Major Works Data Sheet Author: Henrik Ibsen Date of Publication: 1879 Genre: Realistic, tragic, drama Title: A Doll’s House --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Style a. Point of View – 3rd person limited. This is significant since there are many important characters, so first person wouldn’t show enough of the story. b. Structure – The work is formatted to be a play. It has three acts, each beginning with stage directions. c. Diction – • Act 1- Informal, ordinary. “Someone would have to come just now! What a bore!” • Acts 2 and 3- Serious, formal. “And I have to sink to such depths of agony..” • The diction is significant because it shows that the characters …show more content…
are sometimes more dramatic than they need to be. d. Syntax – In the beginning of the play, the sentences are short, but then slowly develop into longer, more complex sentences. This is significant because there is more secrecy at first, which is why there is a need to keep the sentences short and vague. As the secrets start to be revealed, the sentences are longer and more detailed. e. Tone – In the first act, the overall tone is cheerful and bright. In the second and third acts, the tone is worried and stressed. This is significant because the shift in tone reflects the presence of conflict. f. Imagery – (dominant images present [not setting}, as well as significance) 2. Example a. Nora: But Torvald… This year we should… oh, let ourselves go a little. It’s the first Christmas we haven’t had to count the pennies. Torvald: But we can’t just go wasting money. Nora: I know, Torvald. But we can waste just a little bit, can’t we? Just a teeny bit? You’ve got a big salary now… you’re going to make piles and piles of money. b. This passage illustrates the author’s style because it shows the short sentences, informal diction, and cheerful tone of act one. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Setting(s) – The majority of the work takes place in the Helmer’s living room. It is well-furnished and comfortable, yet not expensive. The furniture within that room moves around throughout the acts, such as the location of the Christmas tree. 4.
Significance – The setting is important since it is a private environment and away from the general public. The Helmer’s living room is a place of safety for Nora where she feels comfortable telling Mrs. Linde about borrowing money. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Opening scene - The opening scene is significant because it establishes the tension between Nora and Torvald. 6. Ending scene – The last scene of the play is significant because it is when Nora realizes that she has been acting as a doll for her entire life. By leaving her husband, it shows that she is finally making her own decisions. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. Symbols • The Christmas tree is an important symbol because it represents Nora’s life. The beginning of Act 2 states that the tree was tattered and stripped of ornaments, just like Nora’s life was falling apart. • The macaroons are a symbol of Nora’s rebellious, disobedient side. They are just another thing that Nora has to hide from her husband. • Dr. Rank’s death can be seen as a symbol for Nora and Torvald’s marriage, since he dies around the same time as when Torvald reads Krogstad’s
letter. 8. Thematic statements • Christmas time usually represents a time of happiness, but once that is over, problems arise and suffering begins. • --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. Characters 1. a. Name- Nora Helmer b. Role in the story- The main protagonist c. Significance- She is significant because, at the end, she goes against what is expected of women during that time period by leaving her husband. d. Adjectives- Childlike, submissive, ditzy 2. a. Name- Torvald Helmer b. Role in the story- Protagonist, Nora’s husband c. Significance- He is significant because he causes Nora to realize that she has been used like a doll. d. Adjectives- Strict, selfish, controlling 3. a. Name- Nils Krogstad b. Role in the story- Antagonist c. Significance- He is significant because he revealed Nora’s secret to Torvald, which resulted in the downfall of their marriage. d. Adjectives- Manipulative, villainous, evil 4. a. Name- Mrs. Linde b. Role in the story- Nora’s friend c. Significance- She is significant because she made Nora tell Torvald, since she told Krogstad to leave the letter. d. Adjectives- Independent, tough, intelligent 5. a. Name- Dr. Rank b. Role in the story- Nora and Torvald’s best friend c. Significance- He is significant because he reveals information about other characters. d. Adjectives- Loyal, lovesick, trustworthy
In “A Dollhouse,” Nora is stuck in a marriage with a rich man who has no respect for her. Nora’s husband Torvald, does not think his
this is important because it is a climax to the play so far and the
1, scene 5 is an essential scene in the play. The main two themes are
place in Act 3 scene 3 proves that it is very important to the rest of
...t him. However the true character of Torvald seems nothing like the imagined one of Nora, for he gives in to the demands of Krogstad very quickly upon assessing the situation. She originally experiences denial, because she forced herself to believe that Torvald will come to her rescue. The third piece of mail shows Nora the truth about her husband, and makes her realize how he mistreats her. Therefore, it reveals the lie that she tricked herself into believing, that Torvald is not the man she wanted to believe he was. In fact, it could be argued that Nora never in fact loved Torvald at all, and any love expressed in the marriage was a lie in itself. In that case the note also reveals the facade put on during their marriage. Ibsen used the letter symbolizing the true nature of Nora's husband to point out the lie that she choose to believe about their relationship.
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.
According to her husband Torvald, Nora is childish even though she is his wife but however she is loving but little that he is aware that she’s unpredictably a strong and an independent woman. As the plays moves forward readers will highly realize that Nora’s persona shifts from that of everyday playful trophy wife seen by Torvald and friends to someone who is highly self empowering and a willing woman.
The Christmas tree can be seen as the first symbol in the play A Doll's House, where women have to be obedient to men and hide their true emotions. For example, at the start of Act Two, the stage directions order that “The Christmas tree is in the corner by the piano...” (Ibsen 29) This instruction represents Torvald, Nora's husband, directing Nora to do whatever pleases him even though she might disagree. She sees herself as being isolated by her husband and feels rejected as her opinion is never considered by him. In addition, the directions if Act Two continue to instruct that the Christmas tree is "…stripped of its ornaments and with burnt down candle-ends on it dishevelled branches.” (Ibsen 29) The image that is created by this order reveals that Nora also feels burned out by always having to listen to her husband. The "dishevelled branches" of the Christmas tree indicate that her life is bedraggled and she has t...
The first act is an exposition. The first act is more or less shows the lifestyle of families in the 19th century and the domestic problems at that time. In my opinion, Nora has gone through a kind of personal awakening. She 's come to the conclusion that she 's not a fully realized person. She has to spend some time figuring out who she is as an individual or she will never be anything more than someone 's pretty little doll. This would be impossible under the smothering presence of Torvald. She must force herself to face the world
The first symbol that we notice in the play is the “Christmas Tree”. The Christmas tree represents happiness and unity in the family as well as the effort Nora has taken in making her home a comfortable haven to relax in. He efforts though are met with a slight disdain from her husband Torvald as he elaborates repeatedly that she is using money unwisely. “Come come we can`t afford to squander money.” An important role for Nora as a mother and a wife is to bring joy in her house when she can but due to the limitations Torvald has put on her, she finds it hard to
Furthermore, if we go to see a production of this play (at least among English-speaking theatre companies), the chances are we will see something based more or less on this interpretative line: heroic Nora fighting for her freedom against oppressive males and winning out in the end by her courageous final departure. The sympathies will almost certainly be distributed so that our hearts are with Nora, however much we might carry some reservations about her leaving her children.
Nora is not only Ibsen’s vessel to show women’s strong character, but serves the purpose of showing women as equal human beings. Nora also helps point out that there might some aspects of society which might be incorrect besides the perception of women as the less sharp sex; the law of those days for example. All of these are shown with Nora’s possession of a secret life. In the surface she appears as a beautiful, fun toy to her husband, father, and even to her friend Mrs. Linden, but it is only when they find out of her secret life when they start to appreciate her for more than a beautiful girl that she is. That second life of hers allows Nora to show that she can work, that she can withstand enormous amounts of pressure, and that she is capable to do things when she is determined. It is this secret life that eventually leads to her being freed from that doll house, as she calls it, and ultimately allows her to leave without being afraid to study and learn about herself and
We don’t see symbols in life; we only see them in novels and plays. In the play, there are a lot of objects and events that symbolize more than what they are. Like the Christmas tree used for decorative purposes in real life, but in this play it can be compared to the Nora Helmers feeling. Other symbols include “The New Year”, “the title of the play” and “Nicknames” Torvald calls Nora. Although we don’t think about simple things, they might have a deeper meaning to it.
...on as a disgrace to society because women are not expected to leave there husbands. Nora proved that she can withstand enormous amounts of pressure and that she is capable of doing things when she is determined. She is eventually freed from that doll ouse, as she calls it, and it allows her to leave without being afraid to learn about her and the world around her.
Alving sent her son away and decided to protect her husband’s reputation. She had the perfect opportunity to go against her husband and take her son and leave. However, even though Mrs. Alving’s husband cheated on her, she still stuck with him and was unhappy with her life. On the other hand, in the play A Doll’s House, Nora Helmer left her husband and her children because of the way he always treated her. Nora’s husband never treated her as a grown woman. But instead, he treated her as a doll, always controlling her. This illustrates that Nora Helmer and Mrs. Alving made different decisions on whether to stay with their husbands or to leave them.