WA Paper on A Doll's House
Malika Buzaubayeva
Mrs. Cox-Vineyard
IB English IV
Word Count: 1,239
WA Paper – “A Doll’s House” The Doll
In the play “A Doll’s House” by Henrick Ibsen, the main character is portrayed as a doll in her husband’s life and has no other significance in her household than being a toy. All her life, Nora has been nothing but a toy in a man’s life. First by being her father’s doll-child and then her husband’s doll-wife. The author portrays the main character as being a doll controlled by her owner in a similarity of the wife being controlled by her husband. Since the play was written during 1879, it was heavily influenced by the Victorian time period. During the Victorian Era, women of Nora’s high status were very confined as people because they were expected to be submissive to their husbands. Women were only expected to stay at home and take care of the household and the children. This unrealism and limited freedom is portrayed through setting, imagery dialogue as well as symbolism. The setting has a major effect on the reader’s personal response because of the limited settings the play offers. The setting helps the author to set the mood of the play by giving the reader an idea of when and where this play is taking place. The author also uses setting to portray the unrealism of Nora’s life. A doll’s house is Nora’s home and Nora is symbolized as a toy. The author alters the perception of reality and time period of the play. Throughout the whole story, most of the play takes place in Nora’s house. Secluded and unaware of her surroundings is what makes Nora’s life seem so simulated. One example of that is the house that Nora lived in is being symbolized as an actual doll’s house. Nora says, “But our home has never been more than a playroom. I have been your doll-wife here, just the way I used to be Daddy’s doll child.” (Ibsen, 1227) She is a doll in her house and a toy to her husband and father. Such symbolic setting alters the perception of realism and
Mrs. Cox-Vineyard
IB English IV
Word Count: 1,239
WA Paper – “A Doll’s House” The Doll
In the play “A Doll’s House” by Henrick Ibsen, the main character is portrayed as a doll in her husband’s life and has no other significance in her household than being a toy. All her life, Nora has been nothing but a toy in a man’s life. First by being her father’s doll-child and then her husband’s doll-wife. The author portrays the main character as being a doll controlled by her owner in a similarity of the wife being controlled by her husband. Since the play was written during 1879, it was heavily influenced by the Victorian time period. During the Victorian Era, women of Nora’s high status were very confined as people because they were expected to be submissive to their husbands. Women were only expected to stay at home and take care of the household and the children. This unrealism and limited freedom is portrayed through setting, imagery dialogue as well as symbolism. The setting has a major effect on the reader’s personal response because of the limited settings the play offers. The setting helps the author to set the mood of the play by giving the reader an idea of when and where this play is taking place. The author also uses setting to portray the unrealism of Nora’s life. A doll’s house is Nora’s home and Nora is symbolized as a toy. The author alters the perception of reality and time period of the play. Throughout the whole story, most of the play takes place in Nora’s house. Secluded and unaware of her surroundings is what makes Nora’s life seem so simulated. One example of that is the house that Nora lived in is being symbolized as an actual doll’s house. Nora says, “But our home has never been more than a playroom. I have been your doll-wife here, just the way I used to be Daddy’s doll child.” (Ibsen, 1227) She is a doll in her house and a toy to her husband and father. Such symbolic setting alters the perception of realism and