Henrik Ibsen 's A Doll House

Societal appearance and acceptance is an utmost characteristic an average individual tends to underestimate. It may seem as if individual morals go against the social appearance, but in value, individuals perceive a need for an appearance to convey a sense of belonging. Within two diverse yet similarly realist drama's, A Doll’s House and Death of a Salesman societal appearance’s stands above all else. Henrick Ibsen's A Doll's House embarks on the gender fitting and domesticity of the Victorian Era at its worse as Nora Helmer's unrealistic marriage falls within her grasps, leading to rebellion. Arthur Miller, on the other hand, sets forth the "tragedy of the common man" through the tragic hero of Willy Loman and the “American Dream” in

The play A Doll’s House (Henrik Ibsen) is centered around the lives of the antagonist, Torvald Helmer and his wife Nora Helmer. Torvald is deemed as the antagonist based on the belief that he is a power hungry misogynist whilst his wife naturally becomes the protagonist, as her husband does not treat her as an equal. The entire play itself is submerged in the issue of individual versus society. Women and men during the Victorian Era were known to have two separate callings known as separate spheres. The idea of separate spheres is based on the ‘natural’ characteristics of men and women. It is said that women are weaker and more moral thus they are more suited for the domestic sphere whilst men were to be the breadwinner and labour all day.” Ibsen uses interpellation in his play to allow for an even deeper insight and understanding of Torvald Helmer’s life. Interpellation is an ideology/philosophical ideal that has two forms: Repressive State Apparatuses and Ideological State Apparatuses. Repressive State Apparatus deals with persons being subject to ideologies or certain principles solely because it is seemingly the norm whilst

Henrick Ibsen 's A Doll House chronicles the difficulties of Nora Helmer, a housewife who is hiding a secret from her overbearing husband. In an effort to save her ailing husband 's life, Nora illegally took out a loan by forging her father 's signature on a contract. Nora kept this secret to herself for years and the only other person who knew of the scheme was the man who helped Nora obtain the loan: Nils Krogstad. The trouble for Nora began when Krogstad blackmailed her with this information in the hope of preventing Nora 's husband, who is also Krogstad 's boss, from firing him. Isn 't a man who would instill this type of burden on another person 's life a morally reprehensible human being? In reality, things are not as clear cut,

“A Doll House” by Henrik Ibsen, was written in such a period of time when women were struggling in search for their identity. His play reflects the position of women in society during the 19th Century, the way they were portrayed, and his belief that women should be given the right to build up their own individuality. Moreover, in this play, men are apparently in the overwhelming position where they are seen to exhibit power in controlling women so that their own identity and societal position may be held, and recognized by the general public. Nora Helmer is the main character in the play who takes on the role of a victim. By employing ideas from sociologists and psychologists, Nora’s struggle for identity, how other’s attitude towards her motivates and drives her to gradually develop her own sense of self can be more fully understood.

Torvald being sick gave her a chance to explore a place she could not explore while young since her parent provider passed. This led her to risk a loan and forge a dead person’s signature, a serious offense. Her actions were seen quite different from what other women during her time would do. In the article, Women of the Middle Class, the author claims, “The wife not contributing economically to the family finances, there was a definite lessening of her status in society,” (page 1). She wants to show strength of her worthiness as a woman, however, love involves not being selfish in a relationship. Torvald is no less selfish once readers learn about his language he directs towards Nora. He calls her with animal names which are disrespectful to another person regardless of relationship. In another instance, he mocks Nora who likes money, to show his masculine dominance. “What are little people called that are always wasting money,” (page 929). His attitude reflects what he thinks of Nora, and his position with respect and income to show dominance. Marriage and love should connect with each other; however their marriage does not share agreement or sharing, like Torvalds money. Calling one little, or hiding a truth behind someone’s back disrespects what Nora did as love for Torvald, and how Torvald treats her back. The husband and wife role in a relationship challenges each other rather than sacrifice for each other because of gender roles.

In today 's society, many women are in a situation similar to Nora 's. Although many people have accepted women as being equal, there are still those in modern America who are doing their best to suppress the feminist revolution. Torvald is an example of men who are only interested in their appearance and the amount of control they have over a person.  These our the men that are holding society down by not caring about the feelings of others.  But Torvald is not the only guilty party.  Nora, although very submissive, is also very manipulative.  She makes Torvald think he is much smarter and stronger, but in reality, she thinks herself to be quite crafty as far as getting what she wants.  However, when the door is slammed, Torvald is no longer exposed to Nora 's manipulative nature.  He then comes to the realization of what true love and equality are, and that they cannot be achieved with people like Nora and himself together.  When everyone finally views males and females as equals, and when neither men nor women overuse their power of gender that society gives them, is when true

Henrik Ibsen’s play “A Doll House” was set in the Victorian era, a time where women were highly respected. Women in this time period did not work, they had nannies to take care of their children and maids to take care of their homes. Many women had no real responsibilities, they spent their time having tea parties and socializing with their friends. Henrik Ibsen dared to show the realism of the Victorian era while everyone else would only focus on the romantic aspect. In the play, “A Doll House” Henrik Ibsen challenges the traditional lifestyle of women in the Victorian Era by exposing the main character, Nora Helmer’s bravery, independence, and strong will.

In Henrik Ibsen’s play “A Doll’s House” the relationship between husband and wife, male and female, is portrayed in many ways. Female’s were seen as inferior and had very little expected out of them other then being a wife and mother, which is accurate for the time period Ibsen wrote the play in. This is evident in the relationship between the two main characters, Torvald and Nora Helmer. Torvald expects Nora to be a wife and mother first and foremost above being a human being. Though these two responsibilities are a big deal, especially in the time period “A Doll’s House” is written in, they have taken precedent over Nora’s responsibility to herself, to find who she truly is. Nora does a lot of pretending, a lot of hiding, and ultimately is a doll in the eyes of Torvald. Through out the three acts Nora makes herself weak and allows herself to have no voice. She has played around to please Torvald, pretending to be happy and have her own opinions, but by the end of the play she realizes that it has all been an act and decides its time to take off the costume and stop pretending.

“There is beauty in truth, even if it 's painful. Those who lie, twist life so that it looks tasty to the lazy, brilliant to the ignorant, and powerful to the weak. But lies only strengthen our defects. They don 't teach anything, help anything, fix anything or cure anything. Nor do they develop one 's character, one 's mind, one 's heart or one 's soul.” (José N. Harris). Nora Helmer’s choice to lie and deceive is inappropriate and wrong for women to do to her husband during this time period; it ruins her relationship, marriage, and motherhood. Due to Nora’s past decisions she is the one who destroys her life and future because she lies and deceives, however due to Nora lying and deceiving it did ruin her relations, yet it let her begin to search for self to gain personal freedom, she no longer wants to be oppressed and living for others. Throughout the play A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, Ibsen employs foreshadowing, indirect characterization, and symbols to reveal the larger theme that one 's choice to lie and deceive can destroy future relations between others.

Juxtaposition of Nora Helmer and Torvald Helmer with gender expectations as presented in A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen

Attitude of Torvald and behavior of Nora leading to the downfall in the play A Dolls house by Henrik Ibsen

In Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, the play focused greatly on the relationships of people, and the marriage ideals of the time. The family of Nora and Torvald Helmer is a very typical family of the time, following all the norms and lifestyles. When Torvald was sick, and was advised by doctors to move to the south of the country, Nora took in her hands the fate of her husband, by getting a loan from an untrustworthy man from her husband’s bank, Krogstad, without telling Torvald. The drama of the play focused on the revealing of the loan’s secret Nora was hiding from Torvald. The family dynamics that is represented in the play demonstrates very poor communication skills between them, and a very ideal of a 19th century relationship. The family dynamics of Nora and Torvald Helmer reveals that all issues arise from a dishonest relationship. In the beginning of the play, Nora was misleading Torvald in regards to her grand spending of money. In addition, Nora behind her husband’s back decided to receive a loan that could ruin her family. Lastly, Nora’s dishonesty and carelessness ruined the family and broke them apart. With the play ending in the departure of Nora from her family, it proved to the viewers/ readers of the play that the family dynamics should be based on trust and honesty.

Set in late 19th century Norway, Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House parallels the societal standards of the time, a patriarchal society. This resulting framework reinforces a strict social stratum that seeks to marginalize women and develop the rapport of superior to inferior. The drama presents an archetypical housewife named Nora Helmer who grows dissatisfied and disillusioned with her patronizing husband, Torvald. Content with the status quo of the time, Torvald embraces the schema of the “man’s role” in a marriage - interacting with Nora as her father would; his accomplishment of such an ideal is qualified through the quantifiable. Through indirect characterization, the theme of appearance v. reality, and a motif of beauty, Ibsen portrays

In the play A Doll’s House, Henrik Ibsen examines the roles of a woman during the nineteenth century in a male dominated Victorian society. The play is a well-played out journey of the main character, Nora, self-discovery and struggles against the oppression of her husband Torvald and the society he represents. Nora, who is the wife of Torvald Helmer, is the heroine of the play in the end. At the beginning of Act I, the scene is a clear picture of the lifestyle of the Helmer’s household. The Helmer’s are prominent members of the Victorian society. Nora purpose in life is to be happy for her husband and children. Torvald appears to be a loving, devoted, and generous husband. (3). Nora has taken drastic measures to save her husband’s

A Doll’s House is a play by Henrik Ibsen about the liberation of the protagonist, Nora, from a toxic and oppressive relationship in the Victorian Era. Based on a real friend of Ibsen, Nora portrays a seemingly childish and bubbly persona, caged by noble sacrifices and a web of innocent lies. Manipulative and careful, she works furtively to solve all of her problems independently. This contrasts the view her husband has of her as his little doll. He suppresses her freedom of speech, thought, and even the freedom to eat what she pleases. While readers may get the impression that Nora is immature, she is slowly but surely revealed as an independent and responsible woman.