A Doll's House Women

910 Words2 Pages

“Illuminating incidents are the magic casements of fiction, its vistas on infinity” quoted by Edith Wharton in her publication, The Writing of Fiction (1925). These incidents are found in almost all fiction. For example, Darth Vader revealed he is actually Luke’s father. Dr. Malcolm Crowe had been dead the entire movie. Harry Potter himself had been a horcrux the whole time. The revelation in fiction is the crucial element of the story, thus leading into the whole significance of the account. A Doll’s House, written by Henrik Ibsen, is a classic tragedy within ordinary characters and settings. Torvald Helmer and his wife, Nora, play the part of a typical, seemingly content couple in the 1800s. Although, throughout the tale, Nora discovers …show more content…

Throughout the entire play, almost every scene between Torvald and Nora involves him treating her as an object, rather than an equal. After the party upstairs, Torvald refers to Nora, “Why shouldn’t I not look at my dearest treasure” (Ibsen 67). He regards Nora constantly as a “prize” he has won, therefore objectifying Nora. Torvald continuously calls Nora “pet names”, such as squirrel and skylark. His habit of using delicate and frail creatures to characterize his wife demonstrates his apparent superiority over Nora. Torvald also appears to have a rule against Nora consuming candy as he questions, “Hasn’t Miss Sweet-Tooth been breaking rules in town to-day” (Ibsen 14). This example further demonstrates Torvald’s dominance over his wife. While rehearsing the Tarantella, Torvald declares, “You have forgotten everything I taught you,” and continuously teaches Nora in a manner that he prefers. Additionally, he chooses the costume for her, exercising his control over her. Torvald continues to demean Nora by ridiculing her money habits as if women didn’t have any sense about finance. When asking about purchasing on credit, Torvald replies, “That is like a woman!” (Ibsen 12), putting her down for money habits first act, manipulating her to do what he wants, which is why she left to educate …show more content…

Rather than worrying about Nora’s well being, Torvald is more concentrated on his own reputation. While declaring Nora a criminal, he quotes, “…it must appear as if everything between us were just as before – but naturally only in the eyes of the world” (Ibsen 73). Torvald is clearly already devising a plan to cover up Nora’s mistake so that they may still look normal and content to the public. Furthermore, right after Krogstad’s second letter revealed he had not decided to blackmail Nora arrived, Torvald responded with, “1 am saved! Nora, I am saved!” (Ibsen 74). He rejoiced for himself rather than his

Open Document