A Doll's House Free Essay

“There can be no freedom or beauty about a home life that depends on borrowing and debt,” (4) Torvald says to his wife, Nora. This is ironic because Nora Helmer has no freedom. In “A Doll’s House,” Henrik Ibsen’s characters struggle to strive for what is right, both in a sense of their own feelings and morally. The play is Nora’s journey to find herself to obtain her own freedom. The first act offers a composition of Nora’s life, the second a situation, and the third is her decision to leave. Theresa Rebeck suggest that Ibsen’s play is conveying that “…all men want a pretty, slightly inane wife, and women want a big guy to take care of them and make all the money and let them stay home in a really nice house and spend it.” which, “It’s not

The first couple of lines Torvald says is “Is that my little lark twittering out there?” and “Is it my little squirrel bustling about?” (3), he gives Nora pet names that belittle her. Lark and squirrel are small creatures that could easily be controlled and killed. Throughout the play Torvald uses the word “little” before every nickname for Nora for instance: “my little lark”, “my little squirrel,”, “my little spendthrift,” (3) “my little skylark,”, “little person,” (4) “little Nora,” “little soul” (5) “little girl,” (7) “my little song-bird” (27) “little woman,” (28) “little singing-bird,” (30), those alone are in act one. Torvald calling Nora little so often unconsciously tells her that he could easily overpower her. He sees himself as the rational and smarter superior spouse of the household. Torvald does not see Nora as his equal like a husband should to his wife, but he treats her as if she is one of his responsibilities. Torvald treats Nora as a child. When she wanted to show him what she bought Torvald dismisses her until he is no longer busy in his study. After she shows him what she bought he scolds her for wasting money. Torvald sees Nora as careless and that he needs to guide her into the right

Torvald’s actions towards Nora’s decision to get a loan were absolutely appalling. He was not thankful that she saved his life but called her a “miserable creature” (65). During the confrontation of Torvald reading the letter Nora learns his true identity. He believed that she destroyed his happiness and future because she borrowed money. Also Torvald told Nora that she is no longer responsible to watch the children. She sacrificed herself and her happiness to save Torvald. Torvald yelling at Nora taught her that their marriage is a fraud, and that he and she did not love each other like that