Preview

Noras Decision in A Doll's House

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1332 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Noras Decision in A Doll's House
Ibsen wrote the play 'A Doll's House' in the late 1800's when women's rights was a very controversial subject and the male dominated society was not yet ready to acknowledge women as equal counterparts.The antagonist of the play,'Nora' abandoned her husband and children without so much as a second thought.The literal sound of it may make one think it was selfish of her but if one reads between the lines one realizes that her decision was the outcome of years of built up frustration because of being under appreciated and oppressed.Nora's decision,though rash was completely justified and I would agree with her. The play starts with Nora instructing to her maid to hide the Christmas tree away before the kids come and her husband enters and fondly calls her names like 'squirrel' and 'sky-lark'.The first few paragraphs show how Nora's role in her own house was scarcely more than taking care of her children and pleasing her husband like he were her lord.The names Trovald calls Nora though cute are actually quite demeaning,in fact throught the play he disrespects her lovingly but consistently.I could go to the extent of saying that Trovald's attitude toward Nora was such that one may think she was nothing more than a possession,a prize or maybe even a glorified domestic pet for her husband.Nora in Trovald's life was as a slave would be,bearing and taking care of his children in return for food and shelter.Trovald also teases Nora about her buying the Christmas ornaments and shows her little respect by saying to her things like "Don't disturb me."(pg 1681) and also in Act 3 when he says."Have a good long sleep; you know you are safe and sound under my wing.He also doesn't consider her as an equal in the household matters.He bars her from taking any responsibility in the household beyond dealing with the children. She is treated, by him, like a child herself.Moreover,Torvald also expects that Nora will agree with him on all matters of importance. His opinions are to be

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Nora and Torvald are a married couple and been taking on many challenges in their relationship.Torvald basically takes care of and provides for Nova and their children. During their conversation in Act 3 it talks about how she was been transferred from her father’s hands to torvald hands. Nora feels like torvald is treating her like a poor women from hand to mouth. This means that he is treating her like she can’t do for herself. Torvald is taking over her life and when her father was alive he did the same that’s why her life consist of nothing. Torvald is very physically controlling, treats Nora like she’s a child and doesn't trust her with money. The expression Nora used as “ doll child” and “doll wife” is that her life was controlled by her husband and father. By expression her feelings she tells torvald how she feels. She says, “You and Papa have committed a great sin against me. It is your fault that I have made nothing of my life.”. She doesn’t have anything to fall back on besides what her husband gives her. She can’t do anything on her own without getting an approval from Torvald.…

    • 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
  • Better Essays

    At the start of the play, Nora is seen as a caring mother and wife; however, this is an affectation of joy and contentment. In reality, her true character is held enslaved by her tyrannical husband. Her demeaning nicknames, “skylark” and “little song bird” truly are a metaphor for her mental and physical imprisonment to the societal roles of being a mother and wife. Nora accepts this captivity, however, evident through her own use of her nicknames throughout the story in order to pry money from her husband and follow all of his commands. At this point, the audience begins to sense superficiality and materialistic behavior from Nora, but this view soon changes as Ibsen reveals his realistic writing style. Deceit is first seen as she consumes macaroons secretively, in spite of her husband’s disapproval. She begins to reassure to Torvald that she, “should not think of going against (his) wishes’,”(Ibsen,1.4) and is dishonest once again when telling him Chritine Linde and Dr. Rank brought her the desserts. This fraudulence continues as she searches for a way to hastily pay a debt which her financially independent husband is unaware of. She hides the truth from her husband in the same manner she participates in a game of “hide-and-seek” with her…

    • 2454 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better 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

    In Ibsen’s A Doll House published in 1879, Nora is the protagonist. Nora shows small acts of rebellion in parts of the play. These acts of rebellion show she really is not as happy as she seems and she finally gets the strength to leave her marriage to her husband Torvald. As the drama unfolds, and as Nora's awareness of the truth about her life grows, her need for rebellion escalates, culminating in her walking out on her husband and children to find…

    • 649 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the play, A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen depicts a foolish, fragile, very self-centered young lady that rarely has to do anything for to help herself. Nora is cared for and lavished by her husband now that he has obtained a new position at the bank. She has no concerns but her appearance in society and the role of woman in a man's eye. Nora's husband believed that borrowing was not an option because it would lead to debts. Therefore, he was the one in control of money; this included making money and spending it. However, when Nora's husband turned ill, she realized that she had to develop her own individuality. Nora could no longer pretend to be someone that others would like her to be rather than being her true self.…

    • 2027 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    September 11, 2001 was a very sad day for the whole country. President George Bush was at Emma E. Booker elementary in Florida when two passenger planes were flown into the World Trade Towers. Ever since that day the Bush administration were on a mission to find who had done this and put an end to them. That is why the U.S. military is in Iraq and will probably will be there for a while. President Barack while he was still the president tried to remove our military presence in Iraq by about ten thousand troops a day for five months. Iraq is a very dangerous place and no American soldier should be over there in my opinion.The question now is having the military presence in Iraq going to be a good or bad thing.…

    • 927 Words
    • 4 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
  • Good Essays

    Feminism today is very different from what it was in 1879. Throughout the play, the female characters exemplify feministic characteristics that made the play controversial for its time. The first example of feminism is when Nora’s husband, Tovald, treats her as if she isn’t human. He calls her pet names and dehumanizes her. Torvald says, “Come, come; my little lark mustn’t droop her wings like that. What? Is my squirrel in the sulks?” (Ibsen 2358). There is no excuse for the way Torvald treats Nora. This phrase sets up the character and his relationship with his wife. While some suggest it is the structure of the home itself that plays into the doll house effect, most critics will argue that Torvald's demeaning nature taken with Nora is the reason she leaves her family at the end of the play. Another feministic characteristic seen in the play is when Torvald tells Nora that her only duty is to take care of her husband and children… “Nora: "What do you consider my most sacred duties?" Torvald: “your duties to your husband and your children.” Nora: "I have other duties just as sacred. […] Duties to myself” Torvald: “Before all else you are a wife and mother” (Ibsen 2402). During Ibsen’s time, the idea that a woman may have more worth other than homemaking and being a mother was outrageous and looked down upon. Men did not see women as anything more than a maid and caretaker of men and children and therefore Torvald…

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    A Doll’s House, by Henrik Ibsen, portrays a young married woman, Nora, who plays a dramatic role of deception and self-indulgence. The author creates a good understanding of a woman’s role by assuming Nora is an average housewife who does not work; her only job is to maintain the house and raise the children like a stereotypical woman that cannot work or help society. In reality, she is not an average housewife in that she has a hired maid who deals with the house and children. Although Ibsen focuses on these “housewife” attributes, Nora’s character is ambitious, naive, and somewhat cunning. She hides a dark secret from her husband that not only includes borrowing money, but also forgery. Nora’s choices were irrational; she handled the situations very poorly in this play by keeping everything a secret. The way that women were viewed in this time period created a barrier that she could not overcome. The decisions that had the potential to be good were otherwise molded into appalling ones. Women should have just as many rights as men and should not be discriminated by gender; but they should also accept consequences in the same way without a lesser or harsher punishment.…

    • 3445 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Although I have never thought of myself being the caring type of person, the Keirsey temperament test revealed my actual self and proved to me that I have a Guardian temperament, the functions of Guardians in society, what type of people they are, and how I might be as I grow older. Yes, I agree with the results of the temperament test because I feel that in a particular way I can relate with the characteristics of the Guardian and I would love to participate in civilization as Guardians do. I believe my temperament has not changed and that it has remained stable because as I have been growing older I’ve been…

    • 335 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In a doll's house summary

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The theme that women have a low status in society is one of the main aspects of the play. Though Nora is economically advantaged in comparison to the play’s other female characters, she still lives a difficult life because society dictates that Torvald be the marriage’s dominant partner. Torvald issues decrees and condescends to Nora, and Nora must hide her loan from him because she…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good 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

    In A doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, the main character Nora is part of a very successful marriage. Her husband, Torvald, has a very economically stable job therefore making it unnecessary for Nora to work. However, Nora is not treated as a Woman. On the contrary, she is being portrayed as a doll. “Is my little squirrel bustling about?”(1282). He often speaks to her in a superior voice making his dominance known in their relationship. She decides to take matters into her own hands by leaving her husband after she is blackmailed by Krogstad for borrowing money from him. During the time period in which this play has taken place, it is frowned upon to disobey a man. However she goes the extra mile and leaves her responsibilities as a mother.…

    • 568 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Ma Eng

    • 2615 Words
    • 11 Pages

    “Poor little frightened songbird…Rest assured; my wings are broad enough to shelter you. How lovely and secure our home, Nora. A sanctuary for you. I’ll keep you here like a hunted dove I’ve rescued unhurt from the hawk’s talons. …For a man there’s something intensely reassuring and pleasurable about knowing that he’s forgiven his wife—and that he’s forgiven her sincerely, with all his heart. It’s as if she becomes somehow doubly his possession, as if he’s allowed her to be reborn, so that in some way she becomes both his wife and his child.” Moreover, Mary Wollstonecraft stresses that man tries to secure the good conduct of a woman by reducing her to a state of innocence and childhood. She states, “Children, I grant, should be innocent; but when the epithet is applied to men, or women, it is but a civil term of weakness.” This is very evident in Torvald’s treating Nora as a child. He forbids her to eat macaroons; he makes her dance for him, dress up and recite for him. On the other hand, not only Nora is treated as a spoiled child but also as a sexual object that her husband fantasizes about. At parties, he keeps away and steals glances at her eventually pretending that they’re secretly engaged. When it’s time to go, he puts her shawl around her shoulders and pretends that she is his young bride. He fantasizes…

    • 2615 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Better Essays