Research Paper On A Doll's House By Henrik Ibsen

“A Doll’s House”
Henrik Ibsen
Women did not always have all the freedom and right that they do nowadays. Henrik Ibsen hints at the roles of society and how the female gender was treated during the Victorian Era. What Ibsen believed about the roles of society, the equality between males and females, and the ideas of feminism is easily observed in his play, “A Doll’s House.” This play was written with Ibsen’s opinion in mind and a great portion is influenced by what Ibsen believed about the central issues that occurred back then, and that are still happening to this day. Nora’s character shocked many critics because she took a step to making her own choice and abandoning the structure of upper-middle class society. Women in the Victorian Era are supposed to have this specific role that is submissive to a man’s role. Nora seemed like a submissive character with no personality of her own, almost like a doll. She complied to what was
expected of her, and by following societal norms that were expected to be followed by the women of that time. “A Doll’s House” is unfathomable to people because there are thousands of what one would consider “doll-homes”, where the wife is treated as a child that the husband used for amusement. The purpose of the play was to provoke thought and incite revolution.It opens eyes to the men failing to treat their wives as a human being, becausee women are considered more of maids or an object of mirth after a while. That time was a highly patriarchal society in which the family was dominated by the man, and woman's power meant nothing. Ibsen also demonstrates how patriarchal societies can belittle women and not only gives the man power but can also diminish and deteriorate a female’s rights. It seems as if Helmer believes that he owns Nora, describing her almost as an object or a possession. Ibsen uses actions, speech and other literary techniques to use the play’s characters to show and represent these particular themes. “A Doll’s House” is driven by Nora’s forging of loan documents for an expensive trip to Italy. Krogstad, who had processed the loan, attempts to blackmail Nora in order to keep his job. Nora did not have any means to repay the loan anyway. Torvald finds himself having to restrain Nora with rules, much as a father would have to inhibit a child, she must ask Helmer for any money she needs, She lives in a house to which she doesn’t have a key for the letter box, she must practice dancing when Helmer tells her, she is forced to lie about eating sweets, and she must dress up in the clothes that Helmer likes. Although it is demanding, these requests are asked in a cooing language of affection; in a way, this places Nora somewhere between a slave and a child.
Although at the beginning of A Doll's House, Nora seems to happy.
She does not seem to mind the way she was being treated. Nora eventually reveals that she is not just a "silly girl,” What makes Nora so compelling is infact her wild courage, to react against everything and anyone. Nora’s rebellion is not purely impulsive. Nora also appears to be a great thinker. When Nora questions the terms of the law and says: “Hasn’t a daughter the right to protect her dying father from worry and anxiety? Hasn’t a wife the right to save her husband’s life?” (Act 2) Here, Nora takes a huge responsibility, and philosophical, and ethical problem in hand and argues it in her favor.; She makes a bold move at one point and she says to Helmer, “You’ve never loved me; you’ve only found it pleasant to be in love with me.” (Act 3) If a wife said that to a husband back then, it would not be acceptable; she perceives the problem of her marriage very quickly and does not hesitate to say something about how she feels which shows her independence and her
courage.
If Nora represents social change then Helmer, would represent social status, and the standing powers of the establishment. All the character in the play is financially dependent on Helmer, he deals in money; he is a father, a husband; and he is the owner of the land on which the action takes place. Helmer represents the supremacy of a patriarchy, but he is not aware of the damage he is causing. His greatest sin is perhaps his ignorance. In opposition to helmer, Krogstad is willing to compromise his honour for love. The whole reason that he begins to blackmail Nora is because he needs a job to take care of his sons. Krogstad is risking disgrace, and lost of respect for his family.
Dr Rank is dying of tuberculosis of the spine, inheriting his disease from his father. Dr. Rank says: “My poor innocent spine must pay for my father’s amusements” (Act 2). This works in parallel with Nora’s forging the loan for Helmer, because like Dr Rank, Nora is suffering because of someone else. Ibsen uses the Tuberculosis to demonstrate that discipline is flawed. Dr. rank and Nora were equals as friends, even though he was a male and she was a female. Their friendship also used for contrast towards her relationship with Helmer .