The Observation Of Nora Helmer In William Shakespeare's Play

“The matter must be hushed up at any cost. And as for you and me, it must appear as if everything between us were just as it were before –but naturally only in the eyes of the world.” Helmer stated. In this very sentence the author highlighted the standing views on marriage and political views. It is clear that Helmer is not happy with his wife after what she has done and to learn of how she has lied. Helmer is not worried about his marriage and his wife’s feelings, he is worried about what others will think. Through this dialogue in the play it become clear to the audience that what is important in society shouldn’t be. The characters were influence by other around them, others views and perceptions of them. It was shamed upon to have a broken marriage and a deceitful wife. Helmer states, “Before all else, you are a wife and a mother.” Nora replies, “I don’t believe in that any longer. I believe that before all else I am a reasonable human being, just as you are-or, at all events, that I must try and become one.” (Page 1390) Henrik did an amazing job at touching on key points of societies views and did it in such a way that empowers women and the feminist movements. In a time when woman are encouraged to be obedient and act as a second citizen, the author wrote this story out differently. Nora realizes her worth as a woman and understands that her feelings are more than just second best

She asked her husband Torvald, who also happened to be the new manager at the bank if Kristine could have a job and he responded with an afirmative response. Mrs. Helmer had also stated that she had single handedly saved her husband's life when she took out a loan for his benefit. However, in those days women were unable to get a loan without their husband's consent or another male's signature, so Nora took it upon herself to forge her father's signature in order to secure the welfare of Torvald. She saw it as her obligation as a loving wife to break the law so she would be able to save a life, especially when it was the life of her husband. Others though saw it as a criminal offence; Nils Krogstad for example accused Nora of violating the law to which Nora replied: "This I refuse to believe.

She is married to her husband, Torvald, who has recently been promoted in his job at the bank. In the story Torvals constantly belittles his wife, referring to her as meek animals, like starlet and squirrel. He uses these words to make her seem weak and incapable of affairs, other than domestic. He did not think women should be allowed to, or even could, handle money. From this information it can be gathered that Torval is the victimizer to his wife. Later on though, it is revealed that Torvald was once very sick and the Helmer’s could not afford to pay for his medical needs. Nora had to take out a loan, behind his back, and pay for his expenses, that were required in another country. At one point, this is revealed and Torvald is taken aback by his wife’s ‘betrayal’. Nora then, has an epiphany and realizes she has been subjugated by her husband for a long time and in an instance walks out on him, for good. Against Torvald’s knowledge and will, he was at point a victim where his wife was the only one to care for him. He acted superior to his wife in their marriage, but when he became ill he was the frail and week

“Yes, so terribly frightened. Let me practice right now; there’s still time before dinner. Oh, sit down and play for me Torvald. Direct me. Teach me, the way you always have.” (Ibsen. 416) Nora does manipulate Helmer to get what she wants. She uses her power over her husband subtly, as women had to do in throughout time. Only recently have women been able to overtly vocalize what they want out of a relationship or marriage, or chose to marry for themselves.

Nora and Helmer are introduced as a middle class couple from the time of the industrial revolution in Norway. Helmer uses many affectionate terms when referring to which indicates a dehumanizing aspect of his thoughts. It seems as if Nora is only a showpiece for his home and that Helmer has no sense of gender equality. Nora is introduced as a innocent wife, who only listens to her husband.

Nora Helmer, the wife of Torvald Helmer, throughout the whole play has been keeping a secret from her husband. A few years back when Torvald became ill the doctor recommended that the whole family move south in order for Torvald to fully recover. Torvald would not pay the money for the family to move so instead, Nora borrowed the money from the bank, without her

It is Christmas time when the play begins and with a larger income starting after the New Year, Nora is excited for a arrival of a new life. Yet, this ideal life for her begins to change when an old friend by the name of Mrs. Linde pays a visit to the Helmer household. Mrs. Linde, looking for a job has come to Nora looking for help

As Helmer becomes equipped with the information about Nora by means of a blackmail letter left in the mailbox, the true nature of the marriage is unearthed and the inequality of marriage is revealed. The marriage between the two characters demonstrate the realities of patriarchal rule and the restricting

An important occasion in which Nora questions her personality, and comes to the realization that there needs to be a change in her life is when Krogstad confronts her knowledge of a dirty business she had done in the past with Mr. Krogstad. She forged her father’s signature, in order to obtain access to money he had in the bank. She is worried about what Mr. Krogstad would do to affect her family, as he was warning her that if he

Nora is frustrated in seeing Krogstad’s letter, which will reveal all her secrets but is not able to retrieve the letter, because her husband always has the key to the mail box. Nora carries a burden all throughout her marriage. All she hopes for is a miracle. She believes that when the secret is out, Torvald will take the blame and protect her, but unfortunately when the secret is revealed to Torvald, her world finally falls down, and Torvald disclaims and attacks her, even though she had done it for him. The futility of her marriage finally dawns on her. She says she was never happy, only lighthearted and that she was a doll wife to him. She blames Torvald for her ruined marriage. Nora is faced with the reality that she’s always been treated like a child. In their conversation, it is realized that since they married, there hasn’t been a serious conversation between them. Nora sees that her husband is not worth her love anymore and that she has wasted all eight years of their marriage. She now wants to educate herself. Therefore, not even the thoughts of her children could save their marriage, so she leaves

Later in the play things start getting complicated for Nora. Her husband Torvald had become Mr. Krogstad boss at work, and Torvald wanted to fire Mr. Krogstad. This is when Mr. Krogstad starts to blackmail Nora. He wants Nora to stop Torvald from firing him. If she does not, Mr. Krogstad was going to tell Torvald her secret. This should have been the perfect time for Nora to tell the truth to her husband, but she believed that telling Torvald the truth will ruin their relationship. Nora says to her friend Mrs. Linde “Torvald, with all his masculine pride – how painfully humiliating for him if he ever found out he was in debt to me. That would ruin our relationship. Our beautiful, happy home would never be the same” (Iben 802)

This drama questions the authority of man over woman. While the Victorian woman did not usually question their husband's entitlement to household authority, they desired trust and intimacy which made them less ready to accept husbands who treated them as inferior being which is reflected in Nora’s reaction in the last scene. Women were less educated which made them vulnerable in the society this also made living alone for the women very difficult as they had no source of income. Even if the woman was educated they were allowed to do low paying jobs only. During the Victorian period men and women’s roles became sharply defined than at any time in history. Men and women had their different spheres which were not allowed to mingle with each other. They didn’t interfere in each other’s matters. As we see in the drama Helmer has his own study where he was undisrupted. Women didn’t had any say in the decisions pertaining to their social well-being. Everything was decided by the male and the female had to follow it. Too many rules and regulations were imposed on women. Women were expected to engage in fragile and simple

A Doll’s House uses literary devices throughout its entire three acts to tell a story about not only marriage, but the hardships that happen in life. Not only is Nora and Helmer affected in this play, but everyone else is also affected in the play as well. A Doll’s House tells the story of a simple family that lives a life that many people do today. This play illustrates how a once wonderfully happy family can fall apart at the blink of an eye. Now, throughout this essay new criticism will be applied to A Doll’s House and discuss all the different literary devices, followed by what they add to the story.

There are two other major themes in this play, femininity and masculinity. Nora has often been given the title of one of modern drama’s first feminist heroines. She breaks away from a dominating and opressive marriage. Ibsen, denied that he had intentionally written a feminist play and preferred to think of it as humanist. This said though, the traditional roles of women and the price of them breaking tradition is a constant thread throughout the play. The men of this play, in many ways, are just as trapped by gender roles as the women. An example of this is the job that Torvald Helmer holds at the bank, chief. The men must be providers and alone must support the entire household. At the end of this play these traditional ideas are put to the test, when Nora leaves and Torvald must care for the children and be their provider.

Torvald Hemler – Nora’s husband. Torvald enjoys in his new position at the bank, just as he delights in his position of authority as a husband. He treats Nora like a