Translation Trouble In the play "A Doll House" the main character, Nora, is in a situation where she is caused to act, emotionally and physically, as a doll to please her husband. Nora has to be very sneaky and conniving in order to be perfect and talked down to by her husband. The translation of this play from Norwegian was a little difficult. The title can either be translated as "A Doll House" or as "A Doll's House". Many people believe either title fits the theme of the play.
The relationship between a doll and its owner is more appropriate because of the sheer lack of communication between them. Torvald only viewed Nora as his “most treasured possession” (1854) not as someone just as invested in the relationship as he was. The outward happiness of the marriage covers up the problems caused by the deception The false appearance of Nora is shown in the development of her from this subservient, dependent housewife with only seldom acts of independent thought or decision to a woman wanting to fulfill “[her] duty to [herself]”(1863) before her obligations to her husband and children. Torvald’s 8 years of living in a false reality come to an end as he reveals his inner weakness to Nora after he reads the letter from Torvald about the forgery. In the beginning of the play, Torvald is calm and collected, however at the end of the play when the deceit is revealed, Torvald turns out to be a desperate, emotional man willing to do anything to protect himself.
Typically, in any society, it is not difficult to distinguish between an adult and a child. But in A Doll's House, Torvald seems to have trouble seeing his wife as a woman, and not a child. A woman should be treated like her own person, just as every other American gets the chance to do. Children all over the world have one thing, if nothing else, in common. This is that they all have a sweet tooth.
“I’ve been your doll-wife here, just as at home I was Papa’a doll-child” (Ibsen 1491). Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House tells a story of scandal and deceit set in the Victorian era. Nora Helmer is married to Torvald Helmer and she feels more like his toy than his wife. Nora had to have Torvald to be able to do anything, because of when she lived. Nora borrows money behind her husband’s back (which is illegal at this time) and tries to cover up everything she has done.
One example of her neglect for others is when she faults Mrs . Linde for sneaking in forbidden macaroons into the house . Nevertheless, she just trying to hide her carelessness, she does not care who she harms in the making . An additional feature of the fantasy world is the realization of material belongings; Nora always tries to make herself content by buying things such as toys for the kids, dresses, shoes, etc., rather than achieving something worth wild with her being . She on no occasion spent thoughtful time with her spouse, after being together over nearly ten years and putting the kids off on the nurse rather than taking care of them herself .
The play A Doll's House was inspired when Ibsen heard the story of a Woman about which he had heard: "A report he had heard out a courageous young married woman in a small town in Zealand had seized hold of him" ("Ibsen, Henrik Johan"). Many times Ibsen wrote about issues going on in society. In particular, this play was a "family drama, dealing with modern conditions and in particular with the problems which complicate marriage" ("Ibsen, Henrik Johan... ... middle of paper ... ...tion, but never women. She wants things to change and for it to happen she must go out on her own. Ibsen points out flaws within society by writing this satirical and feminist play.
Nora is not allow to have sweets and has to go behind her husband’s back. She is afraid of getting into trouble. Torvald also downplays her asking, “What are little people called that are always wasting money?” She replies “Spendthrifts- I know” (Ibsen, 795). His belief is that a man’s role is to protect and guide his wife, but he acts like Nora’s second father by giving her money and attempting to instruct her on how to behave. The setting is around Christmas time, and Nora buys a Christmas tree to put... ... middle of paper ... ...rvald that her duty is to understand herself before she can continue to raise children and being a wife.
Women were to be a representation of love, purity and family; abandoning this stereotype would be seen as churlish living and a depredation of family status. Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" and Henry Isben’s play A Doll's House depict women in the Victorian Era who were very much menial to their husbands. Nora Helmer, the protagonist in A Doll’s House and the narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper” both prove that living in complete inferiority to others is unhealthy as one must live for them self. However, attempts to obtain such desired freedom during the Victorian Era only end in complications. The central characters in both “The Yellow Wallpaper” and A Doll’s House are fully aware of their niche in society.
A Doll House Many females in the 1800’s did not have the courage to make decisions on their own. In the play A Doll’s House, Nora Helmer takes risks while making the decision to save her husband’s life. Nora does a good job in showing what self-respect truly means. The author focuses on what a marriage should contain by the way the characters interact with each other. The author shows us the different personalities about each character, allowing us to view their strengths and weaknesses.
The women through the title are portrayed as dolls, inanimate objects bereft of free will, dignity, or intelligence. Nora is the story's best example when describing her relationship with her father, "He used to call me his doll-child, and he played with me the way I played with my dolls," and "he told me all his opinions, so I had the same ones too." This was how she lived her entire life in relation to men. She did what she was told, and she acted in the manner that was expected. She was a belonging not a person.