...“Ibsen’s Nora is a perfect vehicle for an exploration of self-determination, as she embodies the repression of women, as well as the suffocating bourgeois life style” A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen portrays a metaphoric life of individuals confined in a “doll’s house”. The text, written by Henrik Ibsen, produces a point of view seen in the society at the time, where women were expected to be the dutiful young wife and mother. Although Ibsen denies that it is a feminist play, many critics believe otherwise. The characterisation of Nora Helmer, the protagonist of the play, becomes a perfect vehicle for an exploration of self-determination as she embodies the repression of women as well as the suffocating bourgeois lifestyle. Her role in the play unravels as she starts off as being a part of an expected duty of women in the society and flourishes into an independent courageous woman. Ibsen portrays this through the use of symbolism, dramatic techniques and language forms. As being the perfect vehicle for self determination, Nora, in the play, disguises her true self. This ultimately shows the repression she endures to meet the expectations of society as well as her husband, Torvald. Society’s outlook on the role of women is for them to be completely devoted, to husband and to family. Nora’s duty is to be adoring, reliant on Torvald and perhaps childlike through her ways of handling money, spending it on useless things such as macaroons. Outwardly, Nora is seen to fulfil her husband’s...
Words: 1510 - Pages: 7
...Children are young people that are not ready to face the world on their own. They need help and, their source of help is their mother and father. A mother and father are the people who have responsibilities over their children. Both parents have different tasks and jobs they do for their children. As a parent, they both have very different obligations. The responsibilities a mother has are very different compared to the responsibilities a father has. A mother’s job is to nurture her child, and a father’s job is to protect his child. A mother’s obligations for her child start right away. From the moment the baby begins to grow in her womb, the list of responsibilities begins. A mother is responsible for safely carrying her baby in her womb for nine months. She has to do everything carefully and cautiously. The baby in a mother’s belly is so fragile. A mother also has to watch what she is eating and drinking during her pregnancy. For nine whole months, a mother is sacrificing her wants and desires in order to create a healthy child. After the baby is born, even more responsibilities come a mother’s way. A mother is responsible for nurturing her child. She’s there to care for and encourage the growth of her child. If her child is hurt, the mother is expected to take care of him and make him feel better. If he is sick, the mother is the one that stands by his side, making sure that all his needs are met. A mother usually cooks and cleans for her children. She makes sure her kids...
Words: 922 - Pages: 4
...come out in you”(Ibsen 1769). Helmer’s love for his wife comes from her constant and consistent obedience towards him. Once Helmer read the letter detailing her alleged betrayal it was evident Nora was not as obedient as he thought. In all aspects Nora was Helmer’s stringed puppet in his doll house. Helmer viewed her betrayal as a weakness, but was actually Nora's strength, she did what needed to be done in a time of crisis. Nora never burdened her husband with the loan because it was her cross to bear not his. Nora knew how her husband would take in, on the news of the loan so she hid it not out of shame or guilt but love. Nora took out the loan to take care of Helmer, when he was sick because she loved him. If Nora was as immature and irresponsible as Helmer believed she wouldn't have stepped up as a wife taking care of her husband. In the end the person Nora loved only loved who he wanted her to be. Nora made the...
Words: 566 - Pages: 3
...Literary Essay: A Doll’s House Rachael Shannon 2015-07-24 Ms. Behiel ENG3U Life for a housewife in the 1800s was very different from what it is in the 21st century, but what remains true is the difficulty in having a good marriage. The play, A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, represents the struggles one might have went through, but he really challenged the typical marriage back then. In the play, Nora is a loving mother of three and a caring wife who has been misunderstood and mistreated. Nora’s decision at the end of the play to leave Torvald Helmer is justifiable because, he makes her perform by singing and dancing, he treats her like a doll and he dictates her whole life. Firstly, Torvald treats Nora as his own doll and makes her sing and dance for his pleasure. For example, before she must dance the Tarantella for the party and has to practice for Torvald, “Now, you must go and play through the Tarantella and practise with your tambourine.” (II, 41) Torvald makes Nora practice for the dance, he even commands her. This is a misuse of his power over her and he treats her like a subordinate. In addition Nora is able to bargain with her husband by offering her services, “I would play the fairy and dance for you in the moonlight, Torvald.” (II, 38) He has used her for his own entertainment as if she was a servant to him and not his wife. In conclusion, Nora had to leave Torvald and the children because her husband was mistreating her as a performer. Secondly, he treats...
Words: 718 - Pages: 3
...A Doll's House's Symbolism A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen was written in the late 1800’s and uses symbolism to get the writer’s ideas and descriptions across to the reader in greater detail. We will examine four of the writer’s uses of symbolism. The first is actually the title of the play and sets the stage for everything that transpires in the play. The second symbol is the Christmas tree that is brought into the first scene by Nora. The third use of symbolism that Ibsen uses is the macaroons that are only introduced in the first scene. Finally, the Tarantella can be interpreted as one of the most symbolic parts of the whole play. The title of Henrik Ibsen’s play, “A Doll’s House,” is symbolic in itself. The doll in the play would be Nora. Nora is in a mindless role of a plaything that first belongs to her father and then to Torvald. Nora play’s her part in the life but secretly wants more and is constantly reminded of how little control over her own life she has. An example of this is that after 8 years of marriage and three children, Torvald Helmer wags his finger at Nora and asks “Hasn’t Miss Sweet-Tooth been breaking the rules in town today ?” (Ibsen, 1897, p.)_Torvald speaks to Nora as a parent would speak to child in a condescending tone throughout the play. The title “A Doll’s House” is an ironic metaphor for what could be considered as more of a prison than a home for Nora who is really not expected to ever make decisions for herself or think for herself. In the...
Words: 921 - Pages: 4
...Ashley Griffin Professor Paulette J. Marek ENC1102 81 30 October 2013 Metaphors A Doll’s House is a play that is significant for its attitude toward the 19th Century Marriage norms. There is lots of controversy that talks about protagonist, Nora, Leaving her husband and children because she wanted to find out who she is as a person. Metaphors are use all the time in writing. The Pet name that torvald uses for Nora are metaphors for how women were treated during the Victorian era. I feel that the main idea of the author Ibsen’s work is all about metaphor that he uses in this drama The Doll’s House. In the begging Nora follows her childlike or housewife role that she plays. After sometime Nora speaks to Torvalds and realizes that he feels that Nora should only be the housewife and mother of his children. She should not be able to know or find out who she is as a person. Nora goes from a very immature person or just went along with what she was told to a very dependent, and very self-sufficient person. She now shows the idealized “doll” role of a woman but also keeps away from the limitations and social constraints of that time period. In the beginning of this drama Nora is a house wife and very childish person that she feels she needs to be. Growing up she had a father that was very dominant. She then married Torvalds who was also very dominant towards Nora. With the way Torvalds was it showed Nora’s Physical growth but her immaturity and emotional dependence hasn’t changed...
Words: 1645 - Pages: 7
...Drama Essay 01 May 2011 The Doll in A Doll House The play "A Doll House" was written by Henrik Ibsen in 1879. In the nineteenth century, women's rights were hardly restricted. The role of the woman was to stay at home and take care about the children and her husband, while the male figure in the home acted as the dominating role. The man made almost all decisions for the family. Nora Helmer is the woman of this period and is portrayed as a victim of her environment, society and male dominance. Throughout her entire life, Nora has been emotionally controlled and treated like a doll by both male characters in her life, her father and her husband. She has believed them without any questions because she is afraid to offend them, "When I lived at home with Papa, he told me all his opinions, so I had the same ones too; or if they were different I hid them, since he wouldn't have cared for that" (1213). Her father shaped her life, her opinions and her thoughts. He played with his "doll-child," spoiled and treated her like a toy and not like an individual (1213). When Nora married Torvald Helmer, she simply passed from her father's hands into her husband's hands with no changes. Nora says: " ...our home's been nothing but a playpen. I've been your doll-wife here, just as at home I was Papa's doll-child" (1213). Torvald takes Nora's father role and treats Nora as a child, controlling everything from her movements to her thoughts. He dresses up his "doll-wife", teaches...
Words: 691 - Pages: 3
...UNIVERSITY KUALA LUMPUR OF BUSINESS SCHOOL BACHELOR OF ACCOUNTANCY (HONS) ASSIGNMENT : ASSIGNMENT PESTLE MODEL AND SWOT ANALYSIS OF HAUTE COUTURE FASHIONS (HCF) SUBJECT NAME SUBJECT CODE STUDENT’S NAME : INTEGRATED CASE STUDY : EAB 40703 : 1) NOR HIDAYAH BINTI ABDUL HAMID 62288111073 2) DAYANG MAZIELA BINTI ZULKIPLI 62288111048 3) NOOR ASRAFEZ BIN JALUDDIN 62288111007 4) NUR HIDAYAH BINTI ABU HASSAN 62288111001 5) NURULHUDA BINTI MUSTAFA 62288111052 6) ZAKIAH BINTI KASIM 62288111072 SEMESTER LECTURE’S NAME :6 : SIR AMIRUL HAFIZ BIN MOHD NASIR SWOT ANALYSIS STRENGTH o Have skilled trained by British master cutters. o A high quality manufacturing o Experience work with European country o High quality of design ready to wear o Aware about employees welfare WEAKNESSES o Lack of production cost o Lack of producing finish good o Lack of management planning o Lack of raw material o Lack of man power OPPORTUNITY o Attract more customer based from Europe o o o o Expand more branch within and outside Malaysia Leave Malaysia Hire cheaper employees in China to reduce cost Improve in technology o THREAT o Price competition with China manufacturing Kiki and Houida want move to China The PESTLE Model Political: Definition: What is happening politically environment in which business operates. For example: Represent the way and the extent to which a government influences the economy and a certain business. Political factors are represented by specific areas, such...
Words: 917 - Pages: 4
...Favorite Essay Of the many styles and topics of writing my English course has reviewed; the reading I found most interesting was “Being a Man” by Paul Theroux. The essay was over Theroux not liking the masculine identity or being a man in general. I enjoyed Theroux’s essay because he goes straight for the point and the topic was very controversial. Theroux’s essay is about how difficult it is to be a man in America. Men are generalized to be tough, sport crazy and unemotional. I believe that generalization is still common but has deteriorated over the decade. Theroux thinks the way children are brought up is wrong, just because a boy does not like sports does not mean there is something wrong with him. From personal experience, I know that not every little boy likes sports or has the opportunity to be active in sports. I grew up in a small apartment with my father, mother and sister. Living in a room with my sister was very hard to deal with. I had a Nintendo 64 and she had Barbie dolls. There was nowhere to play sports and no place to keep the equipment. We made do with the things we had; I sometimes enjoyed taking the Barbie dolls clothing off and she would play the Mario Brothers. Eventually moving into a house allowed me to be active in football, soccer and baseball. I believe the child’s surroundings can change their path to adulthood. Theroux expresses many things that I find insulting. According to Theroux, to be a man is to be “stupid, be unfeeling, obedient,...
Words: 586 - Pages: 3
...EN1320: Module 4 Essay The Eyes That Follow Jon Torres Porcelain dolls. Staring at me with unblinking eyes, surrounding me, and I can’t get away. My older sister, standing there laughing at me, a horror movie about killer dolls playing in the background. Me, 5 years old and strapped down to a chair. I still have the fear of dolls that I experienced that day, although it is not quite as severe. My older sister was a firm believer in tough love, and she was always picking on my brothers and me. It isn’t until I sit here, 17 years later, that I realize that it wasn’t just a prank, but her way of trying to toughen me up. I remember that day as one of horror and hurt, but it wasn’t as bad as a 5 year old mind can make it out to be. I woke up expecting the normal life of a kid, playing with toys and watching Tom and Jerry as I waited for my mom to take over with As the World Turns. Little did I know that my older sister was home as well, “sick” with one of those 24 hour stomach bugs. She decided it would be the perfect opportunity to teach her passive-aggressive younger brother to be tough and not cry. Boy did that backfire. She called me into the living room, and the first thing I noticed was the spinning desk chair in the middle of the room. I didn’t see my sister, so I sat down and looked at the television, expecting to see some commercial about a new cleaner or a toy that I would want. Instead, there is an inflated face of a porcelain doll, a movie that had been paused...
Words: 696 - Pages: 3
...Drama is defined as “A prose or verse composition, especially one telling a serious story, that is intended for representation by actors impersonating the characters and performing the dialogue and action”. Through out the works of drama, Death of a Salesman, Trifles, and A Dolls House, the plays center around 3 very different families and their everyday struggle of living with a lack of a support system. Through out the stories the audience is taken on a Journey of the struggles and emotions of feeling and being lonely. A series of conflicts cause these three characters to realize there is no support system available to them. In Trifles by Susan Gladspell, Mrs. John Wright most definitely regrets her isolation at the farm house outside of town. We begin to understand this atmosphere when Mrs. Hales reveals, “It never seemed a very cheerful place” (634) This shows the audience that she truly feels alone and that there really is no one on her farm for her to turn to for real companionship and support. Due to Mrs. Wright’s lack of support she was driven to confide and seek friendship in a small bird. She began singing to the bird and cause tension between John Wright and herself. Mr. Wright was known to neglect his wife and stop her from singing. She was driven to the point of murdering her husband because of his neglect and the ever absent support system. To show her lack of support Gladspell implements that other characters within the play even realize she needs a...
Words: 671 - Pages: 3
...Friday in 2008 was not the only individual to be killed in such a gruesome manner. An eerily similar situation occurred to a pharmacist trying to shop at a Target in 2011. The items sought after by the shoppers were not what caused the two deaths. Likewise, the majority of stuff itself is not creating problems in the world, in fact, it’s finding new, innovative ways to fix them. The real issues at hand are the people with access to the growing amount of elaborate commercial products. That is the theme Quindlen is attempting to convey in her report: to be happy, people need to be smart and spend their money on things that they need or that actually matter. Generally, I agree with Quindlen’s overall message, however I do not agree with her essay as a whole. Many of her examples and arguments were...
Words: 877 - Pages: 4
...consumer taste . She claims that people frequently waste money on “junk” that they do not need, such as “appliances, toys, clothes, [and] gadgets” (Quindlen 1). Quindlen encourages her audience to realize that “stuff does not bring salvation” (1). She argues that people can be happier if they live simply without unnecessary products and desires. Quindlen makes a few interesting claims about the consumer culture, but her argument is slightly weakened because she only uses her personal experiences, future statistics, and inappropriate comparisons. To support her claims, Quindlen incorporates her personal experiences into her essay. First, Quindlen describes a part of her childhood: “Television advertising… made me want a Chatty Cathy doll so much as a kid that when I saw her under the tree my head almost exploded… but I didn’t even really like dolls, especially dolls who introduced themselves to you over and over again when you pulled the ring in their necks” (1). Her personal experience during her childhood gives an example of how people buy products that they may not like or need. Her personal experience is also relatable because many readers have experienced losing interest in toys that they persistently begged their parents to buy for them. In addition, Quindlen mentions that she knows a family in rural Pennsylvania (1). The members of this family have little desires and only possess items that have “real meaning” (Quindlen 1). Quindlen uses her observations of this family to demonstrate...
Words: 986 - Pages: 4
...Aaron Schwartz Professional Communications Essay outline Prof. Kirshenbaum Farleigh Dickenson University Wednesdays 1:00-4:30 11/1/10 “Boys will be boy, girls will be girls” They say: “Boys will always be boys and girls will always be girls”. What does that even mean? Well our society has come to interpret this often said phrase to mean; little boys will always play with their guns while little girls will always play with their dolls. Teenage boys will always play with a football while teenage girls talk on the phone for hours. Men will always watch professional sports while women will still be talking on the phone for hours. Now is this just a stereotype or is this indeed a fact of life? Are guys truly more aggressive? Are women really more nurturing? You better believe it! Gender differences are real and they are simply more than just a serotype. “Boys will be boys” because their brain tells them to be, not because our society does. “Testosterone plays a huge role in aggression testosterone is the primary male sex hormone produced by the testicles. The male is said to produce forty to sixty times the testosterone then women. The University of Wisconsin did a study in which the researchers injected testosterone into unborn female monkeys. Once these females were born they did not nurture or groom their children they acted like male monkeys and began to become more violent and very aggressive.”(York) from that experiment we learn that once the testosterone...
Words: 1903 - Pages: 8
...Valued Possessions vs. Insignificant Desires Anna Quindlen, a novelist, social critic, and journalist wrote an intriguing essay “Stuff is Not Salvation” about the addiction of Americans, who splurge on materialistic items that have no real meaning. The ability to obtain credit is one of the main reasons to blame for society’s consumption epidemic. However, Quindlen feels the economic decline due to credit card debt is insignificant compared to the underlying issues of American’s binging problems. Quindlen’s essay gives excellent points regarding the differences in America’s typical shopping habits. Additionally, she mentions how people acquire all this “stuff” but seem to never realize, “why did I get this?”(501). Quindlen makes her audience visualize a world where we acquire our needs versus our meaningless desires. Yet, she fails to mention people who could live a life of happiness through the possessions they acquire. In summary, Quindlen supports her point of view with examples of American spending habits in the past decades of depression compared to now. She mentions Black Friday and how people become enthralled by cheap bargains (Quindlen 500-501). In Quindlen’s essay, she refers to an accident in which a worker at Walmart was trampled to death by a mob of shoppers and despite the horrific incident people kept shopping (500). With the U.S. depression, Black Friday brings hopes of more money spent, therefore a rise in the markets. The dream of an uplifted economy became...
Words: 880 - Pages: 4
