Archetypes In A Doll's House

Marriage is a union between two people who communicate and love each other. A love so pure and unconditional that only in death can they part. In a Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, Nora and Torvald appear to portray the perfect marriage. However, throughout the play flaws within the Helmer marriage are exposed: a lack of communication, love and selflessness. A relationship based on lies and play-acting; A marriage condemned by the weight of public opinion.

Although Nora is secretive about the crime she committed, which is forging her father’s name in order to borrow money; she does it to save her husband. During Act I when Nora is speaking to Mrs. Linde about someday revealing to Torvald about the secret loan Nora exclaims: “One day I might, yes. Many years from now, when I’ve lost my looks a little. Don’t laugh. I mean, of course, a time will come when Torvald is not as devoted to me, not quite so happy when I dance for him, and dress for him, and play with him.” (Act I, pg. 12). This quotation shows that even early on in the play Nora understands the reality of her marriage, and her existence to Torvald. Therefore, Act I is merely an introduction to the overall overarching theme of independence. Act I shows the obedient side of Nora, until later scenes when she reveals her independence. Torvald attempts to oppress his wife, but his actions do not stop Nora’s independent thoughts from forming.

Torvald would never have thought she were capable of it, since during that era it was unrealistic of women to leave their houses but rather put up with the difficulties they faced. Ibsen highlights society's domineering outlooks of marriage and the interactions of two people naïvely pretending to be in love. Throughout the play Ibsen reveals the fragile attributes of his characters to help enhance the play-like nature of their relationship, the role of women, and Nora's course of self-discovery.

A Doll's House play by Ibsen is important for its crucial viewpoint toward 19th century marriage standards. As the leading role, Nora, leaves her husband and children because she wants to discover herself, it created great disagreement at the time.

Nora begins to take offence to the words of Torvald. He refers to her as his most “prized possession”, and continues to say that he often imagines her as though she is his mistress, and she is a temptress. Nora continues to get offended, telling Torvald she doesn’t want any of this. Nora begins

Marriage is a forever commitment between two individuals to love one another but marriages don't always have the fairytale happy ending. In Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll House, Nora and Torvald Helmer learn some things about their marriage that they had not realized before. Nora Helmer discovers Torvald, herself, her marriage, as well as her own identity as a woman.

Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll House examines a woman’s struggle for independence in her marriage and social world. Through the use of character change, Ibsen conveys his theme that by breaking away from all social expectations, we can be true to ourselves. When Ibsen presents Nora Helmer, we see a “perfect” wife, who lives in a “perfect” house with a “perfect” husband and children. The Helmer children have a nanny that raises them. By having the nanny, Nora has the freedom to come and go as she pleases. Torvald Helmer, Nora’s husband, will begin a new job as bank manager, so they will be rich, which will make her “perfect” life even better. Torvald even calls Nora pet names like “my sweet little lark” (Ibsen 1567) and “my squirrel”

Therefore, Torvald takes pride in Nora being his beautiful child wife because this is the normal cultural expectation. Torvald is only acting in the appropriate way of a Victorian male. Nora is his possession, as stated in the academic journal, The Use of Symbolic Language in Ibsen’s

Despite her prior obedience, Nora proves to come quite far from this subdued mindset. With much conviction she tells her disgruntled husband, “It is no use forbidding me anything any longer… I will take nothing from you, either now or later” (1399). Torvald finds himself quite shocked with his wife’s new view on her marriage. As the man of the 19th century, he has become programmed to see a woman’s life purpose as quenching the desires of her husband and by default their children. He does not recognize the amount of sacrifice Nora has put into their union, but Nora is very much aware of her self-worth. Ibsen allows the audience to witness the level of strength Nora has gained from her sacrifices. No longer does she find herself depending on the physical goods or emotional devotions of her husband. She instead desires to dedicate herself to fulfilling “duties just as sacred” (1399) to

Throughout the play, Torvald calls Nora by names [nicknames] that symbolize that their relationship is

In Ibsen’s “A Doll House,” Nora explains quietly, “I am the one who saved Torvalds’s life (Ibsen 793).” It expresses that how she proud on her action and broke the trend of men’s leadership in finance. It was criticized by Mrs. Linde which shows rigidness of women’s number one role in society. Nora created a silent protest against her narrow role in society, and also attempted to break the flow of men’s attitude toward married women. Nora wasn’t ready to become her husband’s child.

Throughout Nora’s life, she wasn’t allowed to have her own individuality. The theme Ibsen conveys in this play is the oppressive treatment among women during this time in history and he points this out by using elements of symbolism, foreshadowing, and metaphorical language. Ibsen heavily relies on the use of symbol in everyday objects to convey a deeper meaning of the scene and/or characters. Ibsen particularly incorporates the use of food to signify what is not eminently said.

The character of Nora goes through the dramatic transformation of a kind and loving housewife, to a desperate and bewildered woman, whom will ultimately leave her husband and everything she has known. Ibsen uses both the characters of Torvald and Nora to represent the tones and beliefs of 19th century society. By doing this, Ibsen effectively creates a dramatic argument that continues to this day; that of feminism.

Written in the late 19th century, Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House addresses flaws within Norwegian society. Ibsen specifically highlights the symbiotic relationship between social oppression and deception. Many groups within the 19th century Norwegian culture felt social oppression, but women were among the most heavily judged. In this time period, it was illegal for a married woman to be employed, so she was forced to the monotony of home making and child bearing. This law has a central role in the play as Nora struggles to break free from her stagnant lifestyle of following social expectations. Like Nora, many people felt obliged to lie and deceive people to seem as though they were following the rules of society. Ibsen’s negative depiction of social oppression and deception throughout different scenarios within the play contribute to the play’s major themes. Ibsen utilizes Torvald’s study, the masquerade ball, and Nora’s dress change to symbolize and develop the overarching themes of social oppression and deception in A Doll’s House.

As a proponent of the woman as an individual, Ibsen used symbolism, amplification, and motifs to express his views. In addition he utilized metaphors as he compared Torvald’s view of Nora to a parent’s view of a child, or even to a “doll” (Ibsen 126). Ibsen also had Torvald refer to Nora as an