Sympathy for Nora in Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House
In "A Doll's House," Henrik Ibsen primarily addresses issues not only relating to women in Norway, but to women embarking on twentieth century life in general. To achieve his desired effect, he employs the use of contextual dialog and places Nora as the central character, which gives her a great edge. Because of her prominent role throughout the play, she becomes familiar, and what is familiar is favored. With the lone exception of the exchange between Mrs. Linde and Krogstad at the beginning of Act III, there is not a single scene that features a dialog that in some way does not include a prominent part from Nora. It soon becomes apparent that Nora emerges from the dramatis personae as the pièce de résistance Ibsen intends to win our sympathies.
In Act I, scene I, the stage is set, bringing the meaning behind the plays' title into sharp focus. Here, Ibsen uses contextual dialog to demonstrate that Nora is indeed, as the title implies, little more than a doll in a toy house, a plaything that Torvald doesn't take seriously. For instance, Torvald asks: "Is that my little lark twittering out there? Is it my little squirrel bustling about?" (Ibsen, 500). A short pace later, he calls her "a poor little girl," and then adds "you needn't ruin your dear eyes and your pretty little hands" (502). Nora appears to willingly-if not a little naïvely-play into this role: after clapping her hands she replies, "No, Torvald, I needn't any longer, need I! It's wonderfully lovely to hear you say so" (503).
A second issue Ibsen presents for consideration in the first scene is a discussion of money, Nora appearing to play the role of the pampered child with a penchant for shiny coins clin...
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...lly good reason for favoring Nora beyond our sense of familiarity with her: she lies, she cheats, she rationalizes, she walks out on her husband and children-she is not an innocent character. But is this tendency not the wont of human nature, to excuse that which is connected to us while failing to consider there is a whole other side to the issue?
It would seem that by the prominence Ibsen affords Nora, he masterfully steers our sympathies in her direction like a crafty rhetorician employing the Greek concept of kairos. By what he chooses to reveal (and conceal), Ibsen has us feeding out of the palm of his hand, for in the end, it could be said that life is all a matter of perspective . . . almost.
Works Cited:
Ibsen, Henrik. "A Doll's House." Literature: The Human Experience. 8th ed. Ed. Richard Abcarian and Marvin Klotz. Boston: Bedford, 2002. 499-557.
Every species has their unique way to survive and interact with their environment. Some have extra appendages in order to better combat predators, or they have bodies that allow them to camouflage to their environment. Every species also has their way of reproducing and copulation, whether for necessity or for enjoyment. Two species with different mating habits are the Apis mellifera, better known as honey bees, and Pan paniscus, Bonobos apes. The former uses its reproduction methods for the survival of the entire colony of honey bees in exchange with the death of few and the former uses copulation in a social setting in order to keep the peace of the pack.
...erms of the upbringing is that from birth, queen bees are treated royally being placed in a queen cell with abundant food supply (royal jelly). The behavior being showed from this scenario is due to the pheromone.
In the end, all three minor characters have undergone a radical change, having arrived at some other position in life. Krogstad and Mrs. Linde have become a couple, and Dr. Rank is soon to pass away. This is significant, as Nora has chosen to abandon her family to pursue her own independence and individuality. She will no longer play the part of a doll and depend on Torvald to support her and resolve all of her problems and thus, takes a giant step forward towards the development of women as their own individuals. Ibsen’s A Doll’s House explores the role of women in the late 1800’s and stresses the importance of their realization of this believed inferiority. Living in our present day society sometimes causes us to underestimate the transition that women have undergone throughout these last hundred years. However, Nora’s progression at the end of the play arouses an awareness to an awakening society recognizing the changing view of the status of women at that time.
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.
Davies, H. Neville. 1982. "Not just a bang and a whimper: the inconclusiveness of Ibsen's A Doll's House." Critical Quarterly 24:33-34.
They are the demonstration of power at home. the power and control of society over the actions of Ibsen’s. characters and finally the causes and effects of the shift of power to Nora. From very early on in the text, in fact from Helmer’s first line, we. are introduced to an obvious imbalance of power present in the domestic setting. “Is that my little songbird piping away out there?”
..., with the advancement of technology and medical systems, both the life span and available labor years have increased to a great extent. In such a context, the value of the senior citizens who intend to enter or reenter the labor force should be evaluated not only socially but also economically. While being praised for its function in social administration as an improvement in senior life quality and community harmony, senior employment should also be applauded for its huge economic value: with the adoption of this labor pool, the burden of population aging would be relieved considerably. Our program, which is going to put an emphasis on the minority group among the elderly, would provide an important supplement to the already existing senior employment assistance programs, in helping senior job seekers find their suitable location in the society and our economy.
The older you become, the more discrimination and ageism you bear to face. When looking at results from call backs from job applications, it does not matter if jobs are sales, administration, janitors or security positions, the rates of call backs for an older person are significantly less positive than that of a younger person. (See Appendix B) It is not a matter of an older person losing their skills at a job more as discrimination as to the reason why the elderly have a longer time span of unemployment. Matthews, S. (2015) Workplace ageism is one of the more blatant forms of ageism besides stereotypes because it is so often referred to. “Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) as of 1967 makes it unlawful for organization with 20 or more employers to base employment decisions, like pay, benefits, and promotions on a person’s age”. (study.com) Even though it may be illegal, it is still commonly found in court rooms to this day. Employers may send subtle or clear messages to older workers to pick up in which they are not wanted. Examples of ageism in the workplace are as follows, when older adult workers are passed over for career opportunities, promotions and training. (See Appendix C) Also when employers, committees and lunch n’ learns focus their attention to the needs of younger employees. Worldwide, M. (2016). During an interview process for a job, elderly ageism as discrimination may come up when questions such as “ ‘Are you sure you can handle this job? It takes a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and we are looking for someone with career potential’ ‘you don’t need this training program. At your age, what would the benefit be?’” Printer, Q., & Ontario.
Nora was raised and socialized by her father. He kept her as a doll and never required or expected much from her. The same treatment continued from her husband Torvald. In a world where nothing is expected from Nora, it is easy to think she is spoiled. But, as many women of that time, she wanted to be seen for the smart and intellectual woman that she was. She basically saved her husband’s life but had to continue to act as Torvald’s fool. Sympathy for Nora is not only possible, it’s practically required.
she cherishes Torvald, however it is truly simply because that is what she should do.Women are to love their spouses. Torvald does not permit Nora to flourish as her own particular self,as was the custom of the circumstances. Torvald 's utilization of what looks like infant talk when conversing with his better half stifles Nora 's extreme scholarly longing; she is covered under Torvald 's resistance of regard. Torvald says in the principal scene, "Is that my little lark twittering out there?”This expression sets up the character and his association with his better half. While some recommend it is the structure of the home itself that plays into the doll house impact, most pundits will contend that Torvald 's disparaging nature brought with Nora is the reason she clears out.A long chain of occasions sets off the resistance appeared by Nora. When she starts supposing she can escape to make a superior life for herself, there is no altering her opinion. In the last fewscenes, the peruser/crowd ought to have seen an exceptional change happening in Nora.She no longer recognizes herself as Torvald 's little warbler, or his child squirrel. Nora feels she can better herself and abandoning her significant other and kids is the best way to do it. She has been liberated through self realization, and getting away from the dollhouse turns into her most prominent triumph. In this
Role play is a big part of “A Doll House” by Henrik Ibsen because all the characters pretend to be someone there not instead of being their selves. The one who stands out the most though is Nora. It’s almost like she lives two different lives because of how differently she acts. Nora is claimed to be Torvald’s childish, loving wife and is unknowingly a strong, independent woman. She was known as the playful, trophy wife by everyone at the beginning of the play, but as the play goes on she is shown as a self-empowering, eager woman.
Scientists believe that the honey bee evolved “35 million years ago, but older ones are probably still hidden in the rocks of Southeast Asia” (Chadwick et al. 15). Over the years, the honey bee has changed to help better pollinate and even cross-pollinate flowers and food. “Early bees resembled their carnivorous wasp cousins and had short tongues and sleek bodies” ( Wilson-Rich 15). The bees began to change over time. “Bees became better at collecting pollen, evolving hairier bodies, and a greater ability to recognize different flower types” (Chadwick, et al. 16). With this change
First, lets look at the honey bee and it’s purpose in life. There are many different
During the time in which Henrik Isben's play, A Doll?s House, took place society frowned upon women asserting themselves. Women were supposed to play a role in which they supported their husbands, took care of their children, and made sure everything was perfect around the house. Nora is portrayed as a doll throughout the play until she realizes the truth about the world she lives in, and cuts herself free.
Ibsen desires to challenge assumptions as well as rules of Norwegian life, and most importantly wants to depict society accurately, as he meticulously incorporates everyday life. Therefore, A Doll House represents a realistic drama due to the issues involving women, illnesses, and laws within the play, while conveying Ibsen’s desire for controversy and change in Norway’s society. A common woman in Norway, such as Nora, experiences a daily life of oppression, fear, and unjust authority, which exposes societal mistreatment. Society and Torvald Helmer force Nora to look pretty and happy, although “she laughs softly at herself while taking off her street things. Drawing a bag of macaroons from her pocket, she eats a couple, then steals over and listens at her husband’s door” (Ibsen I. 43), which portrays oppression.