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Interpretation Of A Doll

’s House Essay, Research Paper


Interpretation of A Doll’s House


“A Doll’s House” is classified under the “second phase” of Henrik


Ibsen’s career. It was during this period which he made the transition


from mythical and historical dramas to plays dealing with social


problems. It was the first in a series investigating the tensions of


family life. Written during the Victorian era, the controversial play


featuring a female protagonist seeking individuality stirred up more


controversy than any of his other works. In contrast to many dramas of


Scandinavia in that time which depicted the role of women as the


comforter, helper, and supporter of man, “A Doll’s House” introduced


woman as having her own purposes and goals. The heroine, Nora Helmer,


progresses during the course of the play eventually to realize that


she must discontinue the role of a doll and seek out her


individuality.


David Thomas describes the initial image of Nora as that of a


doll wife who revels in the thought of luxuries that can now be


afforded, who is become with flirtation, and engages in childlike acts


of disobedience (259). This inferior role from which Nora progressed


is extremely important. Ibsen in his “A Doll’s House” depicts the role


of women as subordinate in order to emphasize the need to reform their


role in society.


Definite characteristics of the women’s subordinate role in a


relationship are emphasized through Nora’s contradicting actions. Her


infatuation with luxuries such as expensive Christmas gifts


contradicts her resourcefulness in scrounging and buying cheap


clothing; her defiance of Torvald by eating forbidden Macaroons


contradicts the submission of her opinions, including the decision of


which dance outfit to wear, to her husband; and Nora’s flirtatious


nature contradicts her devotion to her husband. These occurrences


emphasize the facets of a relationship in which women play a dependent


role: finance, power, and love. Ibsen attracts our attention to these


examples to highlight the overall subordinate role that a woman plays


compared to that of her husband. The two sides of Nora contrast each


other greatly and accentuate the fact that she is lacking in


independence of will.


The mere fact that Nora’s well-intentioned action is considered


illegal reflects woman’s subordinate position in society; but it is


her actions that provide the insight to this position. It can be


suggested that women have the power to choose which rules to follow at


home, but not in the business world, thus again indicating her


subordinateness. Nora does not at first realize that the rules outside


the household apply to her. This is evident in Nora’s meeting with


Krogstad regarding her borrowed money. In her opinion it was no crime


for a woman to do everything possible to save her husband’s life. She


also believes that her act will be overlooked because of her desperate


situation. She fails to see that the law does not take into account


the motivation behind her forgery. Marianne Sturman submits that this


meeting with Krogstad was her first confrontation with the reality of


a “lawful society” and she deals with it by attempting to distract


herself with her Christmas decorations (16). Thus her first encounter


with rules outside of her “doll’s house” results in the realization of


her naivety and inexperience with the real world due to her


subordinate role in society.


The character of Nora is not only important in describing to role


of women, but also in emphasizing the impact of this role on a woman.


Nora’s child-like manner, evident through her minor acts of


disobedience and lack of responsibility compiled with her lack of


sophistication further emphasize the subordinate role of woman. By the


end of the play this is evident as she eventually sees herself as an


ignorant person, and unfit mother, and essentially her husband’s wife.


Edmond Gosse highlights the point that “Her insipidity, her


dollishness, come from the incessant repressi

on of her family life


(721).” Nora has been spoonfed everything she has needed in life.


Never having to think has caused her to become dependent on others.


This dependency has given way to subordinateness, one that has grown


into a social standing. Not only a position in society, but a state of


mind is created. When circumstances suddenly place Nora in a


responsible position, and demand from her a moral judgment, she has


none to give. She cannot possibly comprehend the severity of her


decision to borrow money illegally. Their supposed inferiority has


created a class of ignorant women who cannot take action let alone


accept the consequences of their actions.


“A Doll’s House” is also a prediction of change from this


subordinate roll. According to Ibsen in his play, women will


eventually progress and understand her position. Bernard Shaw notes


that when Nora’s husband inadvertently deems her unfit in her role


as a mother, she begins to realize that her actions consisting of


playing with her children happily or dressing them nicely does


not necessarily make her a suitable parent (226). She needs to be more


to her children than an empty figurehead. From this point, when


Torvald is making a speech about the effects of a deceitful mother,


until the final scene, Nora progressively confronts the realities of


the real world and realizes her subordinate position. Although she is


progressively understanding this position, she still clings to the


hope that her husband will come to her protection and defend her from


the outside world once her crime is out in the open. After she reveals


the “dastardly deed” to her husband, he becomes understandably


agitated; in his frustration he shares the outside world with her, the


ignorance of the serious business world, and destroys her innocence


and self-esteem. This disillusion marks the final destructive blow to


her doll’s house. Their ideal home including their marriage and


parenting has been a fabrication for the sake of society. Nora’s


decision to leave this false life behind and discover for herself


what is real is directly symbolic of woman’s ultimate realization.


Although she becomes aware of her supposed subordinateness, it is not


because of this that she has the desire to take action. Nora is


utterly confused, as suggested by Harold Clurman, “She is groping


sadly in a maze of confused feeling toward a way of life and a destiny


of which she is most uncertain (256).” The one thing she is aware of


is her ignorance, and her desire to go out into the world is not to


“prove herself” but to discover and educate herself. She must strive


to find her individuality.


That the perception of woman is inaccurate is also supported by


the role of Torvald. Woman is believed to be subordinate to the


domineering husband. Instead of being the strong supporter and


protector of his family, Nora’s husband is a mean and cowardly man.


Worried about his reputation he cares little about his wife’s feelings


and fails to notice many of her needs. The popular impression of man


is discarded in favor of a more realistic view, thus illustrating


society’s distorted views.


Ibsen, through this controversial play, has an impact upon


society’s view of the subordinate position of women. By describing


this role of woman, discussing its effects, and predicting a change in


contemporary views, he stressed the importance of woman’s realization


of this believed inferiority. Woman should no longer be seen as the


shadow of man, but a person in herself, with her own triumphs and


tragedies. The exploration of Nora reveals that she is dependant upon


her husband and displays no independent standing. Her progression of


understanding suggests woman’s future ability to comprehend their


plight. Her state of shocked awareness at the end of the play is


representative of the awakening of society to the changing view of the


role of woman. “A Doll’s House” magnificently illustrates the need for


and a prediction of this change.

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