Literary Criticism In A Doll's House By Henrik Isben

1528 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Noras realization in a dolls house

It has to be taken into account that literature has always been the perfect mirror of the society that has provided the literary artists with the perfect medium of expression so as to raise their concern and critique the society and its practices. A literary artist has the supreme liberty to pen characters that represent the realities of the society. A work of art can leave a lasting mark in the minds of the avid readers or audience with the artist’s expression of sheer quintessence and aesthetic appeal that serves the purpose of being a perfect mesh of the commentary on the society and artistic expression. One can take into consideration the play, A Doll’s House, penned by the stalwart playwright, Henrik Isben that goes on to portray …show more content…

However, with the progression of the play’s narrative, she goes on to reveal that she is not a as she is called by her husband. The audience comes to see that this lady comprehends the business details quite well, and she goes on to incur a debt so as to be able to preserve the health of her husband. The way she conceals the matter of the debt shows how she endeavors to uphold the male supremacy in her relationship with Torvald. While this is an action that is guided by the patriarchal ways of the society, Nora shows her intelligence in the entire scenario and proves that she has capacities that go beyond the chores of being just a homemaker in the relationship. It needs to be comprehended that at this juncture in the course of the narrative one can understand that Nora has the spark to become independent and establish the strength of her own identity, but is kept in the subordination of her male counterpart- something that can only be scrutinized to be the effect of the society and its patriarchal parameters that Nora is burdened with in her …show more content…

Rather, the situation goes on to open her eyes so as to make her realize the underappreciated and unfulfilled potential that she has as an individual. At one point of time during the climatic confrontation, Nora goes on to opine to her husband that she has been performing tricks for him all through the marriage. All this while she has truly lived a life of sheer passivity and utter subjugation that never let her realize the strength of her own personality and

Show More
Related

  • Henrik Isben's A Doll's House

    738 Words  | 2 Pages

    Peculiar trait: On the surface Nora’s peculiar trait seems to be her obsession for money. Her internal peculiar trait is that she desires to become significant to her husband. She spends money on material objects to decorate their home and dress up the family. The impression of the home appears perfect, like a doll’s house.

    Read More

  • "A Doll's House"

    696 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout her life Nora had spent her time pleasing the men around her, first her father and then Torvald. As the reality erupted that her marriage to Torvald was loveless and not salvageable, she ignored Torvald's demand that she not leave him. He even made attempts to sway her decision by insinuating they could go on in the house as brother and sister. Her need to be a valued human in society had prevailed over the dependent, frail, creature that once belonged to Torvald. She set out to find her independence in spite of the limitations that society had placed on women. Her displeasure had burned a path beyond her little, secure world and the burden of being a plaything was lifted.

    Read More

  • Individualism In A Doll's House By Henrik Ibsen

    1417 Words  | 3 Pages

    To start, in this play the main character Nora is portrayed to be the perfect nineteenth-century wife to her husband Torvald. Not only that, but Nora is also painted in a way that characterizes her as a bubbly air-head that is not able to take care of herself or have a mind of her own. Ibsen wirtes “HELMER: Nora, Nora, how like a woman! No, but seriously, Nora, you know what I think about that. No debts! Never borrow! Something of freedom’s lost—and something of beauty, too—from a home that’s founded on borrowing and debt. We’ve made a brave stand up to now, the two of us; and we’ll go right on like that the little while we have to. NORA [going toward the stove ]: Yes, whatever you say, Torvald.” (944)Since Realists go against individuals having freedom of action over a state control, Torvald Helmer can be seen as representing a government while Nora represents a citizen with no say in any matter. Torvald uses the term “like a woman” to denounce Nora's inability to handle money, thus belittling her. Nora still complies to Torvalds wishes, giving up her voice rather easily while she only does what is best for her greater power. Furthermore, Nora obtains money from her father before he dies to support the trip to Italy because Torvald was ill and needed to go in order to get help. This shows that Nora did was only thinking about her husband, the higher power she obeys, and put herself last. This also exemplifies a Realist concern with community benefit, not

    Read More

  • A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen

    906 Words  | 2 Pages

    Henrik Ibsen was the first to introduce a new realistic mode in theater when he wrote the play A Doll’s House. The ending of the third act of this play was not accepted due to the controversy that it caused during the nineteenth century, because in this era women were not allowed to act the way Nora did, but through women’s movements society slowly started to accept it.

    Read More

  • Seeking Truth in A Doll's House

    1682 Words  | 4 Pages

    Nora is trying to keep something away from public knowledge and especially away from her husband.  She hides the fact that she borrowed money to save his health.  She was afraid that if Torvald knew that she had taken initiative to borrow money to help him that it would be "painful and humiliating"(Ibsen 501) for him.  She knows that Torvald needs to feel in control of everything.  So she hides her actions from him. & nbsp;      Nora hides the fact that she has done something illegal from Torvald.  She is given the opportunity to tell Torvald and maybe get his support or advise on the situation, and she lies to him to hide the truth.  She claims that the reason that she does not want Torvald to fire Krogstad is that "this fellow writes in the most scurrilous newspapers.he can do [Tor could have told him, but instead she decided to hide the truth from her husband. & nbsp;      She also hides her own strength.  She plays the part that she has come accustomed to, being the doll.  The first time in the play that Torvald refers to Nora, he calls her a "little lark"(Ibsen 493).  Throughout the play, he refers to her as a cute little animal, never with any word that might her indicate that he wishes she were a little plaything of his.  To fit this character, Nora hides her true strength until the end of the play.  Nora says that "[she] must stand quite alone"(Ibsen 546) and leaves Torvald to be alone.  Not only does Nora make the claim that she could stand alone, she follows it with an action, thus the audience knows that Nora can be stronger than she was appearing and that she must have been hiding her true & nbsp;      Nora hides her ability to handle money.  She does not let Torvald know that she is entirely capable of handling debt.  Instead, she leads on that "[she] should not care whether [she] owed money or not"(Ibsen 493).  Although she says that she would not care about being in debt, the audience learns that she is handling her own debt  She leads on that she is the little doll who cannot handle anything.  She hides her abilities from Torvald to be his little doll. & nbsp;      The hiding and seeking of the characters in the play is reminiscent of the game that Nora plays with her children.  In playing games like that with her children, Nora is also hiding from them and her job as mother.  She likes to take off their warm outer clothing because "it is such fun"(Ibsen 506).  She finds the job of mother fun.&nbsp 507).  The job of mother was no longer fun, so she abandons it.  She uses the nurse to hide from the children that she gave birth to. & nbsp;      Torvald also hides from his wife, Nora.  He shares none of his work with Nora.  They speak very little about financial matters.  When they do talk, it is mostly silly talk not seriously about their financial situation.  Their first conversation on stage is about money.  He tries pitifully to talk to her seriously about money, but shillings-a pound-two pounds"(Ibsen 493).  He gives her more money to make her happy instead of trying to work out their financial situation.  Torvald hides business about money from Nora just like she hides from him. & nbsp;      Torvald also hides information about his job from her.  Nora barely knows what he does at his job at the bank.  Nora asks Dr. Rank if "all the people who are employed in the bank dependant of Torvald now"(Ibsen 504).  Nora knows that Torvald has had a promotion, but does not even know really what & nbsp;      Nora knows that they are hiding from each other.  She knows that she must hide from those around her to protect her way of life.  Although she is talking to her children at the time, Nora's words can be applied to her actions throughout the play.  Nora says, "Must I hide?  Very well, I'll hide first"(Ibs hiding. The snares are hidden. & nbsp;      Nora and Torvald both hide from each other.  Although she hides from her husband, Nora starts seeking truth.  She is playing the game on both sides.  She hides and she seeks.  She is trying to learn about life.  Nora wants to find that there can be a life where she does not have to hide from the of another and inferior species, Woman"(Shaw 143).  Nora wants to be able to stop hiding.  To be able to do that, she must be treated like an equal.  That is something that Torvald will not do for her.  He will not "sacrifice his honor for the one he loves"(Ibsen 548).  Torvald will not bear all of Nora's weight, even though him, and when that did not happen and she was abandoned, she must seek another life.  She seeks a life where her sacred duties are "to [herself]"(Ibsen 546) before her husband and children.  M. C. Bradbook acknowledges that "in leaving her husband Nora is seeking a fuller life as a human being"(87).   Nora is leaving a life in hiding to find a life that is richer and more full & nbsp;      The hiding and seeking that goes on in the play is far from over when Nora ends the game with the children.  It started before then and finished only when Nora walked out on Torvald and her marriage.  Nora hides her strength, knowledge and abilities from her husband.  She does this because he could not handle having a peer as a wife.  He given to the nurse and Nora is only left with playing with her children.  The job of wife to Torvald is filled only with a hidden personality.  He wishes something that he can call his own and protect with ease.  Nora becomes a seeker when she realizes what kind of life she is leading with her husband.  When she realizes what he seeks as a wife, she also realizes that she needs to find another life.  The a sense of individuality.  With leaving her husband, Nora gives the indication that she will no longer tolerate a way of life that forces her to hide.

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Realism Essay

    1918 Words  | 4 Pages

    Although Krostad’s blackmail does not change Nora’s whimsical nature, it opens her eyes to her underappreciated potential. “I have been performing tricks for you, Torvald,” (Find a different quote perhaps?) she exclaims in her confrontation with Torvald. She realizes that she has been putting on a facade for him throughout their marriage. Acting like someone she is not in order to fill the role that her father, Torvald, and society expected her to have.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Women In 'A Doll House And Simply Maria'

    1256 Words  | 3 Pages

    The woman in this play is a very happy mother, who does not objectify to be a stay home wife, her life is happy and although she was faced by many obstacles before, like incurring into debt to save her husband’s life, she is a happy woman as long as she possesses the love of her children and husband. Life for Nora seems as calm as it could possibly be, but soon after the promotion of her husband and the imminent consequences such promotion will bring to Krogstad, bring a new set of complication to her life. Soon her past mistakes come to haunt her. She committed forgery, by signing in place of her deceased father, which of course is taken as leverage by Krogstad, the owner of the note she signed, in order for him to conserve his

    Read More

  • Henrik Isben's A Doll's House

    1182 Words  | 3 Pages

    After she reveals the "dastardly deed" to her husband, he becomes understandably agitated; in his frustration he shares the outside world with her, the ignorance of the serious business world, and destroys her innocence and self-esteem. This disillusion marks the final destructive blow to her doll's house. Their ideal home including their marriage and parenting has been a fabrication for the sake of society. Nora's decision to leave this false life behind and discover for herself what is real is directly symbolic of woman's ultimate realization. Although she becomes aware of her supposed subordinateness, it is not because of this that she has the desire to take action. Nora is utterly confused, as suggested by Harold Clurman, "She is groping sadly in a maze of confused feeling toward a way of life and a destiny of which she is most uncertain (256)." The one thing she is aware of is her ignorance, and her desire to go out into the world is not to "prove herself" but

    Read More

  • Gender In A Doll’s House And The Importance Of Being Earnest

    2000 Words  | 4 Pages

    In its historical context A Doll’s House was a radical play which forced its audience to question the gender roles which are constructed by society and make them think about how their own lives are a performance for Victorian society.

    Read More

  • On Ibsen's A Doll's House

    9635 Words  | 20 Pages

    Patriarchy's socialization of women into servicing creatures is the major accusation in Nora's painful account to Torvald of how first her father, and then he, used her for their amusement. . . how she had no right to think for herself, only the duty to accept their opinions. Excluded from meaning anything, Nora has never been subject, only object. (Templeton 142).

    Read More

  • A Doll's House Sacrifice Analysis

    2126 Words  | 5 Pages

    Henrik Ibsen paints a sad picture of the sacrificial role of women throughout all social economical classes in his play “A Doll House”. The story is set in the late 19th century and all minor female characters had to overcome adversity to the expense of love, family and self-realization, in order to lead a comfortable life. While the main female protagonist Nora struggles with her increasingly troubled marriage, she soon realizes, she needs to change her life to be happy as the play climaxes. Her journey to self-discovery is achieved by the threat of her past crime and her oppressing husband, Torvald and the society he represents. The minor female characters exemplifying Nora’s ultimate sacrifice.

    Read More

  • Character Analysis Of Nora In A Doll House

    1168 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nora is a dynamic character. When the play begins Nora is viewed and presented as a playful and carefree person. She seems to be more intent on shopping for frivolous things. But, as time goes on it becomes apparent that Nora actually has a certain amount of seriousness in her decisions and actions in dealing with the debt she incurred to save Torvald’s life. Nora’s openness in her friendship with Dr. Rank changes after he professes his affections toward her. Her restraint in dealing with him shows that Nora is a mature and intelligent woman. Nora shows courage, not seen previously, by manipulating her way around Krogstad and his threats to reveal her secret. After feeling betrayed by Torvald, Nora reveals that she is leaving him. Having

    Read More

  • Free Essay - Mrs. Linde and Nora in Ibsen's A Doll's House

    551 Words  | 2 Pages

    A contrasting difference in the characters, are shown not in the characters themselves, but the role that they play in their marriages. These women have different relationships with their husbands. Torvald and Nora have a relationship where there is no equality. To Torvald Nora is an object. Hence, she plays the submissive role in a society where the lady plays the passive role. Her most important obligation is to please Torvald, making her role similar to a slave. He too considers himself superior to her.

    Read More

  • Transformation of Nora in Henrik Isben's A Doll's House

    1301 Words  | 3 Pages

    As the play goes on, Nora seems to transform from her delicate little character into something much more. At the end of act one, Krogstad goes to Nora for the recollection of the money she had borrowed from him. "You don?t mean that you will tell my husband that I owe you money?" (21). Since Nora was wrong in doing so socially, she could not tell Torvald or anyone else about her problem. Not only would that affect their social standard but also Torvald's ego, which inevitably would happen anyway. After Krogstad threatens to expose Nora for forging her father's signature, she realizes that no matter what she does Torvald was going to know the truth. The flaw with...

    Read More

  • Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House: A Realistic Drama

    1220 Words  | 3 Pages

    Societal problems prevail throughout the history of the world and exist within all countries, regions, and cultures. The controversial aspects in societies are based on a large variety of subjects, and have to be identified in order to cause societal change. Therefore, Realism is the portrayal of difficulties in societies that are depicted in everyday life, which includes common situations and actions. Realism allows authors to describe and emphasize the incompetence of some aspects within communities, while enabling writers to call for societal reform. Henrik Ibsen portrays and addresses the concepts of Norway’s society in the 19th century in A Doll House, which is a tragic play translated by Rolf Fjelde. 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 of controversy and change in Norway’s society.

    Read More

More about Literary Criticism In A Doll's House By Henrik Isben

Open Document