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...
... middle of paper ...
...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.
Nora is perceived as a helpless women, who goes out and wastes money that was earned by her husband. To Torvald, Nora is merely a plaything, which could be what the title of the play, "A Doll House", was hinting at. He found her helplessness to be attractive, because he was the one that was in control. For instance, when they received the Bond from Krogstad, Torvolld said, "I wouldn't be a man if this feminine helplessness didn't make you twice as attractive to me" followed by "It's as if she belongs to him in two ways now: in a sense he's given her fresh ...
Ibsen prepares the reader for the superficial set up to the play by the meaningful title. A marriage and a family set up in a dollhouse acting as dolls perform their standard gender roles in society. Torvald, Nora’s husband, repeatedly treats Nora like a child, and she even portrays juvenile characteristics. She sneaks macarons in her pockets and lies about eating them after being scolded by Torvald as if he her father instead of her husband. He has given Nora pet names such as “my little squirrel,” “my little lark,” and “my little spend-thrift” (Isben 863). Torvald is possessive of Nora, adding the “my” to all the pet names that he repeatedly calls her. She appears to be his doll; playing every part Torvald wants her to be. He holds the upper hand of control over her as the dominant male society has cast him to be. Even their own childre...
..., 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.
...ment about how Torvald doesn’t like for her to eat them. Nora lies and says Kristine brought them too her. As Nora’s secret side is revealed, her life seems anything but perfect. As we look at the character change in Nora, we see two different sides to her. The beginning of the play reveals a woman totally dependent on her husband for everything,. It isn’t until the end of the play that she realizes she can be herself and she doesn’t have to depend on her husband. Nora realizes “that if she wants an identity as an adult that she must leave her husband’s home” (Drama for Students 112). By examining Nora, we see from Ibsen’s theme that if we ignore all the expectations the social world has for a person, our true selves can be revealed.
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.
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.
Henrik Ibsen wants to make in his play. He wants to let society know that the women are living in a masculine society and that society will not always win in the battle of humans versus society. On page 1403, the book says, “A woman cannot be herself in the society of the present day…” With using society’s customs, deception, and symbolism Henrik Ibsen is able to make his point. With social customs, Henrik Ibsen challenges the way the woman are suppose to act. In the beginning of the play, society would have been happy, however as the reader reads on society’s ideas are pushed aside and Nora becomes her own person. Henrik Ibsen uses deception to show society what they force the people to do. For example, the reader sees that Nora has to lie about everything because society will not take her the way she is. To her, she sees nothing wrong with borrowing a little money to save her husband, but society will not have it. For example, Helmer says, “Now you have destroyed all of my happiness. You have ruined all my future. This horrible to think of!” (1395). He also says, “… The matter must be hushed up at any to appease him some way or another.” (1395). These quotes go to show that society will not take what Nora has done save to her husband’s life very well. Finally, Henrik Ibsen uses symbolism to help get his point across. With symbolism, the reader sees a connection between the tree and Nora. When the tree begins to lose it decorates, Nora loses her cover up too. The reader begins to see the real Nora and how she does what she thinks she has to do. Henrik Ibsen is able to win his battle of society versus humans in A Doll
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
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
First, lets look at the honey bee and it’s purpose in life. There are many different