A Doll's House By Henrik Ibsen

Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House (1879) is set Norway and focuses on the repression of woman. Mrs. Linde confronts and establishes Nora’s complicit acquiesnce to her own repression when Mrs.Linde says “Nora, you’re just a child.” Pg.667. This paper will chart Nora’s growth from ignorance to knowledge showing how the nineteenth century society has subjugated and indoctrinated women. Unfortunately in the nineteenth century society women were brought up to act as if they were weak, emotional, and docile. Gender dictated a drastic imbalance of power between men and women. This paper will use themes, motifs and symbols to show how women were taken advantage of in Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll House. Nora is treated like a child throughout the play. Her
husband calls her his pet and his property, and implies that she is not smart or responsible enough to be trusted with money. This shows the domestic life as it was conceived and lives at the time. This writer will use the theme Sacrificial Role of women.
Themes will reveal the drastic imbalance of power between men and women.
A term “is the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.” Gender dictates how Nora is treated. Torvald is stripping his wife of her most cherished feminine role motherhood when he says. ”I shall not allow you to bring up the children.” “I dare not trust them to you.” Pg688. This theme exposes the restricted role of women. This shows the status of women at the time was not treated independently. Nora leads a hard life because society dictates that Torvald be the marriages dominant member. This portrays the bleak picture of a role held by women of all economic classes that is sacrificial. The writer will use the Motif Desire for
Freedom.
Motifs will reveal Nora’s Desire for freedom. A term “is the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.” Nora’s freedom of expression is restricted. Torvald complies with the rules of the society and values honor above anything else. “I should just love to say well- damned! Say it, here it Torvald. Hush! Hush! Hush.”Pg669 this shows that Nora cannot say whatever she likes in front of Torvald. Nora is constantly being restricted in her freedom by her husband, specifically in her choice of clothing. Ibsen uses the symbolism of clothing to illustrate freedom. Nora is treated as if she were a child or plaything by her husband. Torvald controls what Nora does by limiting many aspects of her life. This writer will use the Symbol the Christmas tree.
The Christmas tree in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House is symbolic of Nora and her role in the household.
A term “is the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.” The Christmas tree represents an intense personal experience in Nora’s life. Nora’s function in the household is the same as the tree. “There’s nothing to it at all. The tree’s going to be lovely. I’ll do anything to please you Torvald.” Pg.673 Nora dresses up the tree just as Torvalds dresses up her for the Stenborgs’ party. This Christmas tree is stripped of its ornaments and with burnt down candles ends on its disheveled branches. This shows the similarities of Nora and the tree. Nora is in a mess and so is the tree. She’s gotten the bad news from Krogstad, and as a result her mind is just as disheveled as the poor tree. To sum up the play Torvald’s true character was reveal when Nora realizes that she is naïve to the world. She did not think borrowing money to save her husband’s life could be a crime. She realizes that she does not understand the world. Nora decided to leave her husband and children behind so that she can learn and
grow.