StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Discuss Nora Helmer's journey from 'dolly' wife to emanicapted woman in ''A Doll's House'' by Ibsen - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The play, 'A Doll's House' vividly portrays a journey of the main character, Nora, from "dolly" wife position to emancipated woman able to protect her dignity and pride. From the very beginning, audience sees a wife, Nora, patronized by her husband, Torvald…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.9% of users find it useful
Discuss Nora Helmers journey from dolly wife to emanicapted woman in A Dolls House by Ibsen
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Discuss Nora Helmer's journey from 'dolly' wife to emanicapted woman in ''A Doll's House'' by Ibsen"

10 February 2009 ''A Doll's House'' by Ibsen The play, ''A Doll's House'' vividly portrays a journey of the main character, Nora, from "dolly" wife position to emancipated woman able to protect her dignity and pride. From the very beginning, audience sees a wife, Nora, patronized by her husband, Torvald. Thus, readers understand that Nora is a "slave" of her husband and society as she ought to obey and defer to her husband. Ibsen compares Nora with a little lark who needs care and attention: "You haven't any idea how many expenses we skylarks and squirrels have, Torvald" (Ibsen).

In this situation, Nora is depicted as an extravagant woman who spends a lot of money on Christmas presents and home improvements. Yet the play goes well past such meanings and point of view, so that when all the characters and intensities have appeared during the plot development, the play seems to point to something different from what the readers have supposed at the beginning. The first factor of change is marked by a blackmail form Nils Krogsta. In order to save her husband, Nora lent some money from Nils Krogstad, but he found that Nora forged her dying father's signature.

When Nora finds a letter, she matures and understands that the disclosure will cost her love and devotion of her husband and happy family life. As a mature woman, she does everything possible to solve the situation (ask her friend Christine to help her), but fails. In Nora's remarks, readers can find the stages of a repudiation of such a "civilized" development, and this refusal, going deeper than a social responsibility. Though, because social role of the wife is predetermined, Ibsen underlines that Nora feels miserable and depressed.

The symbolic meaning of blackmail helps readers to grasp the idea at once shaping atmosphere of the play. Also, this setting contemplates nature, both the natural world around the narrator and her own inner nature. Another unique setting is Torvald's study. Before he shuts the door he calls to him" (Ibsen). In contrast to this setting, Ibsen includes the setting of room where Nora dances. "[Nora] had danced her Tarantella, and it had been a tremendous success, as it deserved" (Ibsen). Both settings reflect two different worlds which separate the husband and wife.

Specific detailed descriptions of these settings force readers to go beneath the surface and reinterpret life and family roles of the spouses. The next change comes when Krogstad forces Torvald to read the letter. Nora prepares to take her life because she understands that Torvald never forgives her. During this scene, Nora becomes a real feminist ready to fight for dignity and freedom of choice. This is the main reason why Ibsen discusses an important issue concerning low status of women in the society and moral issues connected with it.

The settings unveil poor family relations and symbolically portray different roles of the husband and wife. Through the settings, Ibsen records the changes of the Nora's nature and her desire to overcome husband's oppression and become free from him. The highest stage of emancipation and maturity is apparent in the last words of Nora when she refuses to rebuild their marriage and start a new life with Torvald. Nora replies that it would take "the greatest miracle of all" (Ibsen):In sum, Nora comes through three stages of transformations which help her to become an emancipated and free woman.

These changes can be interpreted as spiritual and moral shock, seeking to work against ordinary life and that of its romantic improvement. Nora changes herself influenced by attitudes and indifference of her husband. Christmas-time symbolizes love and family relations as a vein sacrifice that is painful and sorrowful lasting for decades and causing terrible sufferings and emotional burdenWorks CitedIbsen, H. A Doll's House. 2002.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Discuss Nora Helmer's journey from 'dolly' wife to emanicapted woman Essay”, n.d.)
Discuss Nora Helmer's journey from 'dolly' wife to emanicapted woman Essay. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1520745-discuss-nora-helmers-journey-from-dolly-wife-to-emanicapted-woman-in-a-dolls-house-by-ibsen
(Discuss Nora Helmer's Journey from 'dolly' Wife to Emanicapted Woman Essay)
Discuss Nora Helmer's Journey from 'dolly' Wife to Emanicapted Woman Essay. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1520745-discuss-nora-helmers-journey-from-dolly-wife-to-emanicapted-woman-in-a-dolls-house-by-ibsen.
“Discuss Nora Helmer's Journey from 'dolly' Wife to Emanicapted Woman Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1520745-discuss-nora-helmers-journey-from-dolly-wife-to-emanicapted-woman-in-a-dolls-house-by-ibsen.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Discuss Nora Helmer's journey from 'dolly' wife to emanicapted woman in ''A Doll's House'' by Ibsen

Realism in A Doll's House

Henrik ibsen, a Norwegian playwright who is a stand point of the modern drama, is considered as the father of realistic theatre.... Henrik ibsen dominated the twentieth century and directed many theatrical plays presenting many social issues of the society.... One of his master pieces is ‘A Doll's House' in which ibsen questions the confines of marriage.... Her trust and belief towards life breaks and she decides to leave Torbald and try to move on her own new way (“ibsen”)....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

A Dolls House Critique

Henrik ibsen's “A Doll House” is a play written during the Naturalism movement and this play reflects the life in the 19th century society when women stayed at home and looked after the family.... ibsen in all his plays portrays the individuals as struggling for authentic… The struggle is put forth within a backdrop of a tyrannical society where they struggle between duty to their own self and duty towards family and society in general.... of pages: 2 Premium 6530 Henrik ibsen's “A Doll House” is a play written during the Naturalism movement and this play reflects the life in the 19th century society when women stayed at home and looked after the family....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

A Dolls House: Noras Case

This expectation has limited her eagerness to know herself and to know the life which is being lived outside her doll's house.... And for a woman with Nora's nature full of love and care, it is not psychologically acceptable to leave her children behind, except in extreme circumstances.... In her house she is a perfect wife, the kind of wife Torvald adored to have.... Because he never imagine that Nora can have any role other than being a wife, or have any job other than household chores....
6 Pages (1500 words) Book Report/Review

An analysis of Torvald Helmer in A Doll's House

The author wanted to show Torvald as a shallow character who thinks his wife to be nothing more than an ornamented sex doll.... Nora wants to start her own independent Running Head:   An analysis of Torvald Helmer in ‘A Dolls House' World Literature: An analysis of Torvald Helmer in ‘A Dolls House' [Name of Institution] An analysis of Torvald Helmer in ‘A Dolls House'Introduction‘A Doll's House' by Henrik ibsen reflects on the complexes of married life....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen

This assignment analyzes a renowned play by Henrik ibsen "Doll's House".... After undergoing rigorous introspection and contemplation she exclaims to Helmer that: 'Our home has been nothing but a play-room' and 'I've been your doll-wife' (Act III.... It needs to be stressed that at times, Nora resorts to these frivolous lies in order to conform to the role that is expected of her- both as a wife and as a mother.... hat kind of wife does Helmer want Nora to be?...
6 Pages (1500 words) Assignment

A Dolls House - Nora and Gender Identity

The action of… ibsen constructs his drama on the foundation of Nora's relationship with her husband, Helmer Torvald.... She comes up against the painful truth of ibsen's perception that, “There are two kinds of spiritual laws, two kinds of conscience, one in men and a quite different one in women.... ?? (ibsen, Act 1).... A doll's House tells “the story of Helmer and Nora, which will travel from apparent gaiety, through anxiety, to Nora's character is the fulcrum of the play and shows multiple facets....
10 Pages (2500 words) Research Paper

Feminist Criticism on A Dolls House

The construction of woman in Ibsen's society is one who is dependent on the husband for her own identity.... It uncovers the traditional marriage in its raw form by exposing the attitudes and attempts at satisfactions by the… ibsen, however, realizes that there is hegemony between the modes of life for a woman and a man in his society.... In a ne analysis of this book, it is notable that ibsen exposes the suppressive tendencies of a traditional society over a woman and her subsequent struggle at defining her individuality In its immediate impression, Torvald Helmer's house cannot be described as misogynistic....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Gender Roles in a Doll's House

Woman as a creature of home  Mayer (2008) reflects that "ibsen's Nora Helmer is a doll trapped in her house, a condition underscored by the fact that all the play's action takes place in her living room.... This paper ''Gender Roles in a doll's House'' tells that from the very outset, the reader can feel that this seemingly simple family drama may turn into a kind of tragedy that may raise some serious questions....  Siddall (2008) explains it in this way, "Gender in A doll's House is crucial to the play's meaning....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us