Nora's Expectations

A Doll’s House, written by Henrik Ibsen, portrays the complicated marriage of Nora and Torvald Helmer. In numerous ways Nora is treated like a child or “doll” by her husband, and in turn, Torvald takes care of her physically, emotionally, and financially. While Nora is stuck in a patriarchal society, until she had a change at the play’s end, she played along and never had an objection. Nora’s sudden realization to start a new life and leave her family not only proves she is irresponsible, but also she does not know what she will face in the real world, and she cares about herself more than her own children.

A home is often seen as a place to call your own, a place of comfort and shelter—but in this case, it was not. In the beginning, they were a happy family in a happy home, but that perfect picture seemed to vanish as Nora came to realize that Torvald was just “playing” with her. The idea of their “home” was an act to disguise it as a doll’s house. And finally, respect seemed to affect the whole community, not just Nora. It was due to the fact that it had to maintain the community’s authorized gender roles. Men having to work, and women taking care of the cooking and the cleaning. This made Nora see that she was more than just that. She is a woman, but not of one a man can stomp on and play with anymore.

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.

In the play A Doll's House, Henrik Ibsen focuses on Nora's role in her marriage with her husband, Helmer. Nora’s character symbolizes the oppression of the woman in the Victorian Era because of the lack to control she has as a woman during that time period. Throughout the play, Ibsen portrays her character as being controlled by Helmer physically, emotionally, and sexually. Even so, Nora still continue to strive to achieve this one perfect woman that her husband expects her to be. However, along the way she comes to a realization about her marriage and that allowed her to break free from Helmer’s control. Although his expectations has hold her back from doing what she wants, she has also learned to be a independent woman from his control. Her

A Doll’s house is a criticism of the subjugation of women during those period. We can infer from the theme of the novel that the author Henrik Ibsen was a strong Feminist as he created characters that fought for the rights of women. The central character of A Doll’s house, Nora fought for the same cause. A Dolls house speaks about women’s rights.The feminist ideologies of Nora were revealed in the end of the novel. Nora was the upholder of womens rights. She struggled against the selfish, stifling, oppressive and dominating attitude of her Husband Torvald and the society which he represents. Nora journey lead to her self-discovery as she fought against the exploitation of women by men. Torvald represents the orthodox society and Nora is the advocate of feminism. Torvald did not give any privilege to Nora and called her silly names throughout the play. He called her ‘squirrel’, ‘lark’, ‘little skylark’, ‘little songbird’, ‘little person’, ‘little woman’, and ‘little

In A Dolls House, Torvald has a very narrow definition of women 's roles. He believes that it’s a woman duty to be a mother and a good wife, however he thinks women are helpless and childlike. Nora’s understanding of freedom changes during the play. In the first act, she believes that she will be “free” as soon as she repays her debt, because she will be able to devote herself to her domestic responsibilities. However after she gets blackmailed by Krogstad she reconsiders her understanding of freedom and questions whether she is happy in her house. By the end of the play, Nora seeks a new kind of freedom. She wishes to be relieved of her family obligations to pursue her own ambitions, beliefs, and identity.

Since Nora’s father was dying, she was forced to forge his signature in order to secure a loan that would eventually save her husband’s life, which only led to more problems in the future because in order for her to be able to repay the money she must lie about how she spends her household accounts and also lie about taking odd jobs to earn extra money. Also, the way Torvald treats Nora in the play depicts the way women were treated in the nineteenth century. For example, In Act I, Nora is little more than a child playing a role. She is a “doll” occupying a doll’s house, a child who has exchanged a father for a husband without changing or maturing in any way. Torvald treats his wife literally like a doll, calling her pet names and occasionally scolding her as if she were a child. His primary interests are his new job as a bank manager and his social standing. When he learns that his wife is involved in a legal problem that would embarrass him if it became known to the public, he reveals who he really is. He comes off as a hypocrite preoccupied with his own welfare. Also, Torvald says that Nora is now his property which is when Nora realizes she is much too good for him. Nora then decides to leave because they have been married for eight years and has suffered enough injustice from both her father and Torvald. Nora explains to Torvald that she has been merry, not happy, being with him. She explained to him how

Torvald believes that he both owns and fathers Nora, vocalizing that “if a man made her (his wife), he has given her a new life, and she has in a way become both wife and child to him” (3). Going on, Torvald questions Nora, asking her, “Why shouldn’t I look at my dearest treasure, at all of the beauty that is mine, my very own?”(3). Financially stifling Nora and placing her in positions where he can act as her savior, or father, boosts Torvald’s self-esteem

In A Doll House, Nora finds herself subordinate to her husband as well as the rules of society. Torvald forbids her from the consumption of macarons, bestows on her an allowance as if she were a child, persuades her to do as he wishes, dance like this, not like that, and she like a “good little lark” obeys his most every will. Her act of courage and independence, illegally taking out a loan to save his life, is seen as wrong in the eyes of society, while she sees it as necessary and forgivable; it is what a good wife should do for her husband.

The Doll House takes place in the late 1800s, in which things were way different than they are now. During this time, men were basically the ones running the place instead of woman. Society expects women to be the ones who will stay home to cook, clean, and take care of the kids. During that, men will be able to do almost anything they want and they basically bring in the income to the house. The play taught us how women are treated and how they can redeem themselves by finding their own virtues and values. Nora was basically treated like the “squirrel” she was by Torvald, in which he didn’t think nothing was wrong at all.

It’s a women's role to look good all the time, decorate the house, clean, care for the children and please the husband. Although in this book Nora has very little responsibilities because the maid cleans and the nanny takes care of her children, which clearly shows that Nora is more of a possession to her husband like a doll. Not only is Nora Torvald’s doll but the kids are Nora’s dolls too for example when Nora ask the nanny for permission to hold her own daughter she then calls her “sweet little baby doll” (page 261, line 31). This doesn’t make Torvald a bad husband or Nora a bad mother; it’s just that there gender based actions represent the 19th century

In Henrik Isben’s play “A Doll’s House”, the protagonist, Nora Helmer is the most intriguing characters in the play. Nora is the typical 19th-century wife and mother. Her husband, Torvald is a successful bank manager, who is the breadwinner and main leader of the family. Torvald has obtained a higher education than Nora, which makes him rule over Nora and become more dominate toward Nora. Although Nora may have act like she is innocent in her childish manner, she is fully aware of who she really is as well as what people have turned her into, but she will be come to terms and allow her true self to come out.

In the play, “A Doll House,” protagonist Nora shows the common situation of the women in the male dominant society, “A house wife”. Nora is shown as Helmer’s doll wife, as he treats her like a child. He believed that she had no idea about the real world and that he must be there to take care of her. Torvald call his wife by a nickname, “my little squirrel, my little lark,” which means that he had always thought of his wife like a little child (Ibsen 229). Even Mr. Linde says, “My dear! Small Household care and that sort of thing! - You are a child, Nora” (Ibsen 235). This shows that Nora is not just dominated by her husband but that her maid also dominates him. But the dispute in her family arises

Furthermore, when Torvald gets sick from overworking himself, his dutiful and loyal wife, Nora, soon comes to forge her father’s signature in order to help arrange Torvald a treatment. This of course becomes very unacceptable to him, which is why Nora decides to keep this a secret. Torvald states, "Oh, Nora, Nora, how like a woman! No, but seriously, Nora, you know how I feel about this. No debts! Never borrow! A home that is founded on debts can never be a place of freedom and beauty" (Ibsen 30). By Torvald saying his wife is like a woman, he is elevating himself once more, giving the idea that men are superior and more intelligent, simply because she had the idea of borrowing money, to try and help him. Unfortunately, he doesn 't see that his wife was only trying to aid him in this time of need in any way that she can. Instead of seeing Nora 's act of kindness, he just sees her seeking an easy way out. Fearful of being exposed, Krogstad, a fellow coworker of Torvald’s, manipulates and blackmails her to reveal her secret to Torvald if she isn 't willing to help him keep his job at the bank. Nora now awaits for a miracle to happen. However, once Torvald finds out of his wife 's forgery act, he starts to show his true feelings. Disillusioned Nora,

Using new criticism, it was easy to read A Doll’s House, pointing out all of the important literary devices and analyzing how they all connected to one another. Starting with the metaphors that showed the inequality between Nora and Torivald, all the way down to the dramatic irony of Nora paying for the trip to Italy that saved Torivald’s life. At the end of the play, the reader is left wondering if Nora is now happy. Nora gets what she wants; she gets her freedom, but will she truly be happy out in the real world without her dear husband and