A Doll's House Objectification Essay

681 Words2 Pages

In A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen, the main character Nora is being objectified by her husband Torvald. He treats her like a doll that can’t do anything without him. He orders her around, tells her what to wear, and how to dance the way he wants her to. She comes to realize this objectification through her interactions with Christine, Dr. Rank, and Krogstad.
Christine shows Nora that it is possible to survive without having a husband, and she also helps Nora notice things about her marriage. Christine worked hard for her family as she stated” the last three years have seem like one long working-day, with no rest” (677). She shows Nora that it might be hard to survive alone but it can be done. She sets a future example of what Nora could do in …show more content…

She starts to play more attention to Torvald after Krogstad threatens to tell her secret. Nora realizes that Torvald only sees her as a child that needs his help with everything she does. As she said,” I have existed merely to perform tricks for you, Torvald. But you would have it so” (720). She comes to understand that she was merely a doll to him, and that’s all he’s ever going to want her to be. Once Krogstad reveals the secret she decides to leave Torvald when he fails to prove that he truly loves her. As she said, “when the wonderful thing did not happen; then I saw you were not the man I had thought you” (722). She wanted him to show her that he would protect her and instead he got furious at her.
Each character helps her realize that she is being treated like a doll and that she can still change. Christine shows her that it is possible to live without having a man at her side. Dr. Rank shows her what a true relationship with a man can be like. Krogstad by threatening to reveal her secret makes her realize that she’s been treated like a doll all her life. The characters led to Nora realizing that she’s been treated unfairly by her father and husband. This causes her to awaken and start changing her

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