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Characters and characterisation in a doll's house
Character analysis in a doll's house
The character and characterization in a doll's house
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Helmer and Nora's Relationship in Ibsen's Doll's House
Ibsens use of language helps us see the characters nature and to find
out their personality and structure of the characters relationships.
Each character has their own unique use of language. This helps us to
see the difference between the characters and their relationships. As
we read through the play A Dolls House this becomes clear when we
learn about Nora and Torvalds relationship and how it changes
throughout the play.
As we read throughout the play, the language used by Torvald gives us
an invaluable insight into his character, He never seems to be stuck
on what to say and his language remains confident and constant
throughout the majority of A Dolls House. Torvald see’s himself as
above Nora, he is a controlling and dominating person, he contantly
uses imperative language and interrogatatives to overrule the
conversation. He uses sarcastic language such as “Do I have to tell
you”. He is shocked that Nora doesn’t already know because he expects
everyone to have the same views as he does. Helmer sees himself as
above Nora, this wasn’t unheard of in this era, Men went to work
whilst women stayed at home and looked after the children. We can tell
that Torvald see’s himself as superior to Nora, he thinks shes not
going to succeed in being independent “Aha! So little miss independent
is in trouble and needs a man to rescue her, does she?”. He uses the
word little to undermine her and patronize her. He often does this
throughout the play, for example “Little miss obstinate” and “Little
silly”, hes talking to her like a child and like he’s her father and
he takes upon a fa...
... middle of paper ...
...our seven, Thirty-one
hours to live” This quote shows the audience she is panicking. Nora
uses lots of language which has double meanings “I shall not sleep
tonight” The audience can guess that she is planning on running away.
The language between Nora and Torvald changes throughout the play, at
first Torvald uses dominating language and Nora uses childlike
language to fit into the father/daughter role. Then at the end of Act
3 when Nora says shes leaving, she becomes strong and confident and
knows everything to say, Helmer becomes weak, confused and Nora
overrules him instead.
The language Ibsen uses gives us an invalueable insight into the
characters personality, he clearly shows the characters personality
throughout the play and uses language which clearly states the change
in Nora and Torvalds relationship.
Nora Helmer was a delicate character and she relied on Torvald for her identity. This dependence that she had kept her from having her own personality. Yet when it is discovered that Nora only plays the part of the good typical housewife who stays at home to please her husband, it is then understandable that she is living not for herself but to please others. From early childhood Nora has always held the opinions of either her father or Torvald, hoping to please them. This mentality makes her act infantile, showing that she has no ambitions of her own. Because she had been pampered all of her life, first by her father and now by Torvald, Nora would only have to make a cute animal sound to get what she wanted from Torvald, “If your little squirrel were to ask you for something very, very, prettily” (Ibsen 34) she said.
Nora, the wife of Torvald Helmer and mother of three children, plays a fundamental role within Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House," published in 1879. Nora's character demonstrates typical characteristics of the `average woman' during the 1870's and 1880's. Women were not regarded as equals according to men; however women did have a large impact on the economy. This was caused by large sums of money spent on several garments, costumes, and accessories. It was customary, not to mention fashionable, for a woman to wear undergarments, a bustle, narrow shoes, and an expensive, lavish dress as well. The appearance of a lady was of utmost importance, so one must recognize that women strove to meet those standards. Nora strives to look and act pretty in order to please Torvald; however she, like many other women during this time period, does not address the manner in which she may have liked to dress or act. This is obvious in "A Doll's House" in Act One. Nora implores Torvald to decide what she will wear to the party. He takes this lightly, and decides moments later. One could conclude at this point in the play that Nora is growing tired of being treated as though she is a child or animal that needs to be tamed or calmed. In spite of her true emotions, Nora plays along with Torvald out of desperation for time, and money. She does not want him to sit down and read his letters, for Krogstad has sent a response to his dismissal that includes Nora's previous actions. It is the mere thought of Torvald gaining consciousness of her faults that creates the initial worry for Nora.
a poor victim comes round to his home and asks him for help. She is
An underlying theme in Ibsen's play, A Doll's House is the rebellion of Nora and Mrs. Linde against society. Over the course of the play, Nora and Mrs. Linde both experienced an evolution from passive victims in a life pre-programmed for them by society to active agents in an uncertain and insecure life.
Conformity is a social construct that people tend to have the most control over. If one doesn’t “fit into” societal standards, they either accept their fate by not attempting to conform, or they try to take action. Taking action has either a positive, or a negative outcome. In the case of Nora Helmer in the play A Doll’s House, trying not to conform to society leaves her in a rough spot. Her husband, Torvald Helmer, blackmails her because of her knowledge of a large sum of debt they have accumulated due to medical bills. As an addition from the blackmail, Nora deals with a sort of “awakening”, slowly realizing what she’s worth and how the way society wants her to be is not particularly the way she wants herself to be. What Nora ultimately
Immediately, Nora appears childlike and coquettish. She orders Helene in an excitable tone to hide the Christmas tree as the children "mustn't see it till tonight." Nora's secretiveness in wanting to hide the tree, extends further, and is a constant theme. Following Torvald's light- hearted interrogation with regard to whether she has had any macaroons, she becomes nervous and lies, "No Torvald, I promise...No No...Torvald I swear." Of course, this is particularly important as the entire play rotates around Nora's "big secret." With the entrance of Krogstad, Nora's sense of fun abandons her. Her attempt to enforce her social superiority over him is genuinely intimidated. In her ambitious attempt to be superior she states "one isn't without influence". However, within moments she is forced into pleading "Mr. Krogstad, I don't have any influence."
Torvald was not the best husband in the world, but Nora chose to marry him. Nora never really got a chance to know Torvald. Torvald had his eye on Nora from the beginning. So he help her father and for that Nora was grateful, and thus became Mr. & Mrs. Helmer. It sounds like a very romantic story, but little did Nora know what would be in store for her. Torvald treated Nora like she was his child, I guess that is because he took no part in raising his children the he and Nora had together. If Nora would have taken the time to find out if Torvald was the one for her, then maybe it wouldn't have taken her eight years to realize that she never really loved him.
Nora Helmer plays variuos roles in this innovative three-act play of A Doll’s House. Nora’s role as a wife of Torvald Helmer, is exteremely courageous, who puts everything on bet to save her economically troubled husband and it goes totally unnoticed and this portrays the picture of the women of all middle classes in this society. Nora is cheerful natured woman who is loved by her husband very much. Torvald expresses his love toward her saying her “little lark” and “little squirrel” and other praising words. Though they love each other very much, Torvald sometimes uses words that are against his attitude of loving Nora. On the eve of Christmas, Nora buys lots of gifts for children. Though Torvald doesn’t like this, he tells her that they can spend more without caring much as compared to earlier
Torvald calls Nora by pet-names and speaks down to her because he thinks that she is not intelligent and that she can not think on her own.
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
This shows that Torvald is more interested in Nora physically than emotionally. He feels that it is one of Nora's main duties as his wife to physically pleasure him at his command.
A contrasting difference in the characters, are shown not in the characters themselves, but the role that they play in their marriages. These women have different relationships with their husbands. Torvald and Nora have a relationship where there is no equality. To Torvald Nora is an object. Hence, she plays the submissive role in a society where the lady plays the passive role. Her most important obligation is to please Torvald, making her role similar to a slave. He too considers himself superior to her.
It is a general consensus that women play more than one role after they are married and have a family. These roles include wife, mother, chauffeur, and nurse. In A Doll's House, Nora is given many roles to play and, though some of the above are included, she also plays the role of child, friend, confidante, and manipulator. But the greatest feat that she accomplishes is her star performance as doting daughter and submissive spouse.
In the play A Dolls House, Nora seems to be quite happy with her life and the people in it as she portrays the perfect wife. Into the play you understand that Nora isn’t as put together as she seems. She is more of a determined and ambitious woman as she tackles her debt that her husband doesn’t know about, even though she is in it for him. She is willing to break the law for her husband which shows a loving wife. Torvald loves Nora, but he continuously treats her as if he is her father. Torvald’s control issues stem from him wanting to maintain an appearance in front of the world; which is why they live in a “doll house.” The play includes many themes and symbolism that give a deeper meaning to Nora living in a Dolls house as she notices her true potential and regaining control over her life.
Nora Helmer in a A Dolls House is a women ahead of her time. In order to protect her children from a false life, she inflicts tragedy upon herself by leaving everything she has by walking away. She puts herself in this tragic situation by not being honest. Nora lies to herself and the ones she cares about. Before she leaves her life is not her own person she is carrying on life as a role. Making others happy, instead of herself.