In A Doll’s House, a play by Henrik Ibsen, he hints about the society and how the female gender was being treated during that time. Readers have observed from this play that Ibsen believed equality between men and women, and the idea of feminism. This play is where the readers can see and understand how things were like at the time, and what Ibsen believed about the issues. Norma Helmer, the main character from this play tries to strive towards the idea of perfection for society and her husband, Torvald. The title of this play is symbolic because Nora is being trapped within the “dollhouse” that is physically her home. Torvald has built a perfect life for his doll wife and his doll children. “The demands she embodies – to be regarded as an …show more content…
Anne Marie contains everything that Nora is not. She willingly gives up her child for adoption in order to survive in the society. When she’s made the decision to give away her daughter, she says that she has the right to. She accepts the role that society has placed on her. This is where Nora and Anne Marie both are similar because they both accept their positions they are in. Just like Anne Marie, Nora allows Torvald to choose where she stands in life. “The conceptions of Nora have also been colored by different ideological and feminist perspectives since in the first part of the drama emerges as highly articulate and moreover willing to leave her husband and three children” (Rekdal). However, when Nora makes the decision to leave Torvald and the children, the decision was not chosen because of what society attempts to force on her. Nora actually makes a real transformation and surprises everyone. When she shuts the door behind her at the end of the play, she is a woman seeking independence and freedom from the rules of society and the rules of men which has been placed upon her because of her …show more content…
In the beginning of the play, she shows her love toward her children, she plays with them and buys them toys, thus symbolizing Nora’s life, and that she is defined by her children. Majority of the women including Nora during her time period were defined by who their family was. Their lives were defined by children they raised and the husbands they married. At the beginning of act two when Anne Marie talks about how leaving her daughter, Nora cannot fathom how a mother could do something like that. Nora starts the conversation to Anne Marie asking if her children ask for her much. Anne Marie replies back saying that the children are so used to having their mother with them. She then says one line in the play that triggers Nora throughout the entire play when Nora says that she should not be around her children as often as before. Anne Marie mentions that children easily get accustomed to anything. It is that statement that Nora begins contemplating about her
Throughout the play we never get to know who the real Nora is and what her true personality consists of. Nora also realizes that she does not know who she is, and decides to leave her life. She comments that she needs to discover who she is separate from her husband, children and more importantly society. Nora feels she is not respected, and she is a “doll” to her husband.
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.
Because of her character, she failed to see the constraint that Torvald had put on her and failed to see what she was missing out on. As the play progresses, Nora is able to think in a more mature manner and realize the confined state she has been in for so long. Critics viewed her childlike character in a different light. Joan Templeton stated, “she was denounced as an irrational and frivolous narcissist; an abnormal woman” (Templeton 29). Nora’s childlike nature was viewed as the reason she left her behind, instead of the reason she was oblivious to her confinement. Other critics argue that Nora was not childlike because she was “a woman who works hard for years and stints herself without her husband and children” (Dukore
...The play demonstrates this in the following lines: Helmer: Before anything else, you’re a wife and mother. Nora: I don’t believe that any more. I believe that before anything else, I’m a human being, just as much a one as you are … or at least I’m going to turn myself into one … I want to think everything out for myself and make my own decisions. Nora must be true to herself in order to participate in society in a meaningful manner. Her relationship with her children has been marred by her relationships with her father and husband; she treats her children as dolls, and they are apt to grow up in the same manner, with the same inability to be true to themselves. By the end of the play, Nora realizes that she cannot properly fulfill her duties as a mother until she learns how to become a person first. In this sense, her abandonment of her children is an act of mercy.
In the closing scenes, Nora witnesses the final indication that she is truly regarded as Torvald’s possession. Beforehand, Torvald stated that he would protect Nora at all costs. However, as soon as he discovers the possibility of his reputation being tainted, he instantly degrades her to a point of dehumanization. As a result, Nora comprehends that true love never existed in their marriage, “You don’t understand me. And I’ve never understood you either- until tonight. No, don’t interrupt. You can just listen to what I say. We’re closing out accounts” (Ibsen 1234). Through this scene, Ibsen effectively represents Nora’s final mental awakening. The author employs sharp and decisive diction to convey Nora’s transformation. She no longer amuses Torvald with her childish antics, but speaks with a matter of fact tone. Nora had become accustomed to “pretending” her whole life, and therefore had convinced herself that she was in a loving marriage. As Sabiha Huq, English professor at Khulna University, indicates, “Nora has admonished a life living through hypocrisy and falsehood” (par. 1). It becomes evident to Nora that her whole life she has been dependent on a male figure and has never accomplished anything for herself. Subsequently, Nora feels as though her life has been meaningless, “I went from Papa’s hands into yours… it seems as if I’d lived here like a beggar--just from hand to mouth. I’ve
”She was fond of her children in an uneven, impulsive way. She would sometimes gather them passionately to her heart; she would sometimes forget them” (Chopin 33). Nora on the other hand plays with her children, buys them gifts and showers them with affection and attention. While the children are not mentioned much in the play, they are constant reminders of Nora's duties as a mother and what she is defined by. Its only later in the story she decides to stay distant from her children and in the hands of her trusted nurse.
A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen is a realistic drama that explores how the imbalanced treatment of women can dictate who they become. Nora Helmer embodies the need for evolution in regards to women and their roles within the family. The importance of this play, which was written in 1879, is still relevant in the modern world. This play helps to bring attention to the characters people play as a result of their circumstances.
The first symbol that we notice in the play is the “Christmas Tree”. The Christmas tree represents happiness and unity in the family as well as the effort Nora has taken in making her home a comfortable haven to relax in. He efforts though are met with a slight disdain from her husband Torvald as he elaborates repeatedly that she is using money unwisely. “Come come we can`t afford to squander money.” An important role for Nora as a mother and a wife is to bring joy in her house when she can but due to the limitations Torvald has put on her, she finds it hard to
This shows that Nora isn’t the submissive little housewife that she appears to be. Nora’s embracing of independence only becomes more and more apparent until the climax of the play.
It is through these stage directions that Nora’s playful and slightly immature character is revealed. In Act One many of the stage directions written for Nora is her ‘shrieking’ , this overly excited, erratic behaviour is a common theme from Nora throughout the play and emphasises her immaturity and lack of sincerity, most likely stemming from not having the opportunity of independence. A slightly comical action of Nora’s in the play ‘A Doll’s House’ is when she ‘stuffs the bag of macaroons in her pocket and wipes her mouth’ . This could be compared to a child attempting to hide evidence from their parents either in guilt, or in fear of being caught doing something forbidden; for Nora this is brought about by the strict rules of Torvald. Nora also appears very whimsical and is found to be ‘lost in her own thoughts’ and ‘hums ‘. It seems as if she is blissfully unaware and oblivious of the troubles and misfortune her family is receiving and this highlights her role, not as an equal partner in the family but rather a doll on display. However it is not just the stage directions of Nora that give rise to her childish actions. A significant moment in the play that reveals why Nora acts like a child is when Torvald questions Nora about purchasing macaroons. The stage directions state that he is ‘wagging his finger at her’ , this is an action similar to one a parent would make when telling off a
In most relationships you see today, men and women play equal parts. Both men and women work, both help out with the children, and both take the time to rationalize current affairs. Needless to say, there are those relationships where the men are the breadwinners and the women are the trophies. The play A Doll 's House, by Henrik Ibsen, is centered on the war among social lie, marital status, and responsibility. This play is regarding a woman’s need for independence and her obligations to her loved ones and society.
After asking his wife if she understands what she has done Nora answers “[Looking squarely at him, her face hardening] Yes. I am beginning to understand everything” (835). This statement might be the key phrase of Nora’s realization. The double- meaning implies Nora’s understanding of the actual situation as well as her awareness that her marriage, even though it conforms with social expectations, is far from perfect. She now doubts the depth of her love for Torvald and becomes calm with comprehension as she begins to recognize the truth about her marriage. While she expects compassion for her sacrifice, she is none given. Instead of sacrificing anything to help Nora out of her predicament, Torvald is only worried about himself and appearances. It becomes very clear, after the second letter from Krogstad arrives, that her well-being always comes second “I’m saved. Nora, I’m saved! You too, of course” (836). Throughout the conversation with Torvald, Nora finally realizes, she needs to rearrange her life and priorities to be happy. This implies independence and self-awareness. While Nora finally understands the situation, she is in and what she needs to do but Torvald defines her new attitudes as madness “You’re ill, Nora; you’re feverish; I almost think you’re out of your mind” (840). “However, the characterization has been tied to the fact that she is breaking taboos or challenging conventions” (Langås 160). Torvald is still stuck in his fantasy world of how a wife should talk and act per his standard and the society he stands for. “Nora still has no way of knowing that she is not endangering her children with her presence and in the end, she feels impelled to leave, and her decision is less an act of defiance against her husband and society than an attempt to save the lives of her children” (Brooks
He forbids her from raising her children saying that he no longer trusts her to raise their children. Nora also agrees with him to some degree because ultimately it was her decision to leave her both her husband and her children at the end of the story. In act three, Nora says “I won’t see the little ones. I know they are in better hands than mine. As I am now, I can be of no use to them.” She believed that her children would be better off being raised by Anne, the nurse who cared for Nora when she was a child. Nora’s leaving could also act as a parallel between Nora and her mother as Nora’s mother seemed not to have much of a presence in Nora’s childhood. This is reinforced when the nurse says “Little Nora, poor dear, had no other mother but me” in act II implying that Nora’s mother had very little presence in her life. There is the possibility, however slim, that Nora’s decision to leave her children and Torvald was influenced by her mother doing the same when Nora was a
The Struggle for Identity in A Doll's House A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, is a play that was written ahead of its time. In this play, Ibsen tackles women's rights as a matter of importance. Throughout this time period, it was neglected. A Doll's House was written during the movement of Naturalism, which commonly reflected society. Ibsen acknowledges the fact that in 19th century life the role of the woman was to stay at home, raise the children and attend to her husband.
“A Doll’s House” gives the reader a firsthand view at how gender roles affected the characters actions and interactions throughout the play. The play helps to portray the different struggles women faced during the 19th century with gender roles, and how the roles affected their relationships with men as well as society. It also helps to show the luxury of being a male during this time and how their higher status socially over women affected their relationships with women and others during this time period. Torvald Helmer starts off the story with a new job as a bank manager. He has a wife, Nora, who does not have a job in the workforce since that was the man's role.