Examples Of Inequalities In A Doll's House
Inequality which Led to A Break Up Hearing the word “family” we should not only picture a husband and a wife raising their children, but also a mutual behavior within the couple. Henrik Ibsen 's play, written in 1879, called “A Doll House” is written particularly about a couple, a banker, Torvald, and a housewife, Nora. The story takes place during a period of time, when the status of women is not equal and suppressed comparing to men within the marriage. As the play progresses, it seems that Nora loves her husband, nevertheless being treated as a child. Torvald does not trust anything to Nora, especially his money. He thinks that Nora is too foolish to handle neither money nor any business. Obviously Nora does not like the fact that her
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husband thinks she is foolish, but because of her love towards her husband, the situation in the society and risk of losing her husband, she pretends that everything is fine. She realizes that the only way to stay in a relationship with Torvald is to become his puppet; a puppet which would do everything to satisfy his owner. Even at time when she is not agree with Torvald, she would lie and say that he was reasonable; she would pretend that she cannot make any step without his help. At the end of the play Nora seems to be fed being treated like a child, and decides to leave. “A Doll House” is a classical play which illustrates the gender roles of the nineteenth century. The happening in the relationship of Torvald and Nora is typical for that society. Most of the families would not mind to live according to the law of the society, where women rights are suppressed. However, it is not the case in this particular play. Being unable to reconcile with Torvald 's mistreatment, Nora leaves the “doll house” created by her husband. Torvald 's nature of his feeling towards his wife is not traditional. Torvald treats Nora neither as woman, nor as a mother of his children, but as a doll. He treats her as a property that he owns. For Torvald, Nora is a beautiful looking doll and nothing else. Torvald is fond of only Nora 's physical appearance. It is very important for Torvald to have a high social status within the society, since he is a banker. Guo Yuehua, an associate professor of School of Foreign Languages in Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, in his article “Gender Struggle over Ideological Power in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House” gives a description to the ideology of male protagonist of the play, “His [Torvald 's] ideology is conditioned by social standards and his conception of manliness is based on man’s social values.” (81) To have a beautiful and young wife provides Torvald a social satisfaction. It is a pleasure for Torvald to show up in a public with his beautiful Nora. He walks with her as if he was carrying a victorious trophy, awakening everybody 's jealousy. Many might think that Torvald brings Nora with him because he loves her. Unfortunately, it is the biggest misconception. In one of the conversations Torvald says, “And I couldn 't wish you anything but just what you are, my sweet little lark. But wait; it seems to me you have a very – what should I call it? – a very suspicious look today – ” (Ibsen 891) Calling his wife using animal names such as, “squirrel”, “lark” nad “spendthrift”, illustrates Torvald 's disrespectful and senseless treatment towards his wife. Torvalds’s lack of love can be seen in his behavior within the house. Coming home, he would never walk into the house with a bunch of flowers or gifts that would make his wife happy. He is too concerned about his job and his social status that he does not really care about his wife. Nora is a doll, who lives in a doll house; a doll which Torvald plays with whenever he wants to; a doll which satisfies her master. Moreover, Torvald is so attracted to her sexuality that he just wants Nora to be a woman who could give him a physical pleasure. Right after tarantella, Torvald brings Nora to their room and tell her how much he adores her. He swears and promises her that she is the one that he ever wanted. It might be true, but the fact that he wants to experience a physical pleasure after being turned on during the tarantella explains his behavior. Torvald says, “All this evening I 've longed for nothing but you. When I saw you turn and sway in the tarantella – mu blood was pounding till I couldn 't stand it – that 's why I brought you down here so early – “ (Ibsen 930) This quote clearly describes that Torvald want to derive a pleasure from Nora. He does not love her, he is just in a lust being attracted to Nora sexuality. He brings her down to the room and expects Nora to submit him. Emma Goldman, a writer from “The Social Significance of the Modern Drama, describes Torvald as “An admired man, rigidly honest, of high moral ideas, and passionately devoted to his wife and children. In short, a good man and an enviable husband” (Goldman) I would not agree with Goldman because Torvald controls his wife, he never gets interested about what Nora thinks. He only cares about his interests and desires. Besides, If Torvald was the person the way Goldman describes him, Nora would never agree on living in a “doll house”; she would never think that Torvald would leave her. Therefore, Torvald 's behavior is only illustrating him to be a selfish and ignorant person. Torvald has imperious attitude which manipulate Nora. Torvald wants to be the only person in the house who can have the right to say anything. He is so ignorant that he never listen to anyone 's advices or suggestions. Nora seems to be a girl who is actually very smart; the person who can handle business. The example of her saving Torvald 's life says a lot about Nora. One day after doctor examines Torvald, doctor tells Nora that her husband need an immediate trip to south or else he would die. Nora makes that trip possible telling Torvald that she want to go to south for a vacation and asks him to come with her. She does not tell him that this trip is apparently planned for him. She tells everyone including her husband that her dad is providing everything for the trip. In the reality, she takes a loan from a bank clerk Nils Krogstad. In the play 's conversation between Nora and Mrs. Linde, Ibsen provides a thought of Nora to the possible reaction of Torvald, when Mrs. Linde asks Nora why she would not tell the truth to her husband: For haven 's sake, no! Are you serious? He 's so strict on that subject. Besides – Torvald, with all his masculine pride – how painfully humiliating for him if he ever found out he was in debt to me. That would just ruin our relationship. Our beautiful, happy home would never be the same. (897)
It is obvious that Nora is not a naive and silly “doll” girl, as Torvald might think. She is a person with her own personality and self. The society where they lived in, never respected the divorced women. No man would ever marry a divorced lady; therefore, Nora cherishes her husband. In the play Nora is represented as a wife who would do possibly anything just to keep her family safe and in peace. Goldman describes Nora as someone who “Worships her husband, believes in him implicitly, and is sure that if ever safety should be menaced, Torvald, her idol, her god, would perform the miracle.” (Goldman) Torvald 's words and commands were a law for Nora; she would never disagrees or tells her husband that he is wrong. This clearly shows that Nora is being manipulated by her husband. By being manipulated, Nora does not have a choice but lie to her husband. Nora can be understood why she started to lie to her husband. The reason is that she knows Torvald 's temper and know what would happen if Torvald would learn about her secrets. Their relationship could have ended tragically. They would divorce. However, Torvald seems not to be interested or cared to get to know his wife better. He never questions himself, why does always his wife is in solidarity with him, no matter what he says? Again, Torvald 's such behavior depicts that Torvald is indifferent to his wife. Normally, a loving husband would get concerned in case if anything gets suspicious in the relationship. He seems not to be interested in developing mutual feelings that would provide a good relationship with his wife. Meanwhile, Nora wants to develop a good relationship with her husband and to feel loved, but it is too risky for her to speak out, because she does not know how would Torvald react. Therefore, she chooses to stick to Trovald 's rules and keep living in a “doll house” created by him. Torvald is the one who is responsible that their house turned into a doll house.
At the end of the play we seem to see the real personality and nature of Nora. Until the very end of the play, she pretends to be Torvald 's puppet, who only thinks about living a fun life. Her real personality comes into play, when she sees the reaction of her husband to the Krogstad 's letter. During their relationship, Nora seems to try to introduce her real-self to her husband, but after multiple unsuccessful attempts Nora gives up. She realizes that only way to be in a relationship with Torvald is to become his puppet; a puppet who would do everything to satisfy his owner; a puppet who would live in a “doll house”. Being unable to stand Torvald 's mistreatment Nora decides to leave the house, in order to find “herself”; she decides to explore the world, thinking that she could finally become happy. She wishes to find a world where she can do everything according to her own wills and no one would neither manipulate nor treat like a doll. A famous critic Joan Templeton, in his article called “The Doll House Backlash: Criticism, Feminism, and Ibsen” published by Modern Language Association, explains the decision that Nora made pointing out that “things which typically are cited as
advantages are precisely those that make up woman 's grievance.” (33) Nora leaves the Helmer 's residence realizing that she would never become happy in that family. She has so many ideas and thought that she wants to share with other and prove that she is not silly and mindless girl, who does not know anything about life. She does not want to spend her whole life being the Torvald 's little and silly doll. In conclusion, equality within the partner in the family is one of the main factors that maintain a mutually happy relationship. Without equality the family can never flourish. In a family, rules and regulations should be set up according to the wills and desires of the partners. Their mutual decision should guide them along the happy life. Ibsen 's play “A Doll House” depicts the family which is controlled by the Torvald, who is very selfish and egoistic person. He is so influenced by the society that he does not understand that sooner or later his family might suffer from it. His narcissism makes him blind. He mistreats his wife by referring to her not as to a woman, mother of his children, but as to a doll, a puppet. By doing so he turns his house into a “doll house” where the only person who is getting pleasure from living in it is Torvald. The pleasure should be distributed equally within the family. It is nor noble nor good when someone manipulates another person, especially when a husband is manipulating his wife. Torvald 's manipulation showed Nora that he does not love her at all. As a result, Nora leaves her family and the “doll house”.
Work Cited Goldman, Emma. “The Social Significance of the Modern Drama: A Doll 's House.” The Social Significance of the Modern Drama: A Doll 's House. Berkeley Digital Library, 2 July 2003. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. . Guo, Yuehua. Gender Struggle over Ideological Power in Ibsen 's A Doll 's House.Canadian Social Science [serial online]. February 28, 2009;5(1):79-87. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed December 10, 2012. . Ibsen, Henrik. “A Doll House.” Making Literature Matter. 5th ed. Boston: Badford/St.Martin 's, 2003. 888-941. Print. Templeton, Joan. “The Doll House Backlash: Criticism, Feminism, and Ibsen.” JSTOR Jan. 1989: 22-40. JSTOR. Modern Language Association, Jan. 1989. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. .
husband thinks she is foolish, but because of her love towards her husband, the situation in the society and risk of losing her husband, she pretends that everything is fine. She realizes that the only way to stay in a relationship with Torvald is to become his puppet; a puppet which would do everything to satisfy his owner. Even at time when she is not agree with Torvald, she would lie and say that he was reasonable; she would pretend that she cannot make any step without his help. At the end of the play Nora seems to be fed being treated like a child, and decides to leave. “A Doll House” is a classical play which illustrates the gender roles of the nineteenth century. The happening in the relationship of Torvald and Nora is typical for that society. Most of the families would not mind to live according to the law of the society, where women rights are suppressed. However, it is not the case in this particular play. Being unable to reconcile with Torvald 's mistreatment, Nora leaves the “doll house” created by her husband. Torvald 's nature of his feeling towards his wife is not traditional. Torvald treats Nora neither as woman, nor as a mother of his children, but as a doll. He treats her as a property that he owns. For Torvald, Nora is a beautiful looking doll and nothing else. Torvald is fond of only Nora 's physical appearance. It is very important for Torvald to have a high social status within the society, since he is a banker. Guo Yuehua, an associate professor of School of Foreign Languages in Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, in his article “Gender Struggle over Ideological Power in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House” gives a description to the ideology of male protagonist of the play, “His [Torvald 's] ideology is conditioned by social standards and his conception of manliness is based on man’s social values.” (81) To have a beautiful and young wife provides Torvald a social satisfaction. It is a pleasure for Torvald to show up in a public with his beautiful Nora. He walks with her as if he was carrying a victorious trophy, awakening everybody 's jealousy. Many might think that Torvald brings Nora with him because he loves her. Unfortunately, it is the biggest misconception. In one of the conversations Torvald says, “And I couldn 't wish you anything but just what you are, my sweet little lark. But wait; it seems to me you have a very – what should I call it? – a very suspicious look today – ” (Ibsen 891) Calling his wife using animal names such as, “squirrel”, “lark” nad “spendthrift”, illustrates Torvald 's disrespectful and senseless treatment towards his wife. Torvalds’s lack of love can be seen in his behavior within the house. Coming home, he would never walk into the house with a bunch of flowers or gifts that would make his wife happy. He is too concerned about his job and his social status that he does not really care about his wife. Nora is a doll, who lives in a doll house; a doll which Torvald plays with whenever he wants to; a doll which satisfies her master. Moreover, Torvald is so attracted to her sexuality that he just wants Nora to be a woman who could give him a physical pleasure. Right after tarantella, Torvald brings Nora to their room and tell her how much he adores her. He swears and promises her that she is the one that he ever wanted. It might be true, but the fact that he wants to experience a physical pleasure after being turned on during the tarantella explains his behavior. Torvald says, “All this evening I 've longed for nothing but you. When I saw you turn and sway in the tarantella – mu blood was pounding till I couldn 't stand it – that 's why I brought you down here so early – “ (Ibsen 930) This quote clearly describes that Torvald want to derive a pleasure from Nora. He does not love her, he is just in a lust being attracted to Nora sexuality. He brings her down to the room and expects Nora to submit him. Emma Goldman, a writer from “The Social Significance of the Modern Drama, describes Torvald as “An admired man, rigidly honest, of high moral ideas, and passionately devoted to his wife and children. In short, a good man and an enviable husband” (Goldman) I would not agree with Goldman because Torvald controls his wife, he never gets interested about what Nora thinks. He only cares about his interests and desires. Besides, If Torvald was the person the way Goldman describes him, Nora would never agree on living in a “doll house”; she would never think that Torvald would leave her. Therefore, Torvald 's behavior is only illustrating him to be a selfish and ignorant person. Torvald has imperious attitude which manipulate Nora. Torvald wants to be the only person in the house who can have the right to say anything. He is so ignorant that he never listen to anyone 's advices or suggestions. Nora seems to be a girl who is actually very smart; the person who can handle business. The example of her saving Torvald 's life says a lot about Nora. One day after doctor examines Torvald, doctor tells Nora that her husband need an immediate trip to south or else he would die. Nora makes that trip possible telling Torvald that she want to go to south for a vacation and asks him to come with her. She does not tell him that this trip is apparently planned for him. She tells everyone including her husband that her dad is providing everything for the trip. In the reality, she takes a loan from a bank clerk Nils Krogstad. In the play 's conversation between Nora and Mrs. Linde, Ibsen provides a thought of Nora to the possible reaction of Torvald, when Mrs. Linde asks Nora why she would not tell the truth to her husband: For haven 's sake, no! Are you serious? He 's so strict on that subject. Besides – Torvald, with all his masculine pride – how painfully humiliating for him if he ever found out he was in debt to me. That would just ruin our relationship. Our beautiful, happy home would never be the same. (897)
It is obvious that Nora is not a naive and silly “doll” girl, as Torvald might think. She is a person with her own personality and self. The society where they lived in, never respected the divorced women. No man would ever marry a divorced lady; therefore, Nora cherishes her husband. In the play Nora is represented as a wife who would do possibly anything just to keep her family safe and in peace. Goldman describes Nora as someone who “Worships her husband, believes in him implicitly, and is sure that if ever safety should be menaced, Torvald, her idol, her god, would perform the miracle.” (Goldman) Torvald 's words and commands were a law for Nora; she would never disagrees or tells her husband that he is wrong. This clearly shows that Nora is being manipulated by her husband. By being manipulated, Nora does not have a choice but lie to her husband. Nora can be understood why she started to lie to her husband. The reason is that she knows Torvald 's temper and know what would happen if Torvald would learn about her secrets. Their relationship could have ended tragically. They would divorce. However, Torvald seems not to be interested or cared to get to know his wife better. He never questions himself, why does always his wife is in solidarity with him, no matter what he says? Again, Torvald 's such behavior depicts that Torvald is indifferent to his wife. Normally, a loving husband would get concerned in case if anything gets suspicious in the relationship. He seems not to be interested in developing mutual feelings that would provide a good relationship with his wife. Meanwhile, Nora wants to develop a good relationship with her husband and to feel loved, but it is too risky for her to speak out, because she does not know how would Torvald react. Therefore, she chooses to stick to Trovald 's rules and keep living in a “doll house” created by him. Torvald is the one who is responsible that their house turned into a doll house.
At the end of the play we seem to see the real personality and nature of Nora. Until the very end of the play, she pretends to be Torvald 's puppet, who only thinks about living a fun life. Her real personality comes into play, when she sees the reaction of her husband to the Krogstad 's letter. During their relationship, Nora seems to try to introduce her real-self to her husband, but after multiple unsuccessful attempts Nora gives up. She realizes that only way to be in a relationship with Torvald is to become his puppet; a puppet who would do everything to satisfy his owner; a puppet who would live in a “doll house”. Being unable to stand Torvald 's mistreatment Nora decides to leave the house, in order to find “herself”; she decides to explore the world, thinking that she could finally become happy. She wishes to find a world where she can do everything according to her own wills and no one would neither manipulate nor treat like a doll. A famous critic Joan Templeton, in his article called “The Doll House Backlash: Criticism, Feminism, and Ibsen” published by Modern Language Association, explains the decision that Nora made pointing out that “things which typically are cited as
advantages are precisely those that make up woman 's grievance.” (33) Nora leaves the Helmer 's residence realizing that she would never become happy in that family. She has so many ideas and thought that she wants to share with other and prove that she is not silly and mindless girl, who does not know anything about life. She does not want to spend her whole life being the Torvald 's little and silly doll. In conclusion, equality within the partner in the family is one of the main factors that maintain a mutually happy relationship. Without equality the family can never flourish. In a family, rules and regulations should be set up according to the wills and desires of the partners. Their mutual decision should guide them along the happy life. Ibsen 's play “A Doll House” depicts the family which is controlled by the Torvald, who is very selfish and egoistic person. He is so influenced by the society that he does not understand that sooner or later his family might suffer from it. His narcissism makes him blind. He mistreats his wife by referring to her not as to a woman, mother of his children, but as to a doll, a puppet. By doing so he turns his house into a “doll house” where the only person who is getting pleasure from living in it is Torvald. The pleasure should be distributed equally within the family. It is nor noble nor good when someone manipulates another person, especially when a husband is manipulating his wife. Torvald 's manipulation showed Nora that he does not love her at all. As a result, Nora leaves her family and the “doll house”.
Work Cited Goldman, Emma. “The Social Significance of the Modern Drama: A Doll 's House.” The Social Significance of the Modern Drama: A Doll 's House. Berkeley Digital Library, 2 July 2003. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. . Guo, Yuehua. Gender Struggle over Ideological Power in Ibsen 's A Doll 's House.Canadian Social Science [serial online]. February 28, 2009;5(1):79-87. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed December 10, 2012. . Ibsen, Henrik. “A Doll House.” Making Literature Matter. 5th ed. Boston: Badford/St.Martin 's, 2003. 888-941. Print. Templeton, Joan. “The Doll House Backlash: Criticism, Feminism, and Ibsen.” JSTOR Jan. 1989: 22-40. JSTOR. Modern Language Association, Jan. 1989. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. .