The Truth In A Doll's House By Henrik Ibsen

The truth always has a way of coming out, no matter how hard one tries to keep it hidden. In Henrik Ibsen’s compelling play, A Doll’s House, the truth that Nora has been hiding comes to light through Krogstad and his deceitful actions. However, one may propose the question of Krogstad’s necessity in Nora’s action of leaving her family. Certainly, Krogstad acted as a catalyst in the story and pushed Nora to make the decision to leave, but Nora still would leave her family even without help from Krogstad. Her husband’s attitude towards her, her defiance against Torvald and ultimately society, and her thirst for independence and self-actualization prevail above everything else in her life, causing her to desert her husband and their doll house. Throughout

When Torvald asks, “ ‘Hasn't Miss Sweet Tooth been breaking rules in town today … taken a bite at a macaroon or two?’ ”(Ibsen 4). Nora replies saying, "No, Torvald.”(Ibsen 4). This lie opens the door to a flood of more lies and deceit that push Nora to finally slam the door on her family. This action further exposes Nora’s rebellious side. This so-called side comes out again as Nora says, “ ‘Well, I'm damned!’ ”(Ibsen 16). Saying a prohibited word reveals Nora’s daring side, the side that Nora exhibits when she leaves her husband. Her nature and personality demonstrate her ability to leave her family without the help of Krogstad’s letter. In addition to Torvald’s manner towards Nora and her defiance against him, she longs for independence and the fulfillment of her potential. Her love for individuality appears as she tells Kristine of her devotion to working and earning money. She describes her work saying, “ ‘It was a tremendous pleasure to sit there working and earning money. It was like being a man’ ”(Ibsen 13). This bold statement describes her pleasure in independence. Staying in her marriage, Nora would never be able to do something that makes her

Most importantly, she desires to complete the levels of the hierarchy by finding self-actualization. The need to fulfill one's potential or to achieve one’s capability drives Nora to leave her family behind. Analyst Kristin Brunnemer states, “For Nora to achieve self-actualization, she must leave behind Torvald, who desires only her willingness to engage with him at the Deprivation-Love level upon which they have built their marriage”(Brunnemer). Nora longs for a life of discovering her talents and living up to her potential, like the many others seeking to conquer the last level of Maslow’s Hierarchy. If she stays with Torvald, Nora will not be capable of achieving her dreams. Nora feels a calling to explore her true identity as she states, “ ‘I have other duties just as sacred…duties to myself’ ”(Ibsen 68). In staying with Kristine instead of staying in the doll’s house with Torvald, Nora takes the first step in her journey to find her identity as a strong, independent woman. Nora’s actions that sprout from her independent drive, will remain, even without Krogstad’s urge, and will ultimately force her to leave her family