A Doll's House Henrik Ibsen Essay

‘A Doll’s House’, written by Henrik Ibsen in 1879, presents its primary character, Nora Helmer, as a strong individual who evolves greatly throughout the entirety of the play. In fact, as the play progresses, Nora challenges the societal views during the time in which it was written and first performed. The Mirror in 1889 said: “‘For whatever one’s opinions of ‘A Doll’s House’ as a play may be, there can be no question of its startling unconventionality’”. Throughout the three acts Nora Helmer proves this statement to be truthful.
Throughout Henrik Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’, Nora Helmer presents herself as an ever-changing female character, greatly influenced by her surrounding characters and innermost thoughts. This honest portrayal is a characteristic
These physical reactions, as well as the broken speech in the previous quote, demonstrate Nora Helmer’s emotionally unsure characteristics. During 1858, in Norway, women were given the right to work in telegraph offices and, in 1886 unmarried women were given the same rights as men within commerce. Henrik Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’ written in 1879, clearly reflects the changing ideals and equal rights in Norway during this time period. This is particular evident in the character of Nora Helmer. Despite Nora’s fluctuating emotions she appears to be strong-willed and highly determined. In fact, she prides herself on her work ethic: “‘But it was great fun, though, sitting there working and earning money. It was almost like being a man’”. Nora Helmer reflects these changing ideals not only for women, as previously stated, but also for Norwegian society – or at least the Norwegian society that Henrik Ibsen believed in. As the first act continues, Nora begins to reveal more of her innermost thoughts: “‘What do I care about society? I think it’s a bore’”. In this quotation the voice and thoughts of the author are very evident. Henrik Ibsen was dissatisfied with
During the first scenes of the third act Nora exclaims “‘goodbye Torvald! Goodbye my darlings!’” whilst finalising her plans for freedom within her own mind. When Nora Helmer, eventually, leaves through the open doors of her martial home she sheds the Victorian ideals enforced upon her by society. This is exemplified as Nora Helmer says goodbye to her husband first and then her children - further demonstrating the hierarchy of Victorian ideals. The original Norwegian translation, as argued by some scholars, is more accurately ‘A Doll House’ rather than ‘A Doll’s House’. This is due to an increased suggestive ideal of the doll-like qualities of the characters within the naturalistic play. This information is relevant as during the third act Nora references the title of the play: “‘He called me his little doll, and played with me just the way I played with my dolls’”. Nora Helmer describes a personal experience that most women during this time period would have encountered: the indoctrinated of placid conformity. However, Nora, through acknowledging the past, is advancing past the restraints of society. In 1889 Henrik Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’ was described as presenting “‘the argument that women should be treated as a human being, and not a mere doll’”, an argument that Ibsen himself would agree with. As the final act of Henrik Ibsen’s ‘A