Nora Helme: Transgression towards Realization

The mid-nineteenth century also referred to as the “Victorian Age, taking from the name of England's Queen Victoria who ruled for over 60 years” (Radek) revealed that women were faced with many adversities that appeared to have delayed their true aptitudes. During this time period, women were also required to conform to the divine command of men and must find a husband or she would be derided by the social order. In the same way, women were also not allowed to follow a profession. Nevertheless, as time progress, women have experienced “realization”. This realization is the ability for one to understand their purpose or have a desire to be something more than their original state. Zealously, I believe that conflict can help a woman transcend to this ‘realization’. Regardless of the many disparities women have faced, it is apparent that the conflicts that women have experienced, allowed them to seek out there true identity and purpose. Moreover, this leads to what exactly is conflict. Conflict is considered to be the very essence of many literary works. Likewise, it is the momentum of happening and change and is very vital for delivering information and building characterization within the literary text. When conflict is conquered, it provides a greater sense of understanding and lessons to be learnt. Conflicts can be internal or external. Internal conflicts exist between the character and his/herself while external conflict exists between two characters or the environment. A modern play that demonstrates the transgression of a woman from the conflict she experience is in “The Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen. Ibsen wrote this particular work while living in Italy, which became a cornerstone in ‘realism’. It also brings ...

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...ed and open a constructive and transformative dialogue with Torvald! Nonetheless, this is where we see that their marriage truly is fraught with complications and trials. In the final analysis, the conflicts which ultimately destroy Nora's and Torvald's marriage stem from pride, unrequited love, and betrayal. Nora lies to her husband and betrays his trust in part because she loves him and wants to please him. Torvald cannot accept his wife's sacrifice in securing the loan that saved his life because, in desperation, she got the money illegally, and if the fact became known, it would be a blow to his pride. When Torvald will not defend his wife, it is the final betrayal of her love, and their marriage does not survive.

Works Cited

Damrosch, David and Pike L. David. The Longman Anthology of World Literature. New York: Pearson Education, Inc., 2008.