the apparent. unopposed acceptance of this by his wife, is evidence that, at least. Initially, power firmly rests in the grip of Nora’s husband. Nora’s language is full of indefinite, qualitative statements, demonstrated. especially when talking about Torvald's salary, however, when Torvald speaks.
Quote from Torvald and the money. It immediately distinguishes the differences in gender roles and morals in Norway during the late 1800’s. While Nora is willing to give the porter twice what is owed, we assume she is full of holiday spirit; Torvald has a much more sensible outlook on financial concerns. While he jokingly calls her his little spendthrift, he asserts that her lack of understanding is a result of her gender “Nora, my Nora, that is just like a woman” (Ibsen). Torvald believes that her place in the home is simply ornamental, a trophy that serves as decoration for his home.
...a that an idealistic lifestyle based off of lies and falsehood is in fact, not an idealistic lifestyle at all. At every opportunity Ibsen suggests that behind the façade of marriage, what exists is nothing close to what a marriage should be, and this is exactly what Nora comes to realize nearing the end of the play. The one miracle she had hopped to occur, was that their “Living together could be a true marriage.” It is undeniable that the ideas Ibsen develops that truth plays a crucial role in idealistic living; and when such idealistic lifestyles are built on deceit an individual will eventually undergo an epiphany resulting in a radical understanding of reality. In the case of this play, Nora and Torvald’s relationship disintegrates and she leaves him to find herself and to find a true idealistic lifestyle. As for Nora and Torvald, their marriage is destroyed.
Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll House examines a woman’s struggle for independence in her marriage and social world. Through the use of character change, Ibsen conveys his theme that by breaking away from all social expectations, we can be true to ourselves. When Ibsen presents Nora Helmer, we see a “perfect” wife, who lives in a “perfect” house with a “perfect” husband and children. The Helmer children have a nanny that raises them. By having the nanny, Nora has the freedom to come and go as she pleases. Torvald Helmer, Nora’s husband, will begin a new job as bank manager, so they will be rich, which will make her “perfect” life even better. Torvald even calls Nora pet names like “my sweet little lark” (Ibsen 1567) and “my squirrel” (Ibsen 1565). These names may seem to be harmless and cute little nicknames, but the names actually show how little he thinks of her. “Torvald uses derogatory diminutives to address Nora” (Kashdan 52). Torvald talks down to her. Nora is “regarded as property rather than a partner” (Drama for Students 112). He isn’t treating her like a real person. In Torvald eyes, she isn’t an equal. “Nora is viewed as an object, a toy, a child, but never an equal” (Drama for Students 109).
In this passage of “A Doll’s House” by Ibsen, the reader is presented with a decisive moment in the play. It provides the crucial turning point in which Nora’s changes her outlook towards Helmer by being independently decisive. Nora’s requirement to obtain freedom from her accustomed lifestyle, demonstrated so precisely here, is depicted from her search for what can be found in the world in accordance to her conflict. It gives her an authoritative position in holding the reins to her life. This is the climatic part within the play, due to its illustration of Nora’s character and opposition to remain under the control of her husband. The belittlement of Nora is also seen, which will lead to her final decision of walking out on her family to explore what the world has in stock for her.
In, A Doll’s House, the reader meets Nora, a woman desperately trying to hide a secret that ended up changing her life forever. When Nora’s deceitful ways finally come to haunt her, she comes to a shocking conclusion. She must leave her family to find out who she is exactly. Ibsen uses deceit as the main theme of A Doll’s House to create drama in a seemingly peaceful world. It teaches the reader that sooner or later their deceit will catch up with them. Ibsen created a play where a marriage was tested by one criminal lie and where one woman tested the rules of society with her deceit.
Mrs. Linde, a childhood friend of Nora's, and Dr. Rank, Torvald's best friend, both arrive at the Helmer home at the same time. Dr. Rank retires to Torvald's study, and Mrs. Linde reacquaints with Nora. The two have not seen one another in about a decade. Nora acts very much like a naïve child throughout the conversation with her friend. She tells Mrs. Linde about Torvald's approaching appointment to bank manager and expresses how relieved she is that they will soon have all the money they...
Ibsen points out flaws within society by writing this satirical and feminist play. A Doll House is largely about gender inequality, and written in order to open the eyes of the public to stop the imbalance in society. He uses Torvald, and, at one instance, Nora's father to represent the constraints, stresses, and belittlement men put on women. He parallels the trapped feeling most women had in society to Nora, who felt like a cornered dog and felt deceit was her only way out. Women should not have to "wear a mask," they should be free to express their true feelings and hopes without a man's undervaluing opinion. Ibsen felt this needed to be fixed in society; he felt there was no room for lies or deceit but rather that man and woman should live harmoniously together.
In Henrik Ibsen’s play, A Doll House Ibsen describes the perfect family and the conflicts within. Ibsen examines the normal lives of the Helmer family through the eyes of the wife, Nora Helmer. She goes through a series of trials as she progresses through the play and with each trial she realizes something is missing in her life. Ibsen examines the struggles within the house.
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
We see a woman who is making a bold action against gender inequality and the position society and culture has given her. As for Nora, we see in this first conversation that she seems entirely dependent on Torvald for her money, her food, and her shelter, despite the fact that she is keeping a secret. This secret is the kernel of her individuality and her escape from the doll’s house. While it is easy to paint Helmer as a tyrant and Nora as the naïve wife who suffers under his control, one must not forget that torvald is not aware of any damage he is causing. His greatest sin is perhaps his ignorance. The shock he shows at Nora’s revelation shows that he has no awareness that there is anything wrong with the status balance in his