Societal Discord Between Nora And Torvald

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The marital discord that is ever present within the relationship between Nora and Torvald Helmer is furthermore portrayed through the differences in the demeanour of both Torvald and Nora. Torvald is constructed as someone who is both visually stable and emotionally collected, as seen when he is “smiling” (Ibsen, 11) whilst Nora is “clapping her hands…takes his arm” (Ibsen, 11). Ironically enough, the playwright constructs an almost father-daughter relationship rather than a husband-wife, as we say Nora’s playful actions and Torvald’s subsequent emotions. Even the basic roots of their relationship remain unclear as seen through the visual stage directions; however, one thing remains the same. Regardless of whether it is a husband-wife or father-daughter …show more content…

Ibsen’s manipulation of particular diction choices further constructs the notion of a disillusioned marriage. Ibsen’s microscopic focus on the Nora and Torvald’s fractious marital relationship achieves his purpose of criticizing the imbalanced power dynamics within marriage. Ibsen’s use of stage directions and the way in which they expose the subservient role of Nora in contrast with her husband extent to show the superficial roots upon which their marriage was based and built. Although this message was performed for a 19th century Norwegian audience, the central theme of inequality within a marriage is timeless. Whilst the notion of a restricted wife is uncommon in the current period, the sharp contrasting ideologies of the 19th century audience for which this was written help the current audience capture full extent of Ibsen’s

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