...The Puppet On Strings Henrik Ibsen’s play, A Doll’s House is a portrayal of a Victorian lifestyle in the 1800’s, when the men of the family were powerful figures and the women merely powerless in their own homes. Throughout the entire piece, Ibsen included many symbols to show the mistreatment of women in the Victorian era. During the 1800’s, the time period this play was based in, women had little to no control or power, merely accessories for their husbands to wear to events, “trophy wives”. In A Doll’s House, Torvald, being the man of the house, makes all of the executive decisions, when he tells Nora to jump, she asks how high. Throughout the entire story, Nora is treated like a naive child and a puppet, by the man who supposedly “loves” her. In a literary criticism, Emma Goldman states, “In A Doll's House, Ibsen returns to the subject so vital to him,--the Social Life and Duty,--this time as manifesting themselves in the sacred institution of the home and in the position of woman in her gilded cage” (Goldman). Torvald believes that she is his property, ordering her around like she is his toy to play with. This creates a great deal of stress and dishonesty within the relationship. This forces Nora to lie and involve her friends Dr. Rank and Christine to protect herself from Torvald’s power. Henrik Ibsen’s play, A Doll’s House, uses symbols of macaroons, the Tarantella performance, and Torvald’s pet names for Nora, to demonstrate the imbalance of power in their parent-child...
Words: 1524 - Pages: 7
...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 needs but despite this, Nora is actually a hard worker shown...
Words: 1510 - Pages: 7
...perfect as long as she follows her husband’s wishes and demands. Torvald, Nora’s husband, plays with her like she is an object instead of a human being. Nora also represents the women of the 19th century who were judged and degraded because at the time, men and women were not treated equally. New Year’s Day is symbolic because the holiday serves as a time of joy and new beginnings; however, New Year’s is when Nora realized that she did not want to be a part of a doll’s house. They actually accomplished their plans of starting fresh, but this time they did it separately. I think the mailbox is a significant symbol because only Torvald had the key to it, which shows that he is controlling and powerful. It also represents the big secret Nora was keeping from her husband that sooner or later, he would find out. The macaroons simply represent the lies. Nora favoured macaroons and asked Torvald permission to have some as much as she could, but it the play, she lies about buying them. Torvald persuades Nora not to buy macaroons because they are tight with money, but Nora goes against his wishes and treats herself believing she deserved them. The letter that Nils Krogstad wrote for Torvald revealing Nora’s lies represent the reality of the whole situation. Krogstad’s letter not only disclosed that Nora had been keeping the secret of loaning but also that she did it illegally. Torvald’s reaction to the letter was unbelievable because after his wife did everything she could think of to...
Words: 547 - Pages: 3
...Throughout A Doll’s House, the use of symbolism is present. Through Torvald’s actions, the reader develops a clear understanding of Nora and Torvald’s relationship and thus developing theme. He treats her as if she is a child, but Nora doesn’t act upon this until the end of the play. This may be due to the constant reminder of her secret bank loan, which affects her attitude and interaction with her husband. Although not typically considered as imagery, stage directions are helpful to the reader as they provide visual information that the reader can use to help set the setting. Without prior knowledge of the play, the title seems odd, but as the story unfolds, the title becomes clearly connected to the plot and theme of the story. Through the...
Words: 1723 - Pages: 7
...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
...In the play, a doll’s house, Dr. Rank is a character without much significance to the play as a whole. He does not further the plot the way krogstad or Mrs. Linde does. Krogstad initiates the conflict by attempting to blackmail Nora Helmer. Mrs. Linde gives Nora an excuse to leap into exposition in Act One, and she also tames the heart of the antagonistic Mr. Krogstad. Dr. Rank, in the play, mainly just visits torvald in his office,flirts with nora and carries the burden of a disease believed to be syphilis. Dr. Rank’s purpose in ibsen’s play is a very debatable one as some may believe he was there only to shine more light on the true characters of torvald and his wife, nora. Some could also believe that Dr. Rank is a symbol of the life which nora yearns for, a life of freedom and independence which everyone in her life has refused to give her. Dr. Rank's function in the play also refers to a past occasion in Nora's life. Just as she used to seek the conversation of the maids as a refreshing change from the moralizing of her father, Nora finds amusement in Rank's companionship as a change from Torvald’s tiresome nature: NORA: When I lived at home, naturally I loved papa best,but I always found it terribly amusing to slip into the servants’ hall,because they always talked about such interesting things,and they never lectured me at all.(Ibsen 196) Rank’s character is also really interesting because it contrasts so much with the other male characters in the play. Krogstad and...
Words: 560 - Pages: 3
...Research question: Nora’s struggle to find her identity in the play A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s house is a play, which was written way ahead of its time. In the play Ibsen has highlighted that women’s right is a matter of importance. During that time women were considered a mere doll. A Doll’s house reflects the common society during that time period. Ibsen has tried to bring out the fact that during 19th century the role of a woman was to stay at home, raise her children and serve her husband. The same is expected by Nora Helmer, a character in A Doll’s House. She is portrayed as a victim of the 19th century woman. Michael Meyer has quoted, "The common denominator in many of Ibsen's dramas is his interest in individuals struggling for and authentic identity in the face of tyrannical social conventions. This conflict often results in his characters' being divided between a sense of duty to themselves and their responsibility to...
Words: 686 - Pages: 3
...In a Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, Nora's mind is pulled in conflicting directions by two compelling desires, that of wanting to be free while still being morally obligated to her family. For Nora's entire life, society has forced her to succumb to its expectations of a woman's role as a mother and wife, rather than to her personal desires. These repressed desires then lead to her feeling trapped and confused, considering her responsibility to her family but also her own wish to be free of this life full of lies and deception. In society's point of view, at the time when this play was written, a husband and wife were expected to live happily ever after with their children, if any, and never leave each other's side. Because of this, Nora felt a sort of principled obligation set upon her by others to stay with her family. Nora was a victim of subjugation to Torvald. Whether it was his absurd command for her to not eat macaroons, or to not spend money, Torvald had complete control over her. This dominance only drives Nora further and further away from her family. Torvald's control doesn't stop at the macaroons and the setting of a budget. Towards the end of the play, we are made aware of a dance called the tarantella, here, Torvald makes Nora dress up and dance for him, as though she were a doll. After he teaches her the dance, he proclaims "When I saw you turn and sway in the tarantella-my blood was pounding till I couldn't stand it", showing how he is more interested in Nora...
Words: 1007 - Pages: 5
...Women's Roles G.D Anderson a famous feminist poet once said "Feminism isn't about making women strong. Women are already strong. It's about changing the way the world perceives that strength". Women have always been overlooked no one has really taken the chance to stop and admire all the things that they do. In A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen Nora plays the role of a mother, a wife and most importantly a women these three views have all changed over the years. The audience varying responses to Nora’s actions in the play A Doll’s House, reflect the changing role of women in the past 100 years. The first main point is how Nora and her actions as a mother are looked at over the last 100 years on the views of women. In the earlier years women were to stay home and watch after the children they were not expected to go out and help support the family. Kathryn Hughes points out “Not only was it their job to counterbalance the moral taint of the public sphere in which their husbands laboured all day, they were also preparing the next generation to carry on this way of life”.The main job of a mother was to make a good role model for the kids and to educate them while they are at home. Over the years the idea of a stay at home mom has faded away due to the...
Words: 790 - Pages: 4
...In A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, a woman named Nora is facing a life altering situation that stands to both ruin her social and private life. In dealing with the potential outcomes of the scenario, Nora comes to find that she has been living a convenient mistruth. Nora’s greatest and most damaging lies are lies she tells to herself. As is seen numerous times throughout the play, Nora hides, withholds, and distorts the truth in order to please everyone around her, including herself. Nora is presented almost immediately as a person of questionable character, wherein the first scene she conceals from Torvald having eaten macaroons. Torvald says to Nora “Not even a bite at a macaroon?” after suggesting she had been to the confectionaries’ (I.11). Nora replies by saying “No, Torvald, I assure you really” (I.11). Forward points out in her critical essay “It becomes clear that she is humouring Torvald, and we soon gather that she is capable of deceitful behavior when she eats macaroons surreptitiously, despite knowing that he would disapprove.” (2009) Nora further compounds this same lie by telling Dr. Rank that she was given macaroons by Ms. Linde. Dr. Rank states “what, macaroons? I thought they were forbidden here” (I.35). Nora replies “yes, but these are some Christine gave me” (I.35). Again, when presented with the opportunity to be a genuine person, Nora chooses the opposite. When she initially greets Ms. Linde and is catching up on old times, Ms. Linde asks Nora “You spent...
Words: 810 - Pages: 4
...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 HOUSE A Doll's House is a three act play about a seemingly typical housewife who becomes disillusioned and dissatisfied with her condescending husband. Nora represents the 'doll' in this 'perfect doll house' with decorated Christmas trees and fancy parties. The realization that her life is a sham, she spends her whole life in a dream world. In this dream world, Nora does not take life seriously, an attitude that led to many of the plot’s complications. Nora and Torvald Helmer believe they are happily married and on the brink of a blissful new phase of life. Nora's lie is exposed and Torvald first blames, then forgives her and is finally abandoned as Nora recognizes the truth of her situation. She accuses her husband, and her father before him, of having used her as a doll, and declares herself unfit to be a wife or mother until she has learned to be herself. Nora's position in her own household, as well as Nora's perception of the world. Not only have the men in her life treated her like a "doll", to be dressed up and played with, but she herself has lived as that doll. She has played into the role, and she has always viewed the world from only the perspective of her little house. She is treated like a child and is not taken seriously. She is belittled by Torvald and doesn't listen to her feelings, wants, and desires. In Nora world she takes a back seat approach to life and becomes like an object, reacting to other’s expectations rather than advancing herself....
Words: 615 - Pages: 3
...Maturity in a short story It is strange how an author can make his or her characters in a story seem so real. In A Doll’s House, the protagonist, Nora seems as if she is actually human. In the play, she starts off as almost a childish person but then matures so much by then end; Just as most women and men are childish at the beginning of a marriage and by then end of it, they actually act like adults. Nora’s personality changes drastically throughout the play; at the beginning she is very happy and tolerates Torvald’s teasing ways, then she realizes that she is not a “silly girl” like her husband thinks and by the end of the play she is a very mature woman realizing her importance in life. At the first of the play Nora is so oblivious to the world and does not understand how her and her husband’s relationship is more of a father-daughter thing. Throughout the play Torvald calls her names such as a “squirrel,” and a “skylark.” He also restricts her from eating macaroons because he thinks they will mess up her teeth. Torvald definitely has the final and most of the time the only say so in most matters. Nora does go behind his back doing things he said not to, like eating macaroons and drawing out a loan to pay for a trip that she thinks is for her husband’s own health. Midway through the play, Nora finally realizes that she is not any of the things her husband calls her and that she should not be treated like a child by him. After taking out the loan, to “help” Torvald...
Words: 525 - Pages: 3
...Ibsen’s Influential Individuals Whenever people read A Doll’s House, they usually focus on the main character Nora. Because of her decision to abandon her children, many people have grown to dislike her. Although Nora ultimately decides to leave her children in the hands of a possessive man, she is not fully responsible for her actions. Ibsen cleverly includes feminist, possessive, loving, and desperate characters in order to create a controversial play. The characters in A Doll’s House affect each other, Nora’s development, and her decision to abandon her family in order to become independent. Anne Marie has a strong influence on Nora Helmer. She had given up her child, whom she had out of wedlock, for adoption. Instead of running away and marrying another man, she decides to work in order to send money to her daughter whom she is still in contact with. By not doing what was expected during the 1800s, Anne Marie proves to be a feminist. After seeing a woman who does not let society rule her, Nora is influenced to become a feminist by not allowing her husband or society to control her. Although Anne Marie inspires Nora to become independent, Anne Marie is not considered an independent woman. Anne Marie belongs to the lower class, so independence is not an option. Money is much more important than liberation for Anne Marie because it is a means of survival. She does not abandon her child in order to become independent but gives her daughter up for adoption because she cannot...
Words: 2757 - Pages: 12
...English 1101 27 March 2015 “A Doll’s House” “A Doll’s House”, written by Henrik Ibsen, is a play that reflects an incredible transformation of central character Nora Helmer. In the beginning, Nora is childlike in nature and caters to her husband Torvald’s domineering and condescending demands. The relationship that the two share is much like that of a parent and child in many ways. Throughout the play she remains devoted to pleasing him, until his true motivations are made abundantly clear. Nora’s language is demonstrative of her longing to be the perfect and desirable wife, regardless of the tactics that she has to use in order to achieve that. The beginning of the play illustrates Nora’s identity as that of a woman whom is solely dedicated to being the perfect wife and mother, however, while striving for this identity, she compromises in many ways, hiding her true self from her husband. Nora’s first interaction with Torvald entails his references to her as his “little lark,” “squirrel,” and a “spendthrift” (4). While the first two are simply his pet names for her, which she whole heartedly and lovingly embraces, he also calls her a spendthrift, insinuating that she is out and about frivolously casting money around. While Nora is in fact excited about the pay increase that Torvald’s new job as a banker will provide, nothing could be further from the truth, with the exception of frequent splurges on macaroons, as well as gifts for the children. Financial deception is made...
Words: 913 - Pages: 4
