A Doll's House – Was Nora Helmer, A Femist?

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A Doll’s House – Was Nora Helmer, a femist? This paper proposes an analysis of House of Dolls. A Norwegian playwright by Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906). The play has nine characters, the main ones being: Nora, the protagonist and wife of Torvald Helmer; Dr. Rank, doctor and family friend; Miss Linde and the lawyer Nils Krogstad. The part of the scenario is the home of the Helmer’s family and dialogues take place in the period of Christmas festivities. The temporal choice of Ibsen's plot for the Christmas period, during the nineteenth century, seems to have been misplaced. As the Dollhouse title calls the reader to penetrate in a fictional world "color pink", the choice of Christmas tree as scenic component also serves as a symbol of criticism …show more content…

It is submissive to his desires, or a doll, living in a toy house, ironically perfect as sh behaved before her father. That said, part of the plot focuses on the secret that Nora, Torvald Helmer’s wife, hides from her husband. Nora borrowed money from Krogstad, the lawyer; to make a trip to Italy to "save" her husband’s life; to restore his health, as he was ill. Krogstad uses this loan to blackmail Nora in order to not be fired from the bank chaired by Helmer. But, Krogstad tells Mr. Helmer, that Nora made a loan without his permission, who faked the signature of her late father in Promissory and threatens to take this fact public, which can cause an obstacle in Helmer’s reputation. Reading the story, it is easy to observe that Nora had the expectation that her husband, would intervene in her defense, as he would know about the case. However, Helmer is concerned with "what people would think" if they knew of the act that Nora has committed. With the her expectations frustaded, Nora decides to leave, abandoning her husband and their three children, saying that for eight years of marriage, she was his "doll wife, as was the doll child in my father's house" (IBSEN 2001) and now she had to educate herself. The final scene ends with Nora leaving …show more content…

Helmer then demands explanations wife. At this point, Nora replies that is now starting to understand "thoroughly." (IBSEN, 2001). It seems that the character acquires view of consciousness that her husband has it. In this passage, there is the climax of the play, present in the dramatic genre. When she replies to Helmer, it looks like she was waiting for this moment, as an excuse to leave the house. Helmer then says Nora is a liar like her father, humiliates her, alleging that she inherited the father's lack of principles, that she has "no religion, no morality, no sense of duty." (IBSEN 2001). Helmer is concerned with the impact of the case, arguing that this should be hiden at all costs. That everything should remain as before. Helmer also says he will not trust their children to Nora. Rereading the letter, Helmer notes that Krogstad returns the promissory note and regrets what he did. Helmer celebrates claiming that he is saved, and absolves his wife. Helmer feel sorry for Nora, for what she been through, her torment, saying that she loved him as "a woman should love her husband" (IBSEN, 2001), but without knowing the appropriate means to do so. Helmer also states that "feminine helplessness" is what attracts him as a man. It also evokes the fact that speech Helmer suggests that it is the man to protect and educate

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