Plot and sub plot of A Dolls House

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Plot and sub plot of A Dolls House

A Dolls House is set in Norway 1879 and is a story of a woman Nora who

sees herself as always being treated as a doll in the dolls house. The

play shows her deceiving her husband and borrows money without his

consent. At this time the play cause much shock and people responded

strongly to it.

In Act one Nora is returning from Christmas shopping there is then a

short scene between her and her husband Torvald. We then immediately

get the impression of the sort of relationship they have. Nora comes

across very childish with remarks such as “we can be a little

extravagant now. Can’t we? Just a tiny bit? You’ve got a big salary

now, and you’re going to make lots and lots of money.” She is

portrayed as very naïve, like she has no real understanding of money

also they way pleads and keeps on, like a child would. Torvald is

quite patronising towards her in return “What’s this? Is little

squirrel sulking? Nora; guess what I’ve got here!”

Nora then gets a visit from an old friend Mrs Linde. Nora informs Mrs

Linde that her husband could provide her with a job at the Bank.” She

then begins to tell Mrs Linde of how she has saved her husband life by

taking him to Italy when he was very ill. Mrs Linde then exclaims

“yes, well-your father provided the money-“. Nora then cannot keep her

secret any longer and confesses that it was she who provided the

money. Mrs Linde is shocked and asked where the money came from. She

begins to guess but they are then interrupted by Krogstad a lawyer

also working and the bank coming to visit Torvald.

Dr Rank an old friend of Nora and Torvald’s then turns up and has a

brief conversation with Nora and Mrs Linde. Nora then goes to play

with her chi...

... middle of paper ...

...inions but his. And if I did have any of my own, I kept them quiet, because he wouldn't have liked them. He called me his little doll, and played with me just the way I played with my dolls. Then I came to live in your house-“ She expresses she has never had any of her own opinions or been able to think for herself. The play ends with her saying she must leave him get experience of the world and before leaving exclaiming that she no longer loves him.

Under protest, Ibsen had to write an alternative ending to the play in which Nora does not leave after thinking of the children. The play ends this time with Torvald exclaiming “Look-there they are, sleeping peacefully and without care. Tomorrow when they wake and call for their mother, they will be…motherless!” Nora after realizing this replies “Motherless! Ah, though it is a sin against myself, I cannot leave them!”.

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