Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Changes in "A Doll's House" Written by Henrik Ibsen

Good Essays
494 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Changes in "A Doll's House" Written by Henrik Ibsen
Changes In "A Doll's House"

Written by Henrik Ibsen

A Doll's House's central theme is change from society. This is demonstrated by several of its characters breaking away from the social standards of their time and acting on their own terms. No one character demonstrates this better than Nora. During the time in which the play took place society frowned upon women asserting themselves. Women were supposed to play a role in which they supported their husbands, took care of their children, and made sure everything was perfect around the house. Work, politics, and decisions were left to the males.
Nora's first change from society was when she broke the law and decided to borrow money to pay for her husband's treatment. By doing this, she not only broke the law but she stepped away from the role society had placed on her of being totally dependent on her husband. Nora's second change from society views was shown by her decision to leave Torvald and her children. Society demanded that she take a place under her husband By walking out she takes a position equal to her husband and brakes society's expectations. Nora also breaks society's expectations of staying in a marriage since divorce was frowned upon during that era. Her decision was a change from all expectations put on a woman and a wife by society.
In conclusion Nora secessions are very deliberate and thought out. She knows what society expects of her and continues to do what she feels is right despite them. Ibsen, the author, in which to show faults of society, uses her changes. In the first secession Ibsen illustrates that despite Nora doing the right thing it is deemed wrong and not allowed by society because she is a woman. While the forgery can be considered wrong, Ibsen is critical of the fact that Nora is forced to forge. Ibsen is also critical of society's expectations of a marriage. He illustrates this by showing how Nora is forced to play a role than be herself and the eventual deterioration of the marriage. Throughout the play Nora is looked down upon and treated as a possession by her husband. She is something to please him and used for show. He is looked upon as the provider and the decision maker. Society would have deemed it a perfect marriage. Ibsen is critical of the fact that a marriage lacked love and understanding, as shown by Torvald becoming angry with Nora for taking the loan and saving him, would be consider as perfect. A Doll's House's central theme of change from society was made to be critical of society's view on women and marriage. Ibsen used Nora's changes, as an example to illustrate that society's expectations of a woman's role in society and marriage were incorrect. Her decision to leave was the critical view of society.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Nora is unhappy with her life and wants to walk away from thing. In this book “A Doll House” showed how women were treated in the 19 century men were always in charge of the women. In my opinion women should have just as much control as the men did. Everything should be equal. I don't think gender should determine if your in charge or not. In this play marriage is displayed as one person controlling the other. Marriage extent are to bring a man and women together as husband and wife. Not to worry about financial problems there suppose to be happen and create a bond…

    • 592 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Nora is in an interesting relationship with her husband Torvald. When readers first get an image of how their relationship is, it would not seem that bad. Once further into the play you see that it is just because Nora is submissive, and lets it be that way. The only reason she is loving her husband is because that is what she thinks she is supposed to do. Her husband will not let her expand as a person, and she just lets it happen. Women are constantly treated as a lower class among men. Nora is just as capable as her husband Torvald, with all of the talents that could lead her into being an important or meaningful person to society just like her Husband. Throughout the play Torvald says over and over again that his wife cannot possible understand…

    • 582 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Nora Dramatic Irony

    • 886 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Nora's epiphany occurs when the truth is finally revealed. As Torvald unleashes his revulsion against Nora and her crime of forgery, the protagonist realizes that her husband is not who she thought he was at all. Torvald has no intention of taking the blame for Nora's crime. She thought for certain that he would selflessly give up everything for her, like she given up so much for him. When he fails to do this, she accepts the fact that their marriage has been an illusion. In this moment Nora’s eyes and mind finally become clear of any delusions she once possessed. Nora was dominated and controlled by her father before marriage and afterwards it was her husband dominating her. Torvald never treated her as an equal. She had existed for her husband and she had always expected that her husband would come to her aid when she was in trouble. She had been waiting for miracles to happen. Nora feared that Krogstad would expose everything and that their family would come undone. Contrary to her expectation, Torvald behaved like a hypocrite concerned more with societies idea of morality and a notion of social prestige, not with his wife's welfare and care. He came out in his true colors. Nora realized that her husband didn't see her as an individual. She wanted to dissolve her ties with him by abandoning him and the children. She thought her duty toward herself was above her duty as a…

    • 886 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There appears to be yet another theme within this story line, and that is how women fit in in society. The entire story is focused around a certain women, who is not happy with her place in society, so therefore she decides to change her role in society. Within the story it is easy to see that women are automatically placed in a certain role in society, simply because of their gender. Women are not given the option, but rather forced to settle for the only role society feels women are capable of. So therefore when Nora decides that she does not want to be a part of this role that society has forced on her, she showed other women that they too could in fact go above and beyond what society expects from them. Which in the 18th century things…

    • 252 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A women was not capable of taking on serious issues especially without a higher education. Women were only seen as the caretaker of the household and not the moneymaker. Nora’s decision at the end of the play, played a big role, Nora realizes that she needs to find herself, and not her husband Helmer. The play does not tell us where Nora goes at the end of a play, it leaves us in awe. Maybe Nora left because she wanted a higher education, and in Norway that wasn’t permitted at that time. Nora wants to start a new life without her husband Helmer, she has no money because Helmer was taking care of her. Nora just wants to have her own life, and maybe that means for her to get a higher education and get a job where she doesn’t have to depend on Helmer. I never thought about it in that way until I researched, the question about women’s role in Norway in the 19th century. Many women were dependent on their husbands, or a male figure in there life. Nora was always dependent on Helmer and her father, “I mean that I was simply transferred from Papa’s hand to yours . You arranged everything according to your own taste, and so I got the same tastes as you or else I pretended to. I am really not quite sure which I think sometimes the one and sometimes the other” (Ibsen, 66). Ibsen created the character Nora as woman who wasn’t following the social marriage norms. When Nora leaves the house, she becomes a symbol for all women, and the article by Largueche shows us how women fought for their education and social norm rights. Some questions still remain, where did Nora go? And did she leave because she wanted a higher education or did she just want to find her true identity? If I were to explore the topic further, I would want their to be a second part to the play “A Doll’s House”. I want to know where Nora went and if she ever got back with Helmer.…

    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The original A Doll’s House by Henrik Isben got a lot of reviews after the world premiere in Copenhagen on December 21, 1879. There were many positive reviews and negative reviews. I believe that this play made some women see that they should be treated as equal human beings to their husband. A Doll’s House production also brought to life the aspects of society that are incorrect due to sexism. As one review says, “Who after seeing this play, has the courage to speak scornfully about run-away wives? Is there anyone who does not feel that it is this young and delightful young woman’s duty, her inescapable duty, to leave this gentleman, this husband, who slowly sacrifices her on the altar of his egotism, and who fails to understand her value as a human being. His invocation of religion and morality and consideration of people’s gossip sounds, in the face of…

    • 1387 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Her life was ruled and controlled by her husband Torvald. Her husband especially did not respect or treat Nora with equality. Nora spent eight years of her life with Torvald, and that is where she had made a huge mistake. Nora found out her husband’s true colours when it was too late, if she had found out who her husband really was and how the love he was showing to Nora was nothing but false she could have left her husband before the eight years and lived her life with freedom. Nora can find someone that actually treats her with respects, equality, and with…

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Henrik Ibsen uses connecting themes such as the uncovering of Torvald’s true nature, his real characterization of Nora and the inevitable hampering of Nora’s rightful individualistic growth in order to show this moral justification. In the beginning, Nora’s fondness for Torvald knew no limits and she sought to do whatever was possible without due regard for herself to please him. She believes being the source of entertainment, indulgence, and appeasement for Torvald allows for her own source of contentment. Although Torvald commands a certain sentimental affection towards Nora, the source for most of these feelings however come solely from the appreciation of her alluring outwardly complexion. Nora’s intricate emotions and intelligence take a back seat in Torvalds mind to the more important plastic image that she is mandated to portray. Perfect examples of this dynamic throughout the whole story…

    • 1095 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In a male-dominated world, women have to struggle against society-imposed identities. Within A Doll’s House, by Henrik Ibsen, Nora undergoes a journey of realization, leading her to believe that she must discover who she really is, not who society wants her to be. Nora begins the play portraying the image of a “trophy wife”, but as the play continues, she transforms into her own individual. Through Nora’s cognizance that she has been pretending to be someone she wasn’t, Ibsen displays that women, in a patriarchal society, must struggle with stereotypes, while still trying to be who they truly are.…

    • 644 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House" shows how two women who went to school together many years previous have led totally different lives. Nora is married, has three children and everything she wants or needs. Her husband Torvald treats her like a doll, indulging her every whim and calling her pet names, such as "singing lark", "little squirrel" and "little spendthrift". He pats her on the head much as one would a small child. Nora is sensible and completely unaware of her own worth until the last act of the play. In contrast, Mrs. Linde is a widow who married her husband for money and has no children. Since her husbands death she has had to work to take care of her sickly mother and two small brothers. Her mother has since died and her brothers are grown up and have made good lives for themselves. Mrs. Linde now has only herself to take care of.…

    • 874 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I agree with Nora’s decision to abandon her husband and children, she didn’t do it out of selfishness but more of a sacrifice. Nora loved her husband and children very much, but she felt she needed her freedom and independence. Nora didn’t want her children to be like her, she thought by her being immorality that it will pass down to her children, like it passed down to her from her father. Also, Nora realized she had a lot of growing up to do, because she acted like a child more than an adult. She was too dependent on her husband, so she wasn’t independent as a women and wasn’t capable of doing things on her on. Nora husband treated her like a play toy, more than a wife. I think by Nora leaving was a selfless thing to do, because she wanted…

    • 193 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen was first performed in 1879 when European society strictly enforced male supremacy over women. The play consists of a middle class couple, Torvald and Nora Helmer, who seem to have the perfect marriage, three children, and a pending respectable income with the husband’s recent promotion to bank manager. Torvald treats Nora like a doll, manicuring and manipulating her looks and actions. Although his controlling demeanor is concealed by innocent nicknames and monetary allowances, the affects of his domination over his wife are eventually exposed. At the end of the play, Nora leaves in a haze of anguish after her husband fails to defend her when she is accused of legal fraud in a loan she had taken to save Torvald’s life. Some people say that Nora was right to leave and flee the control of her demeaning husband to seek her individuality, but many argue the contrary when considering what she left behind, what she could have demanded and changed at home, and what she would face as an independent woman defending herself in a 19th century, male biased society. Although some may assertively argue that Nora was right to leave her home, others suggest the she was not right to leave considering the abandonment of her children, the responsibility she could have demanded from her husband, and the prejudice against independent women in her society.…

    • 1908 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Doll's House

    • 796 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the midst of what seemed like the perfect marriage, Nora realized how imperfect it really was and figured out what was best for her even if it meant her giving up all she had. This imperfection starts to settle in while she was talking with and old friend, Ms.Linde, in act one. By the beginning of Act two she has come to the full conclusion of her unhappiness and resolved to kill herself. This idea changed to a less dramatic ending of her just leaving her family behind, which would cost her everything but at the same time it was happy because she comes to the realization through her actions that she has been treated as a doll for her whole life first by her father then later by her husband and has never been taken seriously. When her husband finds out about her illegal deeds to save his life and lashes out, it hits her with full force that what they have is all imaginary. This may seem sad, her leaving her children and lifestyle, but it is good because she realizes she is independent and ready to be treated as if she was her own person and not a doll with no real purpose or power other than to be played with.…

    • 796 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Nora’s final walk out from the house seems to be a selfish woman, but it was the example of power and strength of struggle women. Nora wasn’t agreed to live life with Torvalds’s condition. She argue that, “I believe that before all else, I’m a human being, no less than you-or anyway, I ought to try to become one (Ibsen 840).” Here, Ibsen clearly expresses the independent nature of women. Nora believes that women had a right to develop their own individuality, but in reality her role has been often self-sacrificial. She always been treated as a narrow house wife by Torvalds. She shows her eagerness, “you thought it fun to be in love with me, that’s all (Ibsen 838).”Her biggest discovery was to save her husband’s life, but she disappointed when it became an unforgivable crime in the eyes of her husband and society. At the last, she left her husband and children was begets action in her life as a feminist. The whole play based on the beginning of feminism in 19th centuries. Nora who always thought that she was nothing else than the entertainment of her husband transcend her into a independent woman was the most dramatic change on the…

    • 735 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Gender Role and Doll

    • 382 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Lies and Deciet: With Nora being in the doll's house, she was all about a person being mostly worried the whole time about her secret being discovered, her absolute terror this revelation leads her to lie after lie. when her web of lies finally caves in around her, her marriage proves too weak to bear the strain.…

    • 382 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays